Overcoming Excuses: Embracing Growth and Fulfilment Beyond Our Comfort Zone

In our journey through life, we will encounter opportunities that can lead us to new incredible experiences, great personal growth and achievement of our deepest desires. These opportunities often require us to step out of our comfort zones of what we know and regularly experience, challenging us to confront our fears and uncertainties and face the unknown. It is at this point - on the cusp of change - that we may find ourselves making excuses to avoid committing to these new opportunities, despite knowing deep down and intuitively what we truly want to achieve and experience in our lives is beyond our comfort zone.

Excuses - which may seem 'fair enough' and 'make sense' on the surface - are a natural defence mechanism that our minds use to protect us from perceived threats of something new or potential discomfort because when we are in the learning state, it can be uncomfortable not to know what we are about to experience next.

These excuses not to commit to something new can stem from fears such as failure, rejection, or the unknown. When faced with the prospect of learning about or stepping into something new, our minds can generate a myriad of simple to complex excuses to rationalise why we should stay where we are, even if it means missing out on something truly meaningful to ourselves.

From a neuroscience perspective, our brains are wired to seek safety and avoid risk. This is due to the brain's natural tendency to conserve energy and avoid potential threats. When we are faced with a situation that requires us to step into something new, our brain perceives this as a potential threat to our safety, triggering the fight-flight-freeze response to protect us from perceived 'harm'.

Another important aspect of the brain involved in making excuses is the reward system, which is driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine. This reward system is responsible for motivating us to seek pleasure and avoid pain. When we make excuses to avoid stepping out of our comfort zones, our brain may release dopamine as a way to reinforce this behaviour, making it more likely that we will continue to make excuses in the future.

Despite these neurological processes, it is important to recognise when we make excuses to challenge these thoughts to ensure we live our best lives. One way to do this is to engage the prefrontal cortex by rationalising our fears and uncertainties. By questioning the validity of our excuses and considering the potential benefits of stepping out of our comfort zones, we can override the brain's natural tendency to avoid risk.

Mindfulness practices can also assist us become more aware of our thoughts and emotions, making it easier to identify when we are making excuses. By staying present and non-judgmental, we can observe our excuses without being attached to them, allowing us to make more conscious decisions about how to respond to challenging situations or invitations to develop ourselves or take a new pathway in any part of our lives.

In conclusion, while it is natural for our brains to generate excuses to avoid stepping out of our comfort zones, it is important to recognise these excuses for what they are - our natural instinct to avoid coming out of our old habits and conscious awareness and to challenge them. By understanding the processes behind excuse-making and practising mindfulness, we can overcome our excuses and commit to achieving what we truly want to experience in life. 

Remember, growth and fulfilment lie just beyond our comfort zones.

With empowerment and gratitude,

Jeanine and Marie Empower World Co-founders 

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