We all have that little spot inside our heads where we feel safe, secure, comfortable. It’s our comfort zone. This is a natural thing. After all, who wants to feel uncomfortable? That’s crazy talk, brotha.

So while feeling good is a normal and healthy desire, the drawback is that if we never venture outside of our comfort zone then our circumstances will never change. Imagine an animal in the wild. At night, he may sleep in his den and dream dreams of whatever it is animals dream about when their legs kick. He feels safe and secure and all is well in the animal kingdom. The next morning, however, he’s got to leave the safety of his den to forrage for food or he’ll die. So while it may not be comfortable, the alternative is not an option.

So many of us fall into this trap in our lives. Are you allowing your comfort zone to hold you back? Is fear creating a life that is stressful and unfulfilling? How different could things be if you stepped outside of your (self-imposed) box?

Don’t stay in your den all day. Sometimes you’ve got to venture outside, no matter how scary, and explore. Do things you’ve never done. Go places you’ve never been. If you can conquer that fear, you are well on your way to creating a life that formerly you had only dreamt of. (You can stop kicking your legs now.)