Have you ever felt your heart start to race when you have to do something completely new and unfamiliar?
That moment when you stand on the edge of your comfort zone—between the safe but limiting space and the world of new opportunities.
…A few weeks ago, I received a call from my 9-year-old son’s school. My first thought? Is everything okay? But it wasn’t about my child—it was about me. Someone had attended one of my training sessions, and now the organizers had decided to invite my husband and me to be the hosts of Playbox. What? Where did this idea even come from?
Do you think I have ever done anything like this before? Nope. Had my husband? Also no. Did I immediately agree? Yes!
I love saying yes to new and exciting challenges—even when they’re intimidating. And luckily, my husband usually goes along with my crazy ideas.
And so, last Thursday, we found ourselves on stage in a completely new role—feeling both excited and slightly unsure. Umm… what exactly are we supposed to do? And what happens next?
And you know what happened? We nailed it! At the end of the day, I turned to my husband and said, “Wow, what an amazing experience!”
But why am I telling you this? Because it was yet another reminder that all the best things in life happen outside of our comfort zones.
Did I question in the morning why I was even doing this? Absolutely. Did I feel by the evening that it was one of the best decisions I had made? Absolutely.
Why do we fear new things?
The fear of the unknown is completely natural. We all feel it. Our brains are wired to protect us from anything that seems risky or uncertain—which, essentially, is every new thing. This protective mechanism is linked to our limbic system, especially the amygdala, which reacts to anything that might seem like a threat—even if that “threat” is simply public speaking, making a social media post, or starting a new project. Especially if it involves being in the spotlight.
Most of the time, it’s not even the new action itself that we fear, but rather the possibility of failing, facing criticism, not being liked, or not meeting expectations—whether our own or someone else’s. That list of “But what if…?” thoughts can get so long that it feels easier not to start. And that fear automatically pulls us back into our comfort zone—where it’s safe but where nothing really changes.
In reality, your brain isn’t telling you that you can’t do something—it’s just telling you that it’s new and unfamiliar. And the brain loves what is familiar and safe.
Here’s an important truth: Everything you can do today was once something you couldn’t do.
What Does Personal Branding Have to Do with the Comfort Zone?
In one sentence—you don’t build an extraordinary personal brand while staying in your comfort zone.
A personal brand is your unique combination of skills, values, passion, style, strengths, experiences, and your story—complete with all its highs and lows—that you dare to share with the world. But if you always stay in the safe and familiar, you won’t grow, you won’t stand out—and being invisible is one of the biggest risks when it comes to personal branding.
If you don’t step out of your comfort zone, then:
- You won’t discover new skills or strengths.
- You won’t create new and exciting opportunities.
- Your personal brand won’t evolve because you’re not showing your versatility or potential.
Imagine two people.
Person A does the same things every day and stays in the shadows. Person B dares to take risks, share their thoughts, and step into the spotlight—even when it feels scary.
Which one inspires you more? Which one captures your attention, whose thoughts would you listen to, and who would you want to collaborate with? Who would you even notice and remember in today’s fast-paced world?
The rule of Personal Branding:
The more successful you want to be, the more visible you need to be. And the more visible you need to be, the more you have to step outside your comfort zone.
How to expand Your comfort zone consciously? Shift Your perspective—what if You turned a challenge into a game?
1. Take one small step outside Your comfort zone
It does not have to be something big. In fact, it’s best to start small.
Here are a few ideas:
- Post something on social media about a topic that matters to you or that inspired you today.
- Start your day with a cold shower (yes, that’s also stepping out of your comfort zone!).
- Ask for advice or a collaboration opportunity from someone you admire.
- Do something you’ve been putting off because it feels uncomfortable.
If the step feels too big, make it even smaller. If “publish an article” feels overwhelming, start by jotting down your first ideas.
2. Challenge vs. Game
Our brain loves to play. If we see something as a challenge, it can feel heavy and stressful. But what if we approached it as a game instead?
“I HAVE to do something new.” → “Let’s see how exciting this can be!”
“But what if I fail?” → “But what if it turns out even better than I imagined?”
“This is too hard.” → “I’ll just try and see what happens!”
Example: If you want to make your first video for social media, it might feel terrifying. But what if you treated it like a game? “I’ll challenge myself—can I say something interesting in just 10 seconds?”
This removes the pressure and makes it easier and more fun.
3. To make change easier, turn it into a game
Ask yourself:
- “What’s the smallest step I can take today?”
- “Can I do this for just 5 minutes?”
- “If this were a game and I had nothing to lose, how would I approach it?”
The more you treat things as a game, the easier it becomes to step outside your comfort zone.
4. Reward Yourself for trying something new
We learn and grow through positive reinforcement. So, celebrate every time you step out of your comfort zone!
- Give yourself a pat on the back.
- Check off a box in your “comfort zone challenge” list.
- Treat yourself (even if it’s just a cup of good coffee or 10 minutes of your favorite activity).
What Will This Give You?
- You’ll realize that most fears are simply about the unfamiliar—and they fade once you take action.
- You’ll discover that growth and progress are much easier when you shift your perspective.
- You’ll gain more confidence because you’ll see that you’re capable of more than you thought.
- And most importantly—you’ll start truly living your life.
When I said “yes” to hosting Playbox, I had no idea what would happen. But I decided that this was my chance to play outside the box—to step outside my comfort zone. And when that amazing day was over, I felt proud, gained new experiences, and learned something valuable about myself.
The same applies to you.
So, let me ask you:
What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because it feels too scary? What’s a small step that feels just a little uncomfortable but still doable?
Take that first small step.
You never know what might become possible once you do. But looking back, you’ll realize that the exciting personal brand that creates new opportunities and inspires others is built on these small and big steps outside your comfort zone.
Join me on a journey to building a global personal brand https://olesija.ck.page/a33576a470
