My ex-boyfriend owns a big snake named Caesar, aka Boo-Boo. The nickname? Oh, that’s his way of lessening my fear… Who can be afraid of a Boo-Boo, right? Smart guy.

Well, I’m deathly afraid of snakes. Or at least I was…

Imagine a dot (you) at the center of a circle. The circle represents the outer limit of your Comfort Zone.

What fits inside that circumference? All the things you’re comfortable with …

Going to the store …
swimming in a pool …
getting a haircut …
giving a toast at a family dinner….
being in the same pet store as a big snake who lives in a tank three aisles away.

What can be found *outside* the Comfort Zone?

Perhaps giving a presentation to 2,000 business people …
or swimming in an ocean …
or petting a snake who lives in your ex-boyfriend’s bedroom.

When I first met Caesar, sitting in his glass house secured by a nice tight escape-proof top, it was tough for me to even be in a room with him. A shuddery sensation would course through my body if I stood in the vicinity of his tank and if, God forbid, my ex-boyfriend would take him out, it’d send me packing to the opposite side of the room.

No offense, Boo-Boo.

“None taken, Col.”

Baby Steps

Depending upon the degree of difficulty, you may choose to take baby steps towards your goal. On the on a scale of 1 to 10, holding a snake was off the charts, completely unthinkable. Broken down into tiny steps it went something like this:

1. Stand across the room with Caesar, uh, Boo-Boo, safe in his tank. Watch him slither around.

2. Stand somewhat nearby (yet far away from his head) while he is, yikes, wrapped around my ex-boyfriend’s arm.

3. Touch his creepy-crawly belly for a second while aforementioned ex-boyfriend holds him securely.

4. Pet his scaly head. Again, ex-boyfriend holding securely is critical.

Just as a game, put your toe into the water. Play with your comfort zone. Challenge yourself and take a baby step outside of it. You’ll be surprised at the things you can actually do that you never dreamed possible. It’s a powerful feeling.

Taking the Splash

At some point, you’ll want to jump right in. Stepping out of your Comfort Zone is an exhilarating experience. It’s something you can feel proud of and you may even feel a rush of adrenaline … excitement … newfound confidence.

Once you’ve stepped outside that circle, not only does it expand to encompass the new thing you tried but it also strengthens you and gives you energy for other challenges.

Kinda like stretching out a balloon before blowing it up. With the first puff, you get a baby balloon. But stretch it out and the next time it’s easier to blow up that balloon reeeal big!

The Shocking Conclusion

Yes, I held Caesar- Can you believe it?!! I can’t. I sincerely can’t. “Never in a million!” I woulda said six months earlier. I can tell you, it’s an empowering experience.

I wish the same for you. And so I offer you this gift:

I encourage you to play a little game with yourself and dip the tippy tip of your toe in the water… or jump right in. Be brave and just do it. All the courage it took to take that step is multiplied a hundred times in the rewards you’ll receive. Try it, you’ll like it!

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My total hero in the area of stepping outside the comfort zone is Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Work Week. Tim is constantly LEAPING out … and in extraordinary ways. A guy to watch for sure.

Special thanks to my loving ex-boyfriend (and of course to Caesar) for his understanding, patience and kindness … an atmosphere in which the best miracles are cultivated!

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