Near the end of last year, I did an Instagram poll inquiring if people are interested talking about comfort zones or dealing with a break-up, and unanimously, comfort zones got the most votes. It got me thinking about the shift happening not only within our society but within my generation. Recently I've seen a lot of women stepping out of the 9-5 to create their own business, a means of either a second income and/or eventually their sole income. It takes great levels of strength and faith to put yourself out there in a new way, a way that maybe a few people know about you. This post isn't to encourage you to leave your 9-5, but rather to push you just past your limits, rather it be in your career, academia, faith or something as trivial as your hairstyle.
From the moment we are born, we seek comfort. We only take classes and accept positions that we feel we are prepared for, stepping into the unkn own is a last resort. Many a times we don’t try new things due to fear, uncertainty and let’s be honest, complacency. We get so used to our daily routine, anything out of the ordinary will either confuse us or stump us. But there’s a saying, great things never came from comfort zones. Sometimes you need to be uprooted and placed in a situation of uncertainty to build your faith. God will not call you out to walk upon waters if He Himself did not do it!
I was always in the pews, it was my comfort zone, hence the moment I got called to do more I was afraid. But I can honestly say that stepping into a place of discomfort and uncertainty did two things: built my faith in God and brought me closer to my promise land! Additionally in the past few months, I came to the UK to further my education and trust me, it took a lot of prayer. I was scared, unsure and doubtful. I was entering new territory (LITERALLY!) all by myself with little direction. I took the plane, hopped in an Uber and navigated both the new city and school by myself. It was overwhelming, but I did it and you can too! The next stage God has placed before for you, no one can prepare you for, but believe me when I say everything you need is either inside you or in that next stage. Sometimes you can no longer grow in the place that produced you, so you must keep moving forward. But stay grounded in your morals, live your truth and make sure you have a strong foundation of faith, family and friends to keep your boat steady when the wind blows too hard.
There is probably a desire you have but you're scared to do it, so I encourage you to do things you’ve never done, go places you’d never go and speak to those who you’d never speak to. However please take note, although some of us took a leap of faith to be where we currently are, do not think it ends there. Sometimes that leap of faith becomes our place of comfort again. This life is about pushing boundaries and going just beyond what you think you can handle. You are endowed with so much more power than you know, tap into it and become the best version of yourself. The truth hurts but you don’t have to.