Why do we struggle to fulfil our goals? Because it takes more than a dream. It takes action. So, stop being lazy and take a step forward. Isn’t that simple, right? Not quite.
A part of our ancient brain always seeks shortcuts to save us from pain and gain pleasure. It’s quite happy when we’re in a comfort zone. People rarely change things when they feel comfortable. Yet, another part of our brain — intelligence — knows that not everything comforting is sustainable. Neither is everything indulging healthy. Our intelligence also comes with a nudging discomfort of unfulfilment, reminding us that a downward journey feels easier than climbing up.
However, whatever the logic is — unless all our parts are in alignment, there will be malfunctioning, and we’ll keep failing our goals even if we get equipped with all the productivity hacks. Try, for example, to produce a masterpiece when you’re hungry or maintain sharp focus after you haven’t slept for three days. Even if you’re enormously driven by your idea on a mental level — to turn your vision into reality, you’ve got to ensure that all parts of you are on board.
Satisfaction First
If you read this article about different parts of our brain responsible for various types of decision-making, you might remember that there’s a part of our brain that looks after immediate satisfaction and comfort to ensure our survival. Once that is accomplished, another part of our brain aims to embrace our emotional peace, and then, there’s a third one responsible for our cognitive abilities and straight thinking.
Whenever we set our goals, we need to ensure they resonate with us at all levels. If you remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — whatever your objective is, your basic needs require satisfaction first.
The Temptation Trap
Sometimes, we get carried away with something that tends to provide rewards sooner instead of passionately waiting for long-term outcomes. The part of our brain looking after instincts and emotions doesn’t feel necessary for us to postpone the pleasures and could even trick logic.
You might remember hearing that voice whispering, ‘It’s okay, take it easy today — you deserve some rest. It’ll only help your productivity.’ Well, it might well do, and we all need rest. But if it’s a sudden deviation from your planned course of action due to external temptations, it tends to bring regret or disappointment later. Remember, there’s no one else other than you responsible for sticking to your plan.
However, our actions are driven to an enormous degree by how we feel and not how we think. It doesn’t matter what you think is a priority. Whatever you feel good about deep down inside and comfortable with, even if consciously you’d object to that choice, will, inevitably, be your priority.
The Power of Vision
The only reason we struggle to resist temptations is a lack of compelling reasons why our priorities are worth sacrificing momentary pleasures.
That’s why the vision should always come first. Reminding ourselves what we want to achieve long-term and why, we reinforce our motivation when things get tough and we become vulnerable to distractions. And we need clarity — what our goals will enable us to achieve. That’ll help us to have our priorities aligned.
Afterwards, we do need to step into that vision to feel good.
For example, sleeping till noon naturally appears more pleasant than sweating in a gym. Yet, if you want six packs, you’ve got to remind yourself how it’ll make you feel having them. Otherwise, you’ll give up pretty quickly under the pressure of temptation.
Replaying that vision in your head allows you to re-access the feelings you’re after, which are the driving force behind your actions.
Steps to Break Free from the Comfort Zone
- Get Honest With Yourself: A comfort zone isn’t always a bad sign. Why does it bother you? Do you want to achieve more? Your life standard doesn’t meet your expectations? Or does being stuck in a comfort zone prevent your growth? List your reasons.
- Acknowledge and Accept Discomfort: Discomfort is a natural part of growth. When you feel uneasy, it’s often a sign that it’s time to push your boundaries. Embrace discomfort as a sign that you’re on the pathway to achieving something meaningful.
- Remove illusions and, seeing the true picture, decide what you want: We don’t always have to get distracted by the temptations. Sometimes we hide behind the illusion of comfort instead of pushing for what we truly desire. Or, we hide in a busy routine, only not to witness the true scale of a required change to get closer to the desired lifestyle. See things the way they are. We get inspired by a vision of what we want to achieve. Yet, sometimes an honest reality check is the best catalyst to give us a firm kick in a desired direction.
- Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Chunk your long-term goals into smaller, meaningful projects. This will make the process less intimidating and give you a clear roadmap. Each small victory will also build momentum and confidence.
- Visualise Your Success: Imagine what it will look like, and how it will feel. Get also clear on the desired outcomes of your achievements. This practice will make the end goals more attainable, reinforcing your motivation.
- Create a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with a support circle of people with sufficient expertise to act as role models motivating you to move forward and showing you by example what hights are attainable. Share your goals with them and onboard their feedback before you face challenges. A strong support bubble can provide accountability and boost your morale. Yet, always remember to rely only on yourself — nothing makes us stronger than taking full responsibility in our hands.
- Develop a Routine: Establish a daily routine that includes time for working towards your goals. Consistency is key to breaking out of the comfort zone. A structured routine helps create habits that make it easier to stay on track.
- Learn from Failures: Accept that setbacks and failures are part of the journey. Instead of getting discouraged, view them as learning opportunities. Analyse what went wrong, adjust your approach, and keep moving forward.
- Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your progress. Are you moving closer to your goals? What’s working and what’s not? Be willing to adjust your plan as needed to stay on track.
- Celebrate Milestones & Reward Yourself: Recognise and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Reward yourself along the way — that’ll boost your motivation and reinforce the positive behaviour needed to achieve your goals.
Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Aspirations
Often, our actions are driven by immediate needs and emotional states. Therefore, it’s crucial to balance satisfying these needs while keeping an eye on long-term aspirations. Here’s how you can achieve that:
- Prioritise Self-Care: Ensure your basic needs are met. Regular sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise are essential. When your body is well-nourished and rested, your mind is more capable of focusing on long-term goals.
- Set Boundaries: Identify and set boundaries to protect your goal-related activities. This might mean saying No to certain activities or minimising distractions during work.
- Reward Yourself: Integrate small rewards for achieving short-term goals. This creates a balance between immediate gratification and long-term success. The rewards can act as motivation without derailing your progress.
- Mindful Decision-Making: Practice mindfulness to become more aware of your choices and their impact. Mindfulness helps you stay present and make conscious decisions aligned with your long-term goals rather than succumbing to fleeting temptations.
The Role of Mindset in Escaping the Comfort Zone
Your mindset plays a critical role in escaping your comfort zone. Adopting a growth mindset — believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort — can significantly impact your willingness to embrace challenges and persist through difficulties.
- Embrace a Growth Mindset: View challenges as an opportunity to grow rather than obstacles. Understand that effort and perseverance are essential for improvement and success.
- Stay Curious: Cultivate curiosity and a desire to learn. Curiosity drives exploration and helps you stay engaged and motivated.
- Practice Gratitude: Regularly reflect on and appreciate the progress you’ve made. Gratitude can shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s working, fostering a positive outlook.
Conclusion
Breaking free from the comfort zone requires a multifaceted approach that aligns all parts of your being — your ancient brain seeking comfort, your intelligence recognising the need for growth, and your emotions driving your actions.
By acknowledging discomfort, setting clear goals, visualising success, and balancing immediate needs with long-term aspirations, you can overcome the inertia that holds you back. Embrace a growth mindset, stay curious, and practice gratitude to remain empowered and motivated.
And, remember, sometimes all it takes is a consistent action to break established patterns in order to turn a great vision into reality.
