“As you move out of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” –Robin S. Sharma

I heard the barking before I even stepped out of the car. It was my first day of volunteering at my local animal shelter, and I was ready to spend a few hours walking the dogs and hopefully sneaking in some puppy cuddles. I already had a dog of my own, and I had no trouble taking care of him, so how hard could it be?

The rest of the morning served as a reality check. Some dogs couldn’t even walk past each other’s kennels without snarling at each other and getting territorial. Some needed two people to walk them because they were so strong and rambunctious. Others would do anything to wriggle out of their harness.

By the end of my shift, I was exhausted, discouraged, and anxious—how on earth would I be able to handle these dogs?

I was tempted to simply not go back, but my pride wouldn’t let me. I had already told my family and friends how excited I was to volunteer at the shelter, and I didn’t want to look like a quitter. I chose to work through my stress, embrace the challenge, and sign up for more shifts.

Putting Mindfulness Into Practice

Two months later, I now realize that forcing myself out of my comfort zone has been extremely rewarding. My time at the shelter has slowly turned me into a pro at staying calm in stressful situations. Practicing yoga and meditation at home is great, but it means nothing until I can put mindfulness into practice during the rest of my day—volunteering at the shelter has given me the opportunity to do just that.

No matter what we do, stress will crop up in our lives from time to time. Purposefully putting yourself into situations outside of your comfort zone will be intimidating at first, but if you can learn to remain mindful in these scenarios, you’ll be able to do the same when something in your life unexpectedly goes off track.

When the dogs try to sneak past me and get out of their kennels, I have to stay focused and get them on the leash. When one dog starts growling at another, I can’t freak out. I have to take a deep breath and work quickly to separate them. When I’m walking a dog that will eat anything off the ground, I can’t allow myself to get distracted by anxious thoughts. I need to pay close attention at every moment.

On top of all that, it doesn’t hurt that playing with pets and volunteering have both been shown to improve mental health.

Be Patient With Yourself

If you choose to step out of your comfort zone by picking up a new hobby, joining an organization, or volunteering, it’s important to be patient with yourself. Accept that the first few times you try something new you’re going to be out of your element, but this doesn’t make you a failure—it’s a necessary and important step in the learning process.

There will be times in life when you are forced out of your comfort zone, but when you’re in control, you can take baby steps. And as you progress down your new path, you can make a conscious effort to practice calming mantras, deep breathing, and other tactics for staying mindful as you go.

By pushing my boundaries, I now feel confident in a situation that once stressed me out. Soon I’ll even be taking a test to see if I can move up a level and take on new responsibilities. This means stepping out of my comfort zone once again—but I know now that the obstacles will be worth it.

 

Jane Harkness is a freelance writer from New Jersey. Her writing has been published in Thought Catalog, Student Universe, Pink Pangea, and other digital platforms. She writes everyday on Medium, and you can check out more of her work on her website.