2026 is the year of getting out of my comfort zone. I have gone to open mic nights, got on a dating app, gone to church gatherings, began taking a The Success Breakthrough Workshop with Wendy Braun, taking vocal coachings, and an acting class with the Barrow Group. Honestly, staying at home can be so much easier than going out, but in order to get out of your comfort zone, you can travel, take a class or volunteer, or move to a new city or state.
Travel
If you have the money, get a passport and go visit a different country or go on a cruise ship. If you do not have the money, take a job that will pay you to travel. Work on a cruise ship, teach in a different country, or drive a truck for a company that pays you to travel. Furthermore, the United States is extremely vast and there is plenty to see in other parts of the country. The West Coast looks like a different world compared to the Mid-west, the East Coast or the South. All 5 regions are completely different in climate and appearance so visit them all if you can not travel abroad.
Take a Class or Volunteer
You can volunteer at a pet shelter, or church, or charitable organization. Take an art class, an acting class, a dance class to get out of your daily routine. When I was on the cruise ship, I met a woman who fell in love with ballroom dance classes after she went to a class years ago. Hobbies and activities and volunteering can give you an outlet outside of work and family life.
Move to a Different City or State
If you want to get out of your comfort zone, consider moving to a new city or state. Obviously, this will take some significant planning in order to execute, but it can be rewarding. When you get out of your hometown or home state, you will grow exponentially.
Yes, you will have to create a new community, but this is where the real growth comes in. When you stay in the same place our entire life, it does not challenge you. You can always move back home, but a little time away, even just a few years can make a huge difference in your personal growth.
Conclusion
If you are feeling stuck, try to get out of your comfort zone and change up the scenery a little bit, either temporarily or permanently. You can travel to new places, take a class or volunteer, or move to a new city or state. Lastly, if you come from a dysfunctional family, moving to a new environment can do wonders for your mental health in the long term.
Hope this helps,
Dominique Duarte
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul-Get-Out-of-Your-Comfort-Zone/Amy-Newmark/9781611591033
https://www.bydominiqueduarte.com/how-to-encourage-yourself/



