What’s more uncomfortable than a Monday? I’m all about that Namastay in Bed mantra, as I’m sure most of the entire population of humankind is too, but a Monday is just *particularly* ripe for staying in bed all comfy and cozy.

You know where else we like to stay comfy and cozy?

Comfort zones. We like our comfort zones like we like our beds – far too much sometimes. Today’s Monday Mantra is to help you kickstart your way out of the funk that you KNOW is keeping you comfortable and separated from the Great Perhaps (name that book reference!) of possibility that lies on the zone’s other side. We all know the saying: with great risk comes great reward. And it’s time to debunk the cliche and chat, because it’s due time that we get comfortable being a little bit uncomfortable in life.

We know when we’re comfortable. Life feels good, complacent, easy, routine. It’s a “can’t complain” sorta lifestyle full of expected happenings, where unexpected happenings are handled in expected kinda ways. We don’t like awkwardness or butterflies or nerves on the reg, because it can be hard. It’s hard taking the first step towards something that feels so big, whether that’s moving to a new city, starting a new job (or quitting your current one), ending a relationship, launching a business – even getting a new haircut or purging your shoe closet (because my fiance says I have too many shoes, but to that I just say he’s crazy because that’s impossible).

The awkwardness and butterflies and nerves are hard because with them often comes fear, anxiety, and stress that it won’t all work out. That it won’t work the way you hope it does, that you’re not ready, or that you somehow won’t be able to handle whatever comes your way as a result.

But the way I see it (and Eleanor Roosevelt would probably agree with me) we should always have something in the everyday works that’s a little bit scary. Not scary like Insidious 3, because that stuff is just horrifying and ain’t nobody got time to be scared pantsless. But scary in a way that gives you that feeling in your stomach that always appears right before you do something big. I don’t mean literally big or universally big… I just mean big to you. Maybe it’s giving a speech that you’ve spent hour perfecting, and you’re afraid of public speaking. Maybe it’s having the guts to cut off a relationship that you’ve been in awhile, when you just know in your heart that it’s not the right thing for you anymore. Maybe it’s coming up with this seemingly crazy entrepreneurial idea that you’re undeniably crazy passionate about, and having the chutzpah to make it happen. Or maybe it’s cutting out your daily Starbucks on your commute and instead trying a new tea or green juice for a bit. It’s leaving the comfortable behind.

I love this quote from Brian Tracy: “You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Why? Because that’s when you know that what you’re trying is worthwhile. You’re trying something that pushes you into new boundaries and helps you grow and blossom into your next, truest self. If you’re forever waiting until you’re “ready”, you might never start.

We’re all dynamic, evolutionary people in the sense that our bodies, thoughts, minds, personalities are constantly (hopefully) growing and changing. The experiences and information we gain and the people we meet work to mold us and change us and better us, as we continue on this neverending quest towards being our personal best. But we have to be open to change. We have to be open to getting blatantly uncomfortable sometimes to push ourselves into new grounds and really *grow*. Don’t stomach butterflies let you know that you’re onto something important?

When doors open, you have to be brave enough to walk through them. And that means leaving a comfort zone behind in the dust and doing things before “you’re ready.” Ready is just a state of mind, after all.

And if I can’t convince you to nix the comfort zone, maybe this can:

BOOM.

Now I want to ask you…

What’s something holding you inside your comfort zone? What’s the next step you’re going to take to get *out* of that play-it-safe space and make something happen?

You can do it, because you’re nothing short of incredible. And I want you to share this post with someone who you think needs a little extra encouragement today, to break a mold and get uncomfortable to get closer towards something big.

Now go grab a second coffee and shake things up today.