How do you feel when you are out of your comfort zone?
“Well, duh, Rick,” you are probably saying. “Uncomfortable.”
I have been teaching a basic songwriting course for the past three years at a local community college. The program runs for six weeks, on Saturdays, in January and February. It is a program for talented and gifted children from the surrounding counties. They offer a variety of classes for the children choose. My wife even teaches a magic class. It is so amazing the amount of talent these kids have. They are grades five through eight.
I am comfortable with my course, I wrote it. About a week ago, the director called and ask if I would take over another class called Got Talent: Music. Not sure what happened, but the original instructor will not be presenting this class this year. I am to teach it for one session which is two Saturdays. After looking over his program material, I told the director that I would do the class, but would change, and add some stuff because the original material looked boring. She agreed to the changes so now I am ready. Yes, I am ready for the two sessions of my regular course, but I am excited, and a little nervous about the new one.
I think it is a good feeling to be outside of our comfort zone, sometimes. It lets me know I am alive, and keeps my mind active.
When was the last time you were out of your comfort zone? How did it go?
Rick Starkey 
I HATE talking on the phone. I’m very clumsy with my words, and get tongue tied (I am this way in person if it’s the first time I’ve met you and I have to carry on a conversation with you).
So, I had an individual who wanted to hire me to write a series of children’s books for her company. She wanted to speak on the phone. I was very nervous, and very much out of my comfort zone. It turned out great! She had me laughing, and asked all the right questions to put me right in my comfort zone.
It worked out for the best, and I got the contract, so out-of-comfort zone can definitely be a good thing 🙂
Congrats on your contract, Katie. I think sometimes we make things worse by the way we worry about them before they actually happen.
Thanks for sharing.
Good post, Rick,
I’m out of my comfort zone right now. A character and an idea for a new novel came to me literally in the middle of the night, and wouldn’t quit bugging me until I began to write it. But it is obviously going to be a paranormal story, something I’ve never written, and seldom read. I’ve gotten about 7 pages into it, now I’m “hooked,” but at the same time, I’m stumped! Where is this going, and how am I going to get there!! But I’m not giving up, I’m going to give it my best shot.
Way to go, Mikki. Never give up!
You’re absolutely right, Rick. If we never leave our comfort zone and face unfamiliar—even scary—things, we never grow.
Thanks, Anne. Sometimes it’s fun to look back at what scared us and see where we have grown. Sometimes it’s fun to laugh at ourselves and laugh at what scared us.
I like making myself go outside my comfort zone. It forces me to learn things about myself and find new things I like.
Thanks, Kelly. Your right, I think that is one reason I agreed to take the class.
This takes me out of my comfort zone. I’m not very computer savy and it scares
me.I know to be succesfull in my writing I need the step out in the cyber world and go for it. Thanks for helping me make that first small step.
Ann B.
Just take it one step at a time, or one post at a time.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m usually ALWAYS out of my comfort zone. When I’m not, I’m at home writing, reading, or making clay creatures, cooking, etc. When I’m around people that are NOT my family, I am not comfortable. 😀
I have performed in bands, playing and singing. As long as I had a guitar in my hand, I was fine. Had to sing once at a wedding without the guitar, only a microphone, It felt very awkward. Now, my wife and I perform magic shows. Through it all I have always felt more comfortable in front of strangers. When I have family in the audience I feel so out of my comfort zone.
Thanks, Katrina.
Rick, a songwriting course and your wife’s magic course both sound so interesting!( I imagine songwriting is rather like writing poetry.) Kudos for stepping out of your comfort zone. Read somewhere that if something is grand enough to make one nervous or uncomfortable, that is what we HAVE TO DO. I have to keep reminding myself to step up to challenges.
Yeah, Claudine, at times we have to step out. Those feelings let us know we are still alive. It’s fun,