Your Comfort Zone
By Russ Stiffler
Winter is ending. We've been wrapped in a cocoon of a warm house and/or warm clothes to stay comfortable and protected from the elements.
Now spring is arriving. The weather is warming up, the flowers are blooming and the clear skies and sun are pulling us out into the beautiful world. We no longer need our protective cocoon.
This changing of the seasons draws us out of our cocoon of warmth to the warming rays of the sun. As the butterfly spreads its wings as it emerges from it's cocoon, it's life is transformed. The caterpillar was limited to crawling slowing from leaf to leaf. The world has opened up to the butterfly; it is no longer bound to the area it could crawl to.
Your life can be transformed like the butterfly's. Most of us live in a cocoon of safety, called our comfort zone, to protect ourselves from the elements. We are accustomed to the routine of our lives. We know what to expect each day as we crawl out from under our warm covers.
Our comfort zone keeps us safe. But our comfort zone limits us, just as the caterpillar is limited when compared to the butterfly. To the caterpillar, life is fine. There are branches to climb. There are leaves to eat. It can even use the leaves to hide from the birds of prey.
But to the observer who can see the whole picture the reality of the caterpillar's life is very limited. That observer can see the possibilities of transformation that lie ahead for the caterpillar. That observer can also see the possibilities of transformation that can lie ahead for you.
Our comfort zone limits us in the same way the caterpillar is limited. The vision of the caterpillar is limited to a few feet around it. It cannot even imagine a life beyond it's vision. But the caterpillar is lucky. Nature has provided a path that will transform it into a butterfly with a hugely expanded vision. It doesn't have a choice.
We also have a path of possibilities. But instead of nature making the transformation for us, we have to do it ourselves. We do have a choice. We do have a vision beyond our comfort zone. But our comfort zone wraps us tightly to keep us safe. We may not be able to even imagine the possibilities in store for us that the observer can see, but we do have a vision beyond our life today.
Break out of your limiting comfort zone, just like the butterfly emerges from it's cocoon. Do what is uncomfortable. Do what scares you. Do what stretches your limits. The more you do, the more your vision expands and the more you can see is possible for you.
Breaking out of your comfort zone does amazing things for you. It transforms your life, just like the butterfly's life is transformed. Today, just like the caterpillar, you cannot even imagine what your life can be like. But just like the butterfly, you can emerge from your comfort zone into a life of limitless possibilities and beauty.