We all have our insecurities, doubts, and stubborn moments. These all tie-in with our inability to step outside of our comfort zone in our twenties. Don’t be afraid to say ‘yes’ once in a while. These are the years to embrace yourself!
It takes coming out of your shell and facing what you’re not used to in the real world.
If you’re someone who needs a little push, here are some tips for stepping outside of your comfort zone:
1. Be Confident, But Not Cocky
Stepping outside of your comfort zone can even mean showing off your good side, which means showing your confidence. But remember, being confident and cocky are two different things. Being confident isn’t always the easiest characteristic to let shine through. In order to build your self-confidence, it sometimes will come out the best when you do something that you’re afraid to do.
The difference between being confident and cocky is the way you deliver yourself. Showing off with arrogance or conceitedness will come off as cocky. As twenty-somethings and members of Gen Y, we want to have confidence with everything we do. As Joyce Meyer, author and speaker, would say, “Confidence is sexy…wear it daily.”
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2. Admit You’re Wrong
No one is perfect. Admitting you’re wrong and accepting your flaws is tough, and it’s supposed to be. In our digital age we forget that our lives aren’t always picture perfect as our Instagrams make them seem, don’t we?
We have our moments at work or in a relationship where we weren’t really okay with accepting that we were wrong. It’s okay if you’ve miscommunicated at work with a co-worker or client. Those silly mistakes will help set up a better foundation on how you communicate at work to make sure that doesn’t happen again. You might be frustrated when they happen, but later on you’ll be thankful and laugh it off — trust me.
Being a twenty-something means you have to embrace the power of making mistakes to get you where you want to go in life.
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3. Take Risks
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, said “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
We turn heads the wrong way at work because we’re “too young” or “haven’t had enough experience” in order to excel. There’s nothing wrong with taking the risk with an idea and going with it! Most likely, those risks will turn out for the best because you followed your gut instinct. Those risks will help turn heads for the right reasons.
Stepping out of your comfort zone could be moving your life to a different state or out of the country. The ability to up and move will only allow you to grow in your twenties. These are the years to step out of your comfort zone, because before you know it, we’ll be thirty-somethings.
By taking a risk you are putting yourself in a position where you can be at loss, but will always stand tall and push yourself to prevail.
4. Be Yourself
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. It’s tough in certain circumstances, such as at a new job interview or meeting someone for the first time. Those phases of not being yourself will eventually wear off once you feel comfortable in the situation. Most likely just a few weeks!
There are times when we ‘people please.’ It’s pretty unavoidable for most of us. People pleasing is a big phenomenon for twenty-somethings because we want everyone to like us. As twenty-something women, it’s hard for us to realize that not everyone has to like us. It’s time for some real talk about stepping outside of your comfort zone and being true to your ‘normal self.’ What is normal these days? Nothing is normal — so be yourself and do what makes you happy.
[Tweet “What is normal these days? Nothing is normal — so be yourself and do what makes you happy.”]
In reality, we tend to think negatively instead of positively when it comes to stepping outside of our comfort zones. There will always be that “what if” feeling if you don’t take that leap of faith.
Do you always want your biggest mistake to be the one you never took? Wise words from Howard Walstein, “Do something uncomfortable today. By stepping out of your box, you don’t have to settle for what you are- you get to create who you want to become.”
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About the Author
Karli is a West Virginia University graduate with a B.S. in Public Relations and a minor in Business Administration. She is a content writer and public relations specialist at a web design company in Oklahoma. In her free time, you can find her blogging, watching sports, drinking wine and coffee, working out, and loving floral everything. She hopes to own a small business one day.
Website: www.madambeautymark.com/