Is over-comfort a thing? Of course! Is it like when we’re high or something? A little bit. But we are also considered indulging in too much comfort when there is a lack of challenge in our life; when we are trapped every day doing that same thing over and over again, we are in what’s called the ‘comfort zone’. We’ll call it CZ.

We are in the CZ (read ‘comfort zone’) basically whenever we are doing anything that doesn’t require us stress or effort, say relaxing or jogging or playing a music we already know. The CZ, if you think about it, is a big area since we have just too much fun stuffs around us. But the CZ also encompasses the mundane things, since those don’t need a lot of making new neuro pathways (which are made when we solve problems or learn new things) – we can do them half asleep. Anything we consider easy is inside the CZ. And most of us cross the zone more than a million times a day, so to speak.

Alright, I will admit it: it’s not actually wrong to be in the CZ at all – we all need to feel good about doing something leisurely don’t we? Fully outside of the CZ would be too much. Literally that would be over-stressing ourselves. Moreover, after hours of work we need to relax as well. The ‘reward system’ that grand us sensational appeals is also met in the CZ.

Nonetheless, we have got to ask ourselves ‘how often are we crossing the zone or how long we stay there each time we cross it?’ We have to be wary of controlling ourselves. We need to control our actions so that we step out of the CZ every now and then to tackle new problems, and seek on to work on the challenging things. We have to step out of the CZ in order to make progress. Progress requires building up on the things we already know and it won’t happen inside the CZ.

So what is outside of the CZ? Outside of the CZ is the Optimal Zone and outside of that, the Danger Zone(yes, that’s when you’ll be DZ!). In the OZ, right outside the CZ, there is a fundamental amount of stress and anxiety levels that entails learning, training or trying. Stepping out from the CZ into OZ increases our productivity. Thus the more we step out of the CZ the more progress we can make. If you think developing yourself and making a difference in your life is necessary, step out from your CZ. The more often you discipline yourself to step out of the CZ, the smoother the transition between the zones will become. Eventually, stepping out from the CZ whenever needed would become a habit. Such a habit will definitely do you good.

If you are that is ‘addicted’ to the CZ like me previously, there is still hope for you. It’s not going to be easy, though. It would be a character-building process – I mean working on your ‘self’. You want to be different right? – start small. One step at a time. Step out of your CZ as regularly as possible, each time taking few steps. You don’t have to ‘run’ as you will cross the boundary of the OZ. You could end up reaching the Danger Zone where you will find stress, intense anxiety, and even hopelessness. Step out little by little as often as possible – you don’t need superpowers to do that: just don’t screw yourself up by being too lazy to try. A little bit of desire and the right attitude (like “ok, I’ll try”) will do the magic!

If you feel that what I am sharing with you make sense, that’s because it does right? If you are already stepping out as regularly as possible, congratulations, keep it up! But if you find it challenging to do it often, know that you’re not alone. Out there, somebody, just as good as you are (if not less) is doing their best. These people exist (in fact I am one amongst the thousands), so let’s join them. If you do your best from today onwards, your struggles will eventually fade, and you won’t look back and regret. Promise.

Everybody knows Einstein or Newton. They are famous and regarded amongst one of the greatest people to have ever walked on the planet. You know them for sure – a hundred and one percent sure if you will, which would be a stark (very stark) contrast to you knowing me, obviously! Well, so you probably shouldn’t be listening to me, right? – May be. You can listen to me, or you can ignore but I am going to tell you the truth. This truth has changed my life and it should change yours. An average person reading these words are not living up to their full potential – and you, my dear reader, might be a victim too. Good news: you don’t have to be.

The harsh truth, however, is that none of us are really living up to our full potentials – it’s just too hard. So the point of my writing won’t be about telling you to suddenly become a genius of some sort: what I want you to know is knowing more about your own self, as an individual person and as a shareholder of the planet.

Number one truth: you are special. I don’t know who you are, or what you are or where you come from. It doesn’t matter. What really matters is that this very moment or this very day, you start changing the beliefs about yourself, or improve them. You my friend, are a unique individual shareholder of this planet we are in and no one has the right to judge you or determine who you are. If you already have some lousy beliefs about yourself (because of others or whatever) – I have to tell you – right now is the time to change it. Let go of them. Let’s start fresh again.

Yes. This is not easy. But let’s just for a moment, take a second to doubt not on the positive aspects of ourselves but on those negative parts. Have we not doubted ourselves; ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I am the worst’, ‘I am not good enough’, ‘this is too tough for me’ – why are we so cruel to ourselves?! I can’t believe such a horrible thing we practice so often that it has become just a part of our daily dialect and mental voice echoing within. It is a disaster – literally a toxic tape winding in our head, inhibiting our capabilities. We don’t have to do this. We can turn the tables.

We all know, successful people always failed before – Bill Gates or Steve Jobs not an exception. They failed massively at a certain point. But what really drives them is they believe they are more. They are bigger than their failures. Their lives – and our lives – are short. Successful people have a thing inside of them saying ‘you can do this, don’t give up, persist’ whenever and wherever. My point is, do not buy the beliefs that aren’t valuable – buy the invaluable – determination, confidence, aspiration, etc.

You are special, because there is one and only you. And the universe has only produced you, and none others like you. No one has your thoughts, no one has your ideas, no one smile or act the way that you do. Appreciate this and value your life. Start allowing yourself to be showered by the beautiful fountains of positive and optimistic things. Let that seed of greatness within you sprout.

Friend, it is time for change. It could be now or never. Studies have shown that our beliefs have a tremendous effect on how our bodies and mind would function. Just like when we keep feeding our bodies toxics it will result in a fatal condition, so will the things which we choose to believe have direct impact on our emotion and therefore performance in life.

What you have to believe today, and every day, is that you are good. You are good enough to tackle the problems in your life. If you try, and try, and try you will eventually get the hang of it. Nothing ever worth achieving comes like a package at our doorsteps. You have to go for it. Be hungry for it. You have to try, and you have to try hard, and harder. Tell yourself you can, and keep on moving.

I do not know what your set beliefs about yourself are, but if it’s worth changing it now, don’t wait no more. Nothing to regret. Believe in yourself today, and go out there. Take a deep breath – you’re still alive; if it isn’t you who is going to make a difference, who is? And the second truth? – The First Truth is the truth.

Available soon