I used to be one of those people, who always had to have a plan and a set structure. I had every aspect of my day, my week, my life planned out in front of me.
As I have gotten older, I realized that I probably missed out on tons of unstructured, spontaneous things because my “plans” blinded me from other great experiences. It’s one of those things I really tried to change about myself. Yes, I said change. Change, it isn’t always bad. In fact in many cases, it’s great and necessary. It’s good to get out of our safe, mundane lives that we blindly set forth on because of our “plans.”
I’ll never forget an expression that my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Legare, used to tell me. He often talked about “jumping out of our comfort zones.” That really resonated with me. It’s one of the reasons I went to an out-of-state college. Looking back, I couldn’t have chosen a better fit or school (M-I-Z!). It’s the reason why I studied abroad in London. It’s why I decided to explore internships (and now my first real grown up gig) in other cities and places (not in my hometown or Columbia, Missouri). Looking back, all of these experiences are some of my favorites. Had I not jumped out of my comfortable little bubble, I may not have experienced any of these.
As I have entered into the grown-up hustle and bustle of the working world, I am determined to always remember to embrace change and leave my comfort zone every once in a while. I made a promise to myself that I would never let myself “settle” in any situation (whether that be personal or professional). Think about it. The minute you are too settled and too comfortable, that’s when the real trouble sets in.
So, I encourage everyone to get out, leave your comfort zone and embrace change and new opportunities. It doesn’t have to be all big things, like living abroad. Start off small. Evaluate how your life and goals (whether that be personal and professional) are progressing. Then, don’t be afraid to make the necessary changes to make those goals turn into a reality.
