Bravery and the Meaning of Life (KEW Episode 127)

I spent most of my pre-teen and teenage years terrified of people. I was very shy. I stayed at home on Friday and Saturday nights while I was in high school.

And don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time. I played a lot of video games on my Commodore 64 computer. I learned to play guitar. I read cool books like the Carlos Castaneda series. I enjoyed my life.

But I didn’t interact with people a lot because it made me uncomfortable. This is where I learned about the ‘comfort zone’.

Later in life, I would have to face a terrible fear of public speaking and learn to teach college courses. It wasn’t easy, but I learned to love being in front of people. During the process, I became distinctly aware of the concept of a ‘comfort zone’.

I now see human discomfort as a sign. It is a signal that we are up against the unfamiliar. When we experience new things, we interpret the tingly, activated sensations as fear. It can also be seen as excitement. It’s hard to tell the difference. But when we feel afraid, we often retreat.

So the comfort zone is the edge of your familiarity with the world. And as you approach it, it lets you know by making you feel afraid.

The secret to moving forward, to human growth, to learning, and maturing . . . is to keep going anyway, despite the discomfort.

Going outside your comfort zone will make you uncomfortable, but doing so can also bring the greatest of life’s rewards.

To face your fears is brave. To be afraid but move forward anyway, is bravery. That’s what this week’s episode is about.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/530563/12909439

Video: https://youtu.be/VzeSIcal9mE