Four Steps to Conquering Your Comfort Zone Diet
We’ve all seen the woman who can diet to fit into her dreamed-of wedding dress; or the college student who waited until the last minute to write her term paper only to pull that all-nighter, handing in the assignment on time. Then there’s the deathbed promises between loved ones, like the one Senator Joe Biden made to his son Beau to run for President. It goes without saying that heading into instead of away from the political turmoil our country is facing, after the death of his son, is nothing short of heroic.
What do a dieting bride, a college student with a last minute term paper, and a political frontrunner for president have in common?
They are all living out of their comfort zones. This is where growth takes place. Living where we normally don’t dwell is the incubator for change.
Today, I’m going share my Friendship Diet four-step system for catapulting yourself out of your relationship comfort zone and into a delicious world of rewarding possibility.
1. Know your goal.
This needs to be written down and as succinct as possible. Sure, it can morph or be altered over time, but you need to be clear about what it is you want. Better sex? Sex at all? More dates? Time alone? The clearer you are, the more likely your growth can manifest.
2. Identify your why.
Joe Biden writes and talks about the choice he made to live with and share hope in the wake of his son’s death. The bride-to-be may be motivated by mental images of wedding photos she wants to share proudly with her grandchildren some day. The college student must pass Victorian Literature. There is no other option in her mind—unless she wants to fail out of her freshman year of college.
Some whys for The Friendship Diet could be broad:
I need to discover if we are in fact, compatible.
Or perhaps they are very specific:
I am tired of letting the fear of divorce dictate my behavior.
3. Create an Action Plan.
This is where most of us loveably fallible humans get stuck. Action feels Herculean when we are talking about leaving the
carbohydrate-woven blanket of our comfort zone. Having an action plan will make it more digestible and less intimidating. Maybe create a baby step action plan. The key is to get moving in the direction of your goal.
4. Reflect and Repeat.
I can’t emphasize the importance of this last step enough. I touch upon this in the book, but this is your chance to go deeper.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Are my goals realistic? Do I need to break my goals down more?
Are my goals in line with my why or motivation?
Am I being honest with myself?
Here’s an example of our Friendship Diet Comfort Zone Conquering Plan:
1.My Goal:
To experience a rewarding personal relationship.
2.Why:
I don’t need a romantic relationship; I want to experience companionship with someone where there is mutual respect, love and attraction.
3.Action Plan:
Join an online dating site. Initiate conversations. Be honest. Be open to possibility.
4.Reflect/Repeat:
Online dating is hard! My friend wants to set me up with
someone. If I am going to be open-minded, this includes agreeing to be set up on a date. I am grateful that I am at a stage of maturity in my life where I am comfortable on my own. I am now at a point where my comfort zone has morphed into actually being on my own. I need to “stay the course” and keep dating, regardless how uncomfortable it can sometimes feel, if I want to achieve my goal.
What do a dieting bride, a college student with a last minute term paper, and a political frontrunner for president have in common?
They are all living out of their comfort zones. This is where growth takes place. Living where we normally don’t dwell is the incubator for change.
Sheri Jacobs
SHERI JACOBS 