Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone

Don’t be afraid to expand yourself, to step out of your comfort zone. 
That’s where the joy and the adventure lie.  Herbie Hancock

Week 35 

I was at a meeting this week and a school administrator named Frank was talking about how to raise the level of student learning.  He suggested we really pay attention to a child while he's playing a video game.  He asked us, “What happens when he wins at a certain level …what’s the reward?”  There was silence…. Then someone from the group whispered, "the reward is the next harder level".  “Yes,” he repeated enthusiastically, “When he gets it right, the reward is a harder challenge!  And it's that new challenge that motivates him!” 

He went on to ask us, "So, if I’m doing a math problem in school and get the problem right, then typically what's my reward?" Someone was quick with the answer, "Doing 50 others just like it?" We laughed.

Frank reminded us about a familiar education theory called the ‘zone of proximal development’ that says that there is an zone in which maximal learning takes place.  That zone is between a challenge that is slightly out of the student's comfort zone and may cause some frustration, but yet not so much frustration that she gives up. "So," Frank concluded,  "In order for our students to reach their potential, we need to be continuously stretching them, which means coaxing them out of their comfort zone." 

I call myself a 'life long learner' and the whole discussion about the comfort zone made me think; If I'm going to strive to reach my potential, I spose that requires me to spend more time out of my comfort zone?

But, as I get older, I like being in my comfort zone better. I have my routines down and they work pretty well for me.  I find myself in autopilot much of the time. I take the same route to work each day, sit in the same pew at church, buy the same things at the grocery store, and go to the same places to eat.  I take the same path on my walk and watch the same news show each evening….same ole, same ole.  It doesn't require me to have to make many decisions and it keeps my frustration level down.

Well, here’s a sobering quote I came across by a guy named Stan Dale. “Comfort zones are plush lined coffins.  When you stay in your plush lined coffins, you die.” Yiks!... I guess that makes sense when you think about us in the context of living things; if we're not growing, then were dying?

So this week I’m going to burst out of my comfortable coffin! …. Well, maybe more like gently coax my body out of my soft, warm, resting place and go in search of joy and adventure.  I’m not exactly sure what I will do…but I think just being open to it will create a lot of opportunities for me.  I’m going to change it up this week.  I’d like you to do the same.  Each time we come to something that seems like our usual routine …. let’s try something different.  

I’d love to hear from each of you about at least one thing that you have done to stretch yourself and tell us if indeed it brought you joy and adventure.  No doubt the universe will present us with lots of chances…so pay attention. 

So others can hear about your responses, type into the comment section or email me at:  Smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com