How often do you step out of your comfort zone? Are you good at getting out of your box once in a while? If not, I highly encourage you to do so. Stepping out of your comfort zone and away from complacency is one way to live an abundant life.

Have you heard the saying by Mark Twain:

“Why not go out on a limb? That is where the fruit is?”

I try to remind myself of this. Life is short!

Life is too short to NOT get out on that limb and go after the fruit . . . the sweet stuff.

Life is too short to NOT get out on that limb and go after the fruit…the sweet stuff. Click To Tweet

All you need to do is make a conscious decision to leave the security of your comfort zone . . . every day. If this sounds uncomfortable, you can start by taking baby steps and then graduate to running leaps.

Your comfort zone or your ‘box’ keeps you trapped. It keeps you stuck in a safe and unimaginative life. It’s comfortable and cozy and extremely familiar but not very exciting.

Your comfort zone keeps you trapped in a safe and unimaginative life Click To Tweet

Before I started my first blog about my journey to surf every Wednesday for a year, I had become complacent. I was living a ho-hum life just going through the motions. I wasn’t trying anything new. I wasn’t excited about life. In fact, I was taking life for granted. But then, a simple decision to set a goal to surf 52 Wednesdays no matter what, and the blog that followed, flipped on a switch for me. I didn’t have to make a huge life changing choice to get out of the box I was wrapped safely in. I just had to make a conscious decision to try something new and to be okay with a little fear.

Traditionally, I have not been a “computer person.”  Computers scared and frustrated me. (Well, they still frustrate me).  🙂  But, because I fell in love with blogging,  I was forced to confront this idea that I had myself pigeonholed in. I was forced to step out of my comfort zone and face the discomfort of not knowing.  Now, I am slowly on my way to becoming pretty proficient when it comes to computer bloggy tech stuff. Who knew?

I NEVER would have known had I listened to what my brain was trying to tell me. My brain was trying to discourage me. My brain was telling me I couldn’t possibly blog because I had never done it before; I was a new writer, and I wasn’t a “computer person.”  My brain told me it would be difficult and I would be a failure.

Good thing I didn’t listen to my brain. I listened to my heart.

My heart told me it didn’t matter if I was any good. I needed to try. I needed to follow my heart and see where this could lead. I needed to look at that fear square in the face and then tell it to get the hell out of the way.

After I moved past the fear and negative voices in my head telling me I couldn’t do it, I discovered I could. In fact, I discovered I am pretty bad ass. I discovered my confidence, my willingness to be okay with failing, and I uncovered new parts of myself.

I have found that outside of my comfort zone is where life is the sweetest!

I have found that outside of my comfort zone is where life is the sweetest Click To Tweet

Here’s the secret to stepping outside of your “box” or your comfort zone to live a large life; it doesn’t have to be a huge leap. It just has to be something. Something large or small that is new or different for you. It can even be something like ordering a totally different drink on the Starbucks menu rather than your usual latte. Just something to mix things up. That’s a start.

Now, if you wan’t to sell your car and travel around Europe for six months, I’m all for it. But, just know, it doesn’t have to be that drastic.

Little steps outside of your box will lead to bigger ones and that is where you will start discovering how awesome you can really be. That is where you’ll truly feel! You’ll truly LIVE. Where you’ll make the most of every day this life has to offer.

I have put together a list of (mostly) baby steps you can take to help you leave your comfort zone behind.

Here are 52 ideas, one for every week. 52 simple ideas to help you step outside of your comfort zone in some way to find the fruit, the sweet stuff; the excitement, the confidence and the awesomeness that is inside you.

These are all from my own list that I have been compiling for a while. Most aren’t expensive or extravagant. Just simple ways to make your life and you amazing!

1. Fly a kite
2. Try archery
3. Ride the bus
4. Go to a professional sporting event
5. Make soap
6. Learn calligraphy
7. Go snowshoeing
8. Buy a stranger lunch
9. Ride a mechanical bull
10. Sleep outside
11. Learn origami
12. Use only candlelight one night
13. Go on a road trip
14. Ride in a hot air balloon
15. Travel alone
16. When ordering a drink say “surprise me”
17. Eat dessert first
18. Go hiking
19. Send someone flowers
20. Build a fort indoors
21. Do a Polar Plunge
22. Lay on a football field at night
23. Go on a surf retreat
24. Clean a closet or cupboard I’ve been putting off
25. Try hookah
26. Buy the perfect little black dress
27. Attend an art gallery opening
28. Go on a police ride along
29. Have that difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding
30. Have a water gun fight
31. Do a cleanse
32. Play a prank
33. Take a dance class
34. Go on a yoga retreat
35. Hike to the Hollywood sign
36. Go to the Grand Canyon
37. Make a legit cocktail
38. Dance in the rain
39. Go to the Tonight Show
40. Star gaze
41. Do a random act of kindness
42. Take a painting class
43. Get a makeover
44. Go vegan for a week
45. Make homemade pasta
46. Go to a roller derby match
47. Do a corn maze
48. Sing karaoke outside of the living room
49. See a psychic
50. Start a business
51. Ride a dirt bike
52. Hop in the car and just drive. Stop to stay the night when the mood strikes me.

I’d love for you to do these, or items on your own list, and tell me about it.

Join me on this journey to make an ordinary life extraordinary!

Salty Kisses,

Karen