The current covid-19 pandemic is testing all of us immensely and the myriad of emotions and levels of stress are potentially hugely damaging in the short and longer term.
We all to a greater or lesser extent live in our comfort zone which is the dark blue area to the left on the above diagram.
There is a well known theory that shows that whilst most of us operate within our comfort zone, real success comes from reaching our growth zone and to do that we have to step away from the comfort zone and take a journey through our fear zone and learning zones before we can reach the growth zone.
The above diagram relates this theory to the current covid-19 pandemic and, I hope, will help bring some semblance of understanding and direction to you and your activities and interactions with others.
Below is a more detailed explanation of stepping away from your comfort zone and reaching the growth zone.
As an entrepreneur, an employee or even as an individual, we tend to be satisfied with what we have and not to seek to leave the zone in which we are used to evolving.
This zone is called the comfort zone. This is the zone in which we have a heightened sense of control and security. Nevertheless, this is the zone where nothing new is happening. In order to become better, the challenge will be to move out of the comfort zone and into the growth zone.
The growth zone is the zone in which you will be able to achieve exceptional success. This is the zone where you will have achieved your main objectives and where you will be able to define even more ambitious new ones. Most successful people have made this journey and have taken the risk of leaving their comfort zone.
Step out of your comfort zone into the fear zone
Once you have made the decision to leave your comfort zone, you will reach an unknown zone. This is the fear zone. To reach this zone of fear and evolve successfully, you must learn to see failure as a stepping stone to success.
In the fear zone, you will probably lack self-confidence. The opinions of others may affect you. Worse yet, they may discourage you. Nevertheless, with your desire to move forward and reach the growth zone, you should just stop for a moment and think about what you are doing and why. This is essential.
Stopping to think will allow you to move on to become successful. That is a certainty. You must remain convinced of this.
Get out of the fear zone and enter the learning zone
Your passage through this new and unknown zone of fear can last for some time. You will persevere and successfully cross this zone. You will then enter the learning zone. Once in this zone, you will be awaren of the opportunities available to you, and you will make the decisions to face the challenges and problems you will encounter.
You will learn new skills but it will not be without cost. To learn continuously throughout your life, you will have to become a learning machine. To do this, book reading, educational video content and mentoring will be your best allies.
By developing your ability to learn, you will naturally expand your comfort zone to gradually reach the growth zone.
Reaching the growth zone through learning
Through learning and perseverance, you will finally reach the growth zone. You will be able to realise your dreams and achieve your goals. But before that, you will have to find a goal. You can find your goal through 3 quick questions:
- What motivates you?
- What are your natural talents?
- What do others see in you?
When you have found what you love, what you know how to do and what others are willing to pay you for, all you have to do is target the union of these 3 sets to find your goal and see a gold mine of opportunities open up for you.
By remaining humble, persistent and mentally strong, you will be able to survive in this growth zone. You will eventually set new goals and achieve your major goals.
