Hello there and welcome to my 115th blog.
We have recently returned home from a trip to Namibia.
It started as a group conversation while we were in the bush last May. We chatted about our next potential trip and Namibia was thrown into the mix as a favoured destination. Enthusiastically, as is my wont, I heartily agreed that it would be a fantastic idea to visit this country, about which I knew so little.
Before we could say Abracadabra, and I kid you not, it had been organized by one of the chaps in this group. Mails were sent and without further ado, the decision was made to book and pay for a twelve-day trip to Namibia, all sealed and sorted fourteen months prior to our departure.
Here I need to say that Rich totally assumed the cap for this holiday, which is unusual. In retrospect, I think perhaps it was due to the fact that at that time, I was quite busy, and he was not. For the most part when organizing our holidays out of the country, I book the accommodation, and Rich books the flights, trains and cars. More often than not, a great deal of research goes into this. Somehow because we felt that the leadership of this particular journey had been solely given to, assumed, or thrust upon, one of our friends, we just went with the flow.
The rest of last year passed by very eventfully as many of you know, and the trip to Namibia was put on the back burner. In fact, were the truth to be told, I didn’t really think about it much until it was almost upon us. So little did I ponder, that I only started my search for a locum to cover my practice ten days before we were due to leave. Also, always and omnipresent, are my fears about my mum, my brother, Pops, and the Boys. Whenever we leave the city for a break, which is often, I worry that something will happen to one or more of them. However, I digress.
The blog is about my removing myself from my comfort zone, and this is where it all begins.
Let me explain.
- As chatted about above, I did not research for the trip, and I was not the one booking accommodation or tours. I went with the flow. This is alien for me, and it took me totally out of my comfort zone as I had no control over any of it.
- I organized and packed and shopped totally last minute which again is so not what feels comfortable or comforting for me. I relied on the thoughts and ideas of others and just rolled with the punches.
- I have camped once in my life when we did a family Orange River trip many moons ago. That seemed a dim and distant memory and I just remember the boys doing everything. That tent was on the ground. This tent was above our car and there was a steep ladder leading up to it and down from it. I manged to fracture and dislocate my left baby toe just prior to our departure so the ladder story proved to be quite painful. I also was worried that having to descend backwards, I may well fall on the way down. No comfort zone there.
- Then there is the story of abluting outside and, with the solid material, having to burn the loo paper, and bury the business. I never get constipated, but for the first day or two, it was close. TMI (too much information) perhaps but feel it is necessary for the purposes of this blog. It did become easier, and the outdoor loo always had an amazing view, and we just revelled when the camp site had real flushing toilets. However not the most comfortable, nonetheless.
- Dune driving was beyond scary for me. The anticipation of this was perhaps even worse. I am not a dare devil in any form or on any platform, and with the stress that we have been through in the last nine months, my capacity to handle unusual and unknown stuff seems to be almost non-existent. Rich did an unbelievable job of navigating his way through sand, stones, rock and salt pans, but I was the most awful jabbering idiot of a co-pilot, swearing nonstop, and completely out of my comfort zone. Gazillions of rescue tablets and litres of rescue remedy helped somewhat. In retrospect, I actually revelled in the adventure but at the time found it quite horrid.
- What I wear gives me confidence and self-assurance. I packed so badly for this trip, and this really made me feel ill at ease often. It may sound strange, and a proper first world problem to have, but this really did take me out of my comfort area.
- At one stage of our trip, we had no idea where we were going and relied on a friend who had mapped out the five-hour trip. There was some confusion and at one stage we were not sure where we were going. By the time we ended up together, about two thirds into the journey, I was a basket case, and the other two vehicles were given a veritable tongue lashing from me. Not my finest moment, but I was frightened and felt completely out of my comfort zone.
- I ate a mopani worm. Seriously, I did. Now I am not a fussy eater, but I do not do snails, chickens’ feet, brains or hearts. It was quite chewy, certainly not comfort food and not the greatest pleasure to munch.
- I am a bit of a panic queen and felt very out of control a number of times on the trip. This made me feel uneasy and unsafe, although in reality this was a total misread.
So, why am I recounting all of this? Well, it would seem from some reading I have done, that embracing discomfort, and some uncertainty leads us to the true magic of life and that this typically happens outside of our comfort zones. I can absolutely verify this, as our trip to Namibia was up there as one of the best trips we have been blessed to have.
If we know that it is good for us to feel some levels of discomfort, why do we struggle so to step outside of our comfort zone?
Apparently, evolutionarily we are strongly motivated to feel competent and in control, and we prefer clarity and predictability over ambiguity and uncertainty. Trying new uncomfortable things can feel threatening especially if these things challenge our need to feel proficient. Extensive research has shown that when faced with decisions, we tend to favour maintaining the status quo. So, the potential costs of change feel more significant than their potential benefits.
However, there are a number of benefits to stepping outside our comfort zones.
- Self-integrity and self-efficacy
We can strengthen our self-integrity, which is the quality we possess of being truthful and honest with ourselves and others and aligning our behaviours with our values and ethics. Overcoming a challenge outside of our comfort zone can increase this as we feel more competent and confident with uncertainty.
Our self-efficacy can also be enhanced, as by pushing ourselves beyond our limits, we realize how much more we are capable of and this can help us thrive.
I definitely feel that my self-efficacy had been improved. The jury is still out on my self-integrity, for I do struggle with this at times.
- Growth mindset
I devoted a whole blog to mindset, but as is so often the case, I tend to struggle at times with practising what I preach.
I do, however, believe that being able to manage out of my comfort zone through a great deal of this trip, that this has honestly enhanced my growth mindset, which is such a good and positive thing. This can expand the awareness I have of my world and how I can better fit into it.
- Less regrets
I came home from this trip, having so few regrets. Well, perhaps I could have been less of a ninkumpoop whilst being in the dunes and on the scary roads, but I am really pleased with the way in which I managed the trip and with the risks I took, mostly. I have regretted not doing stuff before and am hoping now that I will take a few more risks in the future. Watch this space!
- Anti-fragility
Before we went on the trip, I really did feel quite fragile, for a number of reasons. I can confidently say that jumping (not just stepping) out of my comfort zone has decreased my fragility. I really hope that I am able to maintain this. The term anti-fragility is an actual thing and refers to the ability to gain strength from adversity.
- Resilience
Challenging myself to move out of my comfort zone may increase my ability to handle setbacks or stress or failure. I am hoping this makes me more comfortable with increased levels of anxiety and uncertainty.
- Self-actualization
Being able to achieve one’s full potential can apparently be enhanced by moving out of one’s comfort zone and discovering new opportunities and meeting new people. This can help us become the best version of ourselves and achieve our goals. I will let you know how this one pans out.
So, here’s to leaping out of our comfort zones!
With thanks to Stephanie Cornwall and Jessica A. Kent