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I'm not sure if the term "Comfort Zone" is common outside of Western Christian subculture, but the concept is certainly valid in wider contexts.
Within Christianity, it is used as a challenge to throw out any notions of what is and isn't comfortable and get on with the God-given task at hand. I propose that Comfort Zones are obstacles in every form, whether you are attempting "God-given tasks" or "every day tasks." They are obstacles because operating within them means that we are primarily making decisions out of fear: fear of pain, fear of humiliation.
I have noticed something peculiar about Comfort Zones. I don't believe they exist. Let me clarify: they only exist if we let them exist. During my time traveling New Zealand, I was constantly "out of my comfort zone;" yet, I was not uncomfortable. To operate out of your comfort zone, you must make a shift in thinking. You must keep an open mind to the uncertain future, unknown experiences (or at least, that's what I had to do). Within this mindset, there is no comfort zone. Outside of the comfort zone, it disappears altogether.
Marriage has served to enable the structure of my comfort zone. Instead of encouraging an open-minded acceptance of the unknown in store for me, it allows me to give away the common things I find uncomfortable. The more I avoid what is perceived to be uncomfortable, the more unknowns I regard as such. My comfort zone effectively shrinks, with me trapped inside.
I am making a conscious effort to live outside of my comfort zone. I want to intentionally embrace that which I expect to be uncomfortable; not in a Yes Man or George Costanza manner. Rather, I hope to analyze my gut reactions, perceive my motives. If I am operating out of fear, living within my comfort zone, I want to crush it willingly, and forcefully with divinely enabled defiance.
I want to see my comfort zone shrink into oblivion with me standing outside of it, free from fear, free from myself. May God help me.
There is No Spoon: Comfort Zones
[caption id="attachment_21" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Red Chair of Comfort"][/caption]
I'm not sure if the term "Comfort Zone" is common outside of Western Christian subculture, but the concept is certainly valid in wider contexts.
Within Christianity, it is used as a challenge to throw out any notions of what is and isn't comfortable and get on with the God-given task at hand. I propose that Comfort Zones are obstacles in every form, whether you are attempting "God-given tasks" or "every day tasks." They are obstacles because operating within them means that we are primarily making decisions out of fear: fear of pain, fear of humiliation.
I have noticed something peculiar about Comfort Zones. I don't believe they exist. Let me clarify: they only exist if we let them exist. During my time traveling New Zealand, I was constantly "out of my comfort zone;" yet, I was not uncomfortable. To operate out of your comfort zone, you must make a shift in thinking. You must keep an open mind to the uncertain future, unknown experiences (or at least, that's what I had to do). Within this mindset, there is no comfort zone. Outside of the comfort zone, it disappears altogether.
Marriage has served to enable the structure of my comfort zone. Instead of encouraging an open-minded acceptance of the unknown in store for me, it allows me to give away the common things I find uncomfortable. The more I avoid what is perceived to be uncomfortable, the more unknowns I regard as such. My comfort zone effectively shrinks, with me trapped inside.
I am making a conscious effort to live outside of my comfort zone. I want to intentionally embrace that which I expect to be uncomfortable; not in a Yes Man or George Costanza manner. Rather, I hope to analyze my gut reactions, perceive my motives. If I am operating out of fear, living within my comfort zone, I want to crush it willingly, and forcefully with divinely enabled defiance.
I want to see my comfort zone shrink into oblivion with me standing outside of it, free from fear, free from myself. May God help me.
[/caption]
I'm not sure if the term "Comfort Zone" is common outside of Western Christian subculture, but the concept is certainly valid in wider contexts.
Within Christianity, it is used as a challenge to throw out any notions of what is and isn't comfortable and get on with the God-given task at hand. I propose that Comfort Zones are obstacles in every form, whether you are attempting "God-given tasks" or "every day tasks." They are obstacles because operating within them means that we are primarily making decisions out of fear: fear of pain, fear of humiliation.
I have noticed something peculiar about Comfort Zones. I don't believe they exist. Let me clarify: they only exist if we let them exist. During my time traveling New Zealand, I was constantly "out of my comfort zone;" yet, I was not uncomfortable. To operate out of your comfort zone, you must make a shift in thinking. You must keep an open mind to the uncertain future, unknown experiences (or at least, that's what I had to do). Within this mindset, there is no comfort zone. Outside of the comfort zone, it disappears altogether.
Marriage has served to enable the structure of my comfort zone. Instead of encouraging an open-minded acceptance of the unknown in store for me, it allows me to give away the common things I find uncomfortable. The more I avoid what is perceived to be uncomfortable, the more unknowns I regard as such. My comfort zone effectively shrinks, with me trapped inside.
I am making a conscious effort to live outside of my comfort zone. I want to intentionally embrace that which I expect to be uncomfortable; not in a Yes Man or George Costanza manner. Rather, I hope to analyze my gut reactions, perceive my motives. If I am operating out of fear, living within my comfort zone, I want to crush it willingly, and forcefully with divinely enabled defiance.
I want to see my comfort zone shrink into oblivion with me standing outside of it, free from fear, free from myself. May God help me.