Framework 132 Four Zones (Comfort, Fear, Learning, Growth)
Introduction
There are 4 zones linking change with personal development, ie comfort, fear, learning and growth. Of these, fear is the most challenging zone.
Zones
i) Comfort (it is about safety and control; being happy with status quo situation, ie the known, the familiar, etc; able to do things
"...automatically, without too much thought, without too much difficulty. It is where we feel comfortable, sheltered and pleasant......we feel that we are not in any danger. Where we do not need to try, therefore we do not need to spend any energy......an oasis of tranquillity, relaxation and replenishment......We remain in our comfort zones, the benefits are small but guaranteed. We are having a good time and we are in no danger..."
Innobatics, 2022
It can be a place to 'recharge your batteries', ie relaxation and replenishment.
However, if you linger too long in your comfort zone, you can become bored, ie no more joy, no satisfaction, no benefit, etc. It can become an area of stagnation
Generally, you only leave your comfort zone if perceived benefits outweigh the costs or you have no choice, eg a sense of urgency (for more details, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base).
"...any attempt to depart the comfort zone poses a risk and can lead to an adventure. Therefore, it is quite reasonable to be accompanied by an increase in fear and stress..."
Innobatics, 2022
Some tips for moving out of your comfort zone effectively
"...- read and gather new knowledge
- ask ourselves clever, open and challenging questions about how and what we can improve
- expand your limits by trying every day something new, even if it's not easy
- travel and meet new people
- acquire new skills......
- conduct systematic self-reflection
- create art and innovation
- soothe our animal brain and relieve our fears
- replace our perception for stress with enthusiasm
- establish a better relationship with failure and disappointment
- learn how to welcome discomfort and life's inevitable adversaries..."
Innobatics, 2022
ii) Fear (it is the dominant one holding people back, ie stopping people from moving out of their zone of comfort; it can be the fear of the unknown;
"...Most of us actually dread the feeling of fear......and avoid it at great cost......we need to acknowledge its presence and make fear conscious......(so that) fear no longer has power over us......we slowly gain control over it. Once we move through fear, we then can learn new skills in order to grow - without the barrier of fear standing in our way..."
Terri Maxwell, 2020
The further we get away from a zone of comfort, the stronger the pressure to return to it.
Furthermore,
"...the fear zone makes us anxious, lowers our self-confidence and increases procrastination. There are two forces within us. One wants us to move while the other wants us to stay still. One is pushing us forward, the other is pulling us backwards..."
Innobatics, 2022
Some ways to help overcome fear and grow your potential include
- identifying the fear (need to understand what these barriers are and not just ignore them, ie
"...Once we become aware of our fears and barriers, and move them into our conscious mind, it becomes easier to move through them..."
Terri Maxwell, 2020
Part of this includes defining the fear so that you are better able to seek solutions, ie focus on solutions
- seek solutions (seek alternative solutions, if something is not working; be willing to challenge things)
NB Look for solutions; don't accept mediocrity, don't accept things as they are now.
"...there's always a solution to any clearly-defined problem..."
Terri Maxwell, 2020
- seek comfort in change (the more you move through the zones, the more comfortable you become with handling fear, grow and change so that better able to achieve your potential.
One way to handle this increase stress is to convert stress into enthusiasm (for more detail, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base).
"...These two seemingly different emotional states are in reality one and the same. Stress and enthusiasm cause almost the same chemical reactions in our brain. The actual way, however, we perceive them makes a big difference. Stress is blocking us as it tries to prevent us from defeat and failure. Enthusiasm opens us up so we can pursue success and win..."
Innobatics, 2022
iii) Learning (need to overcome fear to move into this zone; increasing focus on solutions and positivity rather than problems and negativity; start to use your imagination and creativity which gives birth to new opportunities, ideas, etc that need implementing, ie
"...A quick look around, reminds us of all the miracles human civilisation has achieved: science, constructions, technology, socialisation, art..."
Innobatics, 2022
If we stayed in our comfort zone, we would not have achieved these things.
Furthermore,
"...We are facing our challenges. We focus more on solutions than problems, spot new opportunities and acquire new skills......We have expanded our comfort zone and feel more comfortable and secure than before..."
Innobatics, 2022
Your creative brain (prefrontal cortex) pushes for change and improvement, while our animal brain (amygdala) wants us to stay where we are
"...The creative mind provides logical arguments for the potential benefits of change, whereas the animal brain brings up all the excuses, difficulties, problems and obstacles..."
Innobatics, 2022 )
iv) Growth (acceptance of the new norm; focus on positivity and gratitude; value and nurture relationships
"...expand your growth zone: by challenging your limits and looking for solutions, your comfort zone will expand into growth..."
Terri Maxwell, 2020
"...Old fears slowly fade away......new ones may appear. We have increased our resilience and we are seeking more ambitious goals. We honour our talents and develop our skills. As our personal development continues, our life gains a lot more meaning......Our self-motivation and ability is also considerably improved..."
Innobatics, 2022
Some additional comments
- desired discomfort, ie handling difficulties
In moving through the zones, desired discomfort can be used to advantage. It can help you develop and grow faster.
"...the lack of difficulties makes us soft and weak, discomfort in healthy dosages will make us strong and resilient......know no-one ever excelled in too much convenience......Learn to make peace with discomfort..."
Innobatics, 2022
- neuro-plasticity (for more detail see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base)
It shows that our minds are programmed to continuously learn, change and improve. The brain
"...creates new neurons, new paths, new sub-programmes. It self-upgrades daily depending on our thoughts, actions and behaviour..."
Innobatics, 2022
- learn from failures
"...1. Write a list of your biggest life failures so far
2. Can you think of something positive in each one?
3. What lessons have you got?
4. In what ways have you become better after each failure?..."
Innobatics, 2022
Summary
"... - Ask yourself: "what is holding me back?" Name it. Make it conscious. Face fears and move through them
- Seek solutions: in any area of your life you want to change, look for solutions. Don't accept mediocrity, don't accept what is. There is always a solution to any clearly defined problem.
- Expand to the growth zone: by challenging your limits and looking for solutions, your comfort zone will expand into growth. And, when you do that, there is nothing you can't achieve,,,"
Terri Maxwell, 2020
The progression through the zones is non-linear; it can be circular.
Emotional regulation requires much effort. For example, handling emotions like anxiety, especially if it comes in large doses. This is best done in incremental steps, ie
"...expand your boundaries in a progressive, gradual manner.....to build a healthy immunity, which in turn will help you drive further away, more often and with more confidence. With practice, you can do with ease something that sometime ago seemed impossible..."
Innobatics, 2022
Also, you have the choice of how you respond to different challenges, opportunities, etc
The 4 zones as a diagram
(sources: Innobatics, 2022; Terri Maxwell, 2020)
An extra zone/phase has been added to the above, ie enlightenment
(source: https://www.wku.edu/heretohelp/documents/fearcovid19.pdf)
An interesting video on the zones (see https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1583167081857220)