I wanted to hibernate in my comfort zone for as long as I could. As each month passed, I knew I couldn’t stay in this same place much longer.
Over the summer I read Lia’s book Life Experience Design just when I needed a push. I had been living in a new city for six months and was feeling pretty afraid to take my next steps, i.e. finding a job, making new friends. She had a diagram with these three circles, one inside the other. The center had the word “comfort,” the next “stretch,” and the last “panic.” I realized for most of the past year I was living somewhere between stretch and panic, preparing for a cross country move while working full-time and keeping up with other projects.
Once we arrived, I wanted to hibernate in my (makeshift) comfort zone for as long as I could. As each month passed, I knew I couldn’t stay in this same place much longer. I had to peek out of my turtle shell and venture out into that stretch zone once again. She says you’ll know you’re stretching when “your motivation to accomplish a task and the task at hand are not boring or impossible – it’s a place with just the right amount of difficulty that you are giving it 100%.”
While it has probably taken me longer than most, I’m glad I finally found the guts to join a meetup group and apply to that dream job. Somewhere between anxiety and boredom, panic and comfort, I found a sweet spot.
❤ This makes me so happy!! 🙂 You'll be amazed at what opportunities unfold when you keep going after that sweet spot.
Thanks Lia! I got so much out of your book and constantly refer to it. It gave me some much needed perspective on my life.
I’m glad to hear you’re moving forward. I can relate to wanting to hibernate and I think it’s important to honor your need to do that. Well done you 🙂
Thanks lady! I think you’re right, periods of stillness are sometimes needed to help us reflect and make a change (and write some poetry!). I hope you’re doing well! It’s good to hear from you 🙂
Congrats Maryn on finding your balance and taking action. I seem to be stuck in analysis, mostly hanging out in comfort and panic.
Thanks Brad! It took me a long time to get here, but it does feel good for the moment. Maybe try baby steps, a little thing that stretches you a little, whether it’s taking a different way home or trying out a new coffee shop. It can be scary to make that change and really there is no guarantee of success, but even if we do fail, we can feel brave about trying!
Thanks Maryn.