Out of Your Comfort Zone

See the pic – that paddler is obviously me – as you can see from the serious face❗️ 

How often do you find yourself out of your comfort zone ❓ 

I have often had moments of nerves at either end of the scale – mild and extreme.  I have questioned my skills and ability to cope with a particular challenging situation (this rapid was at a middle scale of anxiousness). I have fears of looking like a muppet if it goes wrong!

Does that sound familiar❓Not the paddling bit but looking like a muppet in coping with your own challenge❓

I work with clients who often find themselves out of their comfort zone – maybe in presentations – in dealing with the media as a spokesperson or perhaps leading a team in very perplexing situations.

I have been lucky enough to have had broad military training to cope in crisis or challenge and indeed that learning has continued in civilian environments. 

It’s a buzz to pass on some of that knowledge to my clients. At least to get them reflecting and thinking.

The simple mnemonic I have followed when nervous and faced with difficulty is 🅰️  🅿️ 🅿️

🅰️. Accept. Nerves are not a weakness. It is a natural revving up of your nervous system – placing you on high alert. Don’t avoid accepting the issue you are dealing with. In the longer term and I speak from experience, avoiding a test can make you more anxious and you end up disappointed in yourself, that you didn’t accept the challenge (I’ve got to have a go at this rapid or I will always think what if).

🅿️ Plan. I read somewhere about ‘proactive coping’ and that making a plan is a ‘thinking component’ of coping. Planning has stood me in good stead. Think of the risk (what will happen if I flip over in my canoe?) and how will I mitigate the risk (who’s there with the throwline?). I’m sure you can relate that to your own challenges. In my book – Stop – Think – Plan – does work.

🅿️ Prepare. I am certain that you are less likely to freeze if you’re well prepared. Rehearse and practice as much as you can (paddling smaller rapids first). Nothing calms nerves like the confidence that comes from knowing you’re prepared. 

You have accepted that nerves are the natural order of things – you have planned – you have practised the plan – now time to go for it.

Maybe this all seems rather obvious but I know that this simple aide-memoire and putting it into practice, has helped my clients think about their own challenges and how they cope.