Taking the Plunge: How to Launch Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone

In the wee hours of this very morning, my first YouTube video uploaded for all to see. I could barely sleep knowing that the video was in the midst of completion, and checked my phone every hour or so to see any updates. When I saw it went live, I felt this odd sense of panic and relief; panic that my face and voice were now on a widely popular streaming platform, and relieved that I finally did it. Me, little Zoë who shakes at the prospect of talking in front of a room full of people, put myself out there while discussing a very sensitive topic at the same time.

I've been watching YouTube practically since it came out, and especially around 2012-2013 when beauty bloggers were becoming more popular. I remember watching Michelle Phan's videos on repeat in my college dorm room and buying her first round of Em Cosmetics products; I spent hours listening to Ingrid Nilsen's sage advice on self-care that included making yourself beautiful how you wanted, and her brave coming-out story; and I aww'd at how cute Dulce Candy's little family was, especially her son, Izek. I remember thinking how fun it looked, and how brave it was to put yourself out there like that for the world to see. But, being shy and insecure me, I couldn't bear the thought of putting a video of me talking about God knows what on the internet. But here I am, 7 years later, sitting proudly knowing I've done just that.

It can be a terrifying thing to push yourself way out of your comfort zone; your fight or flight instincts may kick in, scream, and shout in your face to "TURN BACK NOW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU MAY DIE!". But once my video finished uploading, I was still alive. I was still breathing, lying cozily under my bed's duvet, feeling a wild sense of accomplishment. This was something I had always wanted to do and never had the guts to follow through; I could earn a master's degree in London—but upload a video?? To YouTube?? Never! I'm still in disbelief that I actually did it, but there's no such thing as growth when you're stuck in your comfort zone.

"Ok Zoë," you may be thinking, "Good for you for uploading a mere video to YouTube. But what about real things people want to push through? Like quitting a job they hate but being afraid of unemployment and struggling to pay the bills?" Yes, those comfort zones are incredibly hard to get out of. I myself was in a job I hated, but luckily it was a fixed-term contract, so I knew that there was an end in sight as well as my family who let me live with them while I found my next job—not everyone is as lucky. If you are in a situation where you hate your job and fear leaving a steady paycheck for the unknown, make a plan: what are your hypothetical first steps if you quit this job? Do you have enough in your savings to last you X amount of months? Is there another job you know you want and can apply for? Write down every single minute detail you can think of so you know where you stand, and if there are any gaps, fill them. It may not feel like it all the time, but you are in control of your life.

Other times getting out of your comfort zone means simply leaving your house and going out to meet people at that sports club you've debated for months signing up for; asking that guy or girl out that you really like but are afraid of being rejected; or asking your boss for a raise. Whatever it may be, no change will ever happen if you stay where you're comfortable. I never would have learned French if I didn't take the plunge and take an au pair job that I was over-qualified for; I never would have earned my degrees if I stayed at home telling myself I wasn't smart enough for college; and I never would have overcome my fear of being seen (for the most part) if I hadn't signed up for my acting classes this past year. If you want to grow, grow out of your comfort zone.

If you're struggling to get out of your comfort zone, start journaling or talk to someone about why you feel that way. Is it your own insecurities? Real fears about being able to pay the bills? Not having the money to afford a babysitter so you can follow that new passion? Talk it out, write it out, then make a plan—that is the key. When I ended my au pair job and returned to California in the summer of 2018, I told myself that I had one month to find a new job, and you know what happened? I found a new nanny position with an amazing family just up the road from me less than a month after returning home. And the best part? The pay was about triple what I was making as an au pair. Make a plan, and follow through.

Whatever your goals are, you need to believe that you are capable of achieving them. Make yourself believe it by making a solid plan with actual steps so you follow through and see the progress. As you complete each step, you'll gain more and more confidence to keep pushing. No accomplished person ever got where they are by doing nothing. Believe in yourself and be your biggest supporter; if others see how confident you are, the more they'll believe in you, too.