Stepping outside your comfort zone

[citigirl78]

I am already pretty good with new things. It seems though there are loads of things you have yet to try but then that could also be because you are still young.

But it's the mentality though. Like you don't really want to ski coz it won't be relaxing....I guess all ppl are different. I couldn't wait to try it and I love skiing. But I do love adventure sports and the outdoors.

Camping is definitely stepping out of the comfort zone. No one ever wants to go but I am the one that makes it happen and then everyone has the best time of their life with loads of funny stories to tell.

Taking financial risks is a big one. Many ppl are afraid to do it. It's still better to do it when you are young with no REAL responsibilities.

My whole life, I've always stepped out of my comfort zone. Traveling with 3 kids to US inc 8mth old twins...everyone told us we were crazy and it would be tough but it was pretty good. We did loads of stuff and went to many cities. I'm not going to stop doing things I love just coz we have kids. Just means in moderation.

Next one is a baking class to learn how to make beautiful expensive fondant cakes. I never buy b'day cakes for my kids. I prefer to make character cakes. Everyone says just buy one but eventhough I'm crap at baking, I want to at least try. I'm the only chinese I know that actually makes the kids b'day cakes. I know loads of asian mums and they all buy from shop.

I also want to visit Angkwor Wat in June but like always, hubby is trying to talk me out of it since we have to bring the kids along....the thing is..I know everything will be fine and hubby will end up having the most fun...as always.

[coffeeinlondon]

Originally Posted by Lily Stargazer

No, I don't live in London but I have done in the past. It's fantastic on the south coast though.

i know. i've been down to Portsmouth before during the summer times. i often hang out in Hayling Island area in the summer times for a bit of skinny dipping in the cool pool.

you should join me

[Lily Stargazer]

Originally Posted by Big Wonga

Take up running. It's free and you can set yourself goals and push yourself.

It's on my list! Glad it works for you.

I can't afford a gym membership and I heard running on concrete/paving isn't good for knees. Where's the best place to run? Parks? I know it's good to do more exercise (get fitter, release of endorphins). I'll ask my friend who's into running to show me warm up/down exercises and give me some tips.

Originally Posted by Jack Slack

first time things which moved me outside my comfort zone

1. moving away from home.
2. starting a paid job.
3. going to work abroad.
4. going on holiday alone.
5. buying my own home.
6. starting a business.

From your list I've only done 1 and 2! 6 doesn't appeal to me given my profession, 3 and 5 sound good. How was it going on holiday alone? I've never even eaten in a restaurant on my own!

Originally Posted by alric

Yes

Your secret identity is secret no longer! Sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you on Saturday, was lovely to meet you.

Originally Posted by pink-kimono

• Salsa classes
• Skinny dip
• Indie music concert
• Learn a language
• Take up chess
• Go to art museums
• Visit all and any free events (Russia fair? CNY? Circle Line Party?)
• Leave the country
• Take a pilgrimage (The Pudding Club anyone?)
• Volunteer for something

List is endless. My mate did a resolution to do a new thing every month last year. Hence he ended up at indie concerts, fetish markets and looking for bread making classes.

I'd love to do a dance class (not necessarily salsa). Do I need to take a partner along? Skinny dip? Where?!! Indecent exposure, surely?!! Music concert - I used to go to gigs and festivals, but haven't been in a while. Tastes have changed a lot. Will look into it but I don't listen to much indie stuff anymore. A language? Guess I could try improving my Cantonese!

Chess? I used to play it a lot as a child but I find it really dull. I do play Scrabble almost every week now though, and have found my vocabulary to be improving. And all the rest of your suggestions are good too, and I'll add them to my list of things to investigate and try out. Many thanks. Very comprehensive.

Loving the bit about your friend being into fetish markets and breadmaking!

Originally Posted by mayla

My biggest out off comfort zone to date is doing a work placement in an office, with no idea of what to do. I can't really relate to the 3 other people in my office cause they seem so busy and are in their late 30's. I prefer to serve and talk to customers, so it's really strange to sit on my own in a strange office doing fake projects. However it's a good thing cause I've picked up on a few new things about myself =)

Sounds like a good learning experience, and you've got plenty of time for reflection too - it's always good to pick up new things about yourself.

[Lily Stargazer]

Originally Posted by citigirl78

I am already pretty good with new things. It seems though there are loads of things you have yet to try but then that could also be because you are still young.

But it's the mentality though. Like you don't really want to ski coz it won't be relaxing....I guess all ppl are different. I couldn't wait to try it and I love skiing. But I do love adventure sports and the outdoors.

Camping is definitely stepping out of the comfort zone. No one ever wants to go but I am the one that makes it happen and then everyone has the best time of their life with loads of funny stories to tell.

Taking financial risks is a big one. Many ppl are afraid to do it. It's still better to do it when you are young with no REAL responsibilities.

My whole life, I've always stepped out of my comfort zone. Traveling with 3 kids to US inc 8mth old twins...everyone told us we were crazy and it would be tough but it was pretty good. We did loads of stuff and went to many cities. I'm not going to stop doing things I love just coz we have kids. Just means in moderation.

Next one is a baking class to learn how to make beautiful expensive fondant cakes. I never buy b'day cakes for my kids. I prefer to make character cakes. Everyone says just buy one but eventhough I'm crap at baking, I want to at least try. I'm the only chinese I know that actually makes the kids b'day cakes. I know loads of asian mums and they all buy from shop.

I also want to visit Angkwor Wat in June but like always, hubby is trying to talk me out of it since we have to bring the kids along....the thing is..I know everything will be fine and hubby will end up having the most fun...as always.

I'm not that young! I'll be 30 (much later) this year!

I'm trying to change my mentality, and instead of saying no to something I'm not sure of I'm going to say yes instead. I've never really gotten into outdoor sports like ski-ing, but I think I'll try it at some point. My siblings have all been ski-ing several times (I didn't go as I wasn't getting on with them back then) and they loved it.

I actually really enjoy camping, used to do it as a teenager (cadets and then music festivals when I was a bit older). Started camping again last year and had fantastic times. That might have been due to the good company and alcohol consumption though!

I don't have any real responsibilities (no dependents, no mortgage, etc) so I think you're right, now is a good time to take risks. I thought it was pretty amazing of you to go travelling as a whole family (you've posted about it before). Your kids are so young and a lot of work still. Guess you always rise to the challenge.

Good luck with the baking. I'm a fairly good cook but I don't really like to bake (it's too exact and I'm not keen on cakes/biscuits/baked goods). Guess I could try different recipes and new ingredients.

Hope you get your way and get to visit Angkwor Wat. And don't let your husband have all the fun!

[Lily Stargazer]

Originally Posted by coffeeinlondon

i know. i've been down to Portsmouth before during the summer times. i often hang out in Hayling Island area in the summer times for a bit of skinny dipping in the cool pool.

you should join me

Thank you for the kind invitation but I will have to turn you down.

[TastyKebab]

Last year when I got persuaded to watch some strange robot film, revenge of the fallen tranny? I had to really step out of my comfort zone! Normally before a showing, I take a kebab into the cinema, and unfortunately I couldn't find a kebab shop in the vicinity and my kebab van was in a total recall.

So with deep trepidation, I had to settle for a burger. As I watched the film and ate the bugger, I meant the burger, the experience wasn't that bad at all and one realises that moving out of one's comfort zone is really a state of mind. I realised my burger was really a kebab in diguise After all, they share the same parts, bread, lettuce, meat, and sorce!



Tk

[coffeeinlondon]

Originally Posted by Lily Stargazer

Thank you for the kind invitation but I will have to turn you down.

it's ok. i understand.

[chebs]

you should read Yes Man by Danny Wallace where he just says yes to everything for a year. There's a film of the book with Jim Carey in it if you can't be bothered to read, but it's a great book! Some of it is probably exaggerated but it might help you change your mentality.

Try moving to HK (or anywhere else), that'll challenge you! Plus, as you've got no dependents, it makes it all the more possible!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by chebs

you should read Yes Man by Danny Wallace where he just says yes to everything for a year. There's a film of the book with Jim Carey in it if you can't be bothered to read, but it's a great book! Some of it is probably exaggerated but it might help you change your mentality.

Try moving to HK (or anywhere else), that'll challenge you! Plus, as you've got no dependents, it makes it all the more possible!

ah, you beat me to it. i was going to mention yes man, the film. didnt realise it was a book.

[kinith]

Originally Posted by Lily Stargazer

^

I'd love to do a skydive - is it tandem when you're strapped to someone? I'm not scared of heights but I have some eye problems...high risk of a detached retina and was warned not to do certain sports. Damn, I'm just making excuses now!

(

Yes it was a tandem skydive. It's always been on my "to do" list and when the opportunity to do it at work came about I had to sign up. I don't think you have to worry about your retina, you wear goggles which protect your eyes well when you freefall at 120mph

[Big Wonga]

Originally Posted by Lily Stargazer

It's on my list! Glad it works for you.

I can't afford a gym membership and I heard running on concrete/paving isn't good for knees. Where's the best place to run? Parks? I know it's good to do more exercise (get fitter, release of endorphins). I'll ask my friend who's into running to show me warm up/down exercises and give me some tips.

It's all about the shoes. If you get the good, well supported, shoes then running on any surface is fine. Best thing to do is take it easy initially so your body get used to it.

Probably best to run in parks when it's liggh to start off with as you don't need to worry about pedestrians, traffic etc. Also, it's generally nicer environment to be running in anyway.

The most important thing is don't run when your body is cold so warm up accordingly with stretches, and always warm down after your run.

[Checazzo]

I'm going to get my driving license soon too! Well fingers crossed I pass first time because it will open up a lot of opportunities for me. There's going back to the gym (which I'm planning regularly with a mate, he's been waiting for me to get my license first!), taking guitar lessons somewhere, maybe join some martial art class, and going to more of these random meets like the BBC ones Most of these will be new for me.

[flickserve]

Toastmaster is a good one. And as it addresses ones fears of public speaking and is useful for your course, I'd say try it out. I taught myself how to present from books and had a mentor rather than going to toastmasters. I've presented at scientific meetings and have done very well. Gives a lot of confidence especially when you can see other people making the same mistakes that the books say and you deliberately avoided them. There's a lot of tactics in presenting so get some books from the library on the subject. There other other books on how to design a Powerpoint presentation specifically for academic presentations as well.

[Duck Rice]

If you can't afford the gym why not splash out on a one off thing like a bike, or some rollerblades? At least it'll be a long time investment and you'll have it sitting around a feel compelled to use it, instead of having a gym membership and end up being too lazy to go.

I think outdoor sports are a great thing to try. The initial cost is high, but its worth it. I went snowboarding with friends a couple of years ago since I've always had a desire to take up an extreme sport, and now I absolutely love it. Being able to board down a mountain at high speed is a huge rush, and you really feel like you've conquered the elements

As for dance classes, you don't need to take a partner along, but you may feel more comfortable taking a friend just to keep you company. There are dance classes all over the place now, in all different styles, so you'll probably be able to find something locally.

[Lily Stargazer]

Thanks for the replies, suggestions and encouragement everyone.

I'll try to spend less time indoors on my own reading (such a bookworm ) and more time outside being active.