The Comfort Zone

A Sunday school teacher two weeks ago told me to get outside my "comfort zone". 

   I sat in a different seat that Sunday, more towards the front.  My intention, to participate, step outside my"comfort zone".  I did raise my hand when asked who wanted the fortune cookie.  The stipulation was to work on whatever it said in the next few weeks and report back to the class.  I agreed and the cookie was mine!  The fortune was....ASSERT YOURSELF YOUR IDEAS ARE WORTHWHILE.  A good missionary statement my teacher said after I had mentioned that this was a fortune that was not something specific.  He told me, I would have to step outside my comfort zone.  Hey, I thought I was doing it today by sitting where I was and raising my hand for the cookie, what do you mean?  (I got a little defensive in my head.)  Hmmm, I thought, OK I will do it.  I paid attention to my interactions over the next few weeks.    Many times it was brought up that I was a "Mormon" in my job or in conversation.  Instead of thinking inside, "here it goes, there is always something to say about Joseph Smith and polygamy."  Instead of rolling my eyes and waiting for the statements that are just not true I waited for the opportunity to calmly teach about the church and my beliefs and testimony.  I realize that I do it quite often as I am usually with people who are not LDS.  Wow, I thought, I am speaking to people who do not belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about the church and answering their questions at least a few times a week.   I have learned over that last two weeks that I do not have to expect teasing but just speak from my heart.  Just to let the spirit help me to say the right things.

     I also have done some research on getting out of my comfort zone.  I do try to, but realized that I do not step outside as much as I would like.  A comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance usually without a sense of risk.  I want to keep working on my un-comfort zone.  Try new things, make a fool of myself (on purpose), admit I was wrong, go to a movie by myself, take public transportation more, ask for help, get up an hour earlier, join toastmasters, ask someone I admire to be my mentor, wear an outrageous outfit, smile at everyone I meet, talk with strangers when I am in an elevator,  speak openly about my faith,  pray out loud, and give more hugs!

     I realize that I can rely on the Lord for help and pay attention to the spirit working with me.  I look at others, especially in Sunday school class and think that I can never be like that.  I can never measure up, what spiritual scholars they are.  Stepping outside my zone and becoming more humble and turning to my Savior for help I know that my un-comfort zone will decrease. I will never know what I can do unless I push myself!

     Oh, by the way, he forgot to ask my to report on Sunday.  I even had another fortune cookie in my bag to challenge someone else for the next week.  So if anyone wants my fortune cookie with the stipulation to follow it's fortune/advice for the next week , let me know.