Monday 22 June 2015

Your Comfort Zone is the Enemy of Your Progress

“Your comfort zone is the enemy of your progress”.

I said this to dear colleague of mine last week. It was a phrase I read a while back. I repeated it last week to make myself sound profound more than anything else. But it seems my colleague friend accepted the adage with enthusiasm and has since been repeating it to everyone else at work.


Enjoying a drink with my colleague
In fact this phrase is more true for my professional life because in the last few weeks it has benefited from a few upwards movements. It has all happened so fast, and although these movements have been largely positive, I can’t help but feel a bit dazed in the aftermath of it all. Remember in my third post, I told you that my contract at work had finished? Then in the sixth post, I told you I was getting ready to return to work? Well this week, in fact today, I started a new job. 

“Madeline. Make yourself clear”, you might be whispering to yourself. 

Let me explain.

I have been working at my company since 2010. In 2014, I signed a contract to cover a colleague’s maternity leave in another part of the business. When that ended last month, my return to my original post was inevitable, and I did in fact occupy my original post for week. Then I was successful in my application to yet another maternity cover (yes, same business), and hence the whirlwind of activity in my work life.

I used the term dazed because although I thankfully have the familiarity of moving within the same company, I am not someone who embraces change so readily (I'm working on this). I am very pleased at being shortlisted from a pool of equally talented candidates, but this new role does comes with a bit more responsibility. However in my not wanting my comfort zone to tie me down and keep me as an enemy to my own progress I decided to take on this challenge
Need I say more?
This is exactly what your comfort zone is -  the enemy of your progress.

Don't shy away from a challenge!
There is nothing wrong with your comfort zone, because in life I feel we do need it at times to provide us with some grounding when other areas of life are not stable. However, be it your career, business, relationships or the pursuit of a personal interest it can also be the golden handcuff that might glisten like a new bracelet but is in fact keeping you chained to stagnation.


My creature comforts. I am in the zone!

How did I know it was time to move? I simply felt it. Here are some of the things that I experienced, which I feel are some of the hallmarks of outgrowing your current position in life:

1. I was bored at work 
I felt unchallenged. I literally used to fill up the work day with reading pages on Wikipedia, calculating my monthly budget and engaging in anything else I thought would distract me.

2.The slightest occurrences annoyed me
This I know this boiled down to frustration. I wasn't happy with myself and I feel I did actually do an 'emotional dump' on most people who crossed me at work, and this included managers! I no longer had respect for authority because I felt they were the ones holding me back. (I will address this in further detail in another post)

3. I felt overqualified
You might have attended every course going at work, and when this happens, it is time to move on. I didn't sign up to any courses at work but I did continue with my studies. I feel this is the only way I used my "golden handcuff" positively. My boredom pushed me to do my Masters in International Communication and Diplomacy. 



I hope I have helped you in identifying the areas in your life that need a little bit of shaking up. Please do leave comments below on how you are getting on with progression.

Lastly, I want to thank those of you who have been reading this blog and personally informing me how much you enjoy it. Please do let me know if you have any suggestions on ways to make this blog more enjoyable for you. And please do follow by clicking on the "Bloglovin'" tab on the side. You can also subscribe by email (also on the right hand panel).
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6 comments

  1. Well done Madeline. I wish you great success in reaching your goals. I'm really encouraged and proud of the content of your blog. May we always have the perspective that change starts with our thinking and subsequently our actions.

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  2. Well done Madeline. I wish you great success in reaching your goals. I'm really encouraged and proud of the content of your blog. May we always have the perspective that change starts with our thinking and subsequently our actions.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Auntie Patience. Congrats! You are my first commenter. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am pleased to know that the content of this blog is having an impact. I hope it helps in motivating you with your projects!

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  4. Madeline,
    Thus is awesome. Bold and encouraging.
    Auntie Bertha

    ReplyDelete
  5. Madeline,
    Thus is awesome. Bold and encouraging.
    Auntie Bertha

    ReplyDelete
  6. Madeline,
    Thus is awesome. Bold and encouraging.
    Auntie Bertha

    ReplyDelete

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