While brainstorming I came up with a list with items like “learn Japanese”, “make a game in Unity”, etc., but I realized that these probably aren’t outside of my comfort zone. I really want to do those things, I just haven’t yet. Commenting here, writing lyrics, or watching horror movies, on the other hand, are definitely things that are outside of my comfort zone. I get a slightly nervous feeling when I think about them.
So I tried to redirect and focus more on things that brought out that feeling. I noticed a common class of them were about expressing myself emotionally in front of others. This felt like a useful feeling to finally put into words.
There’s a whole web of unwritten rules and many doors that I keep closed, I just wish I could think of more banal/prosaic things to expand into. Like what day-to-day power-ups do I not allow myself to use? What obvious or fundamental skills am I missing because I’m focusing on the “impressive” stuff? I hope to explore this more in the other CoZE days.
Share a story about finding something shiny by exploring past your comfort zone.
My girlfriend egged me on to audition for an indie band I liked in college. That is definitely not something I was comfortable with—even just reaching out to someone I didn’t know scared (and still scares) me. But I auditioned and got the part. I didn’t even think ahead—this now meant I had to play shows. In front of people. YIKES.
For the past 3 years, every single show was a CoZE. The first few were pure terror. Thankfully they were very small at first. Eventually the shows got much bigger—we were about to play our biggest show yet before Covid hit.
I still get scared before every show but I’ve gotten through it every time. My bandmates are my best friends and I’ve had some of the best experiences in my life from this. Younger me would be proud.
While brainstorming I came up with a list with items like “learn Japanese”, “make a game in Unity”, etc., but I realized that these probably aren’t outside of my comfort zone. I really want to do those things, I just haven’t yet. Commenting here, writing lyrics, or watching horror movies, on the other hand, are definitely things that are outside of my comfort zone. I get a slightly nervous feeling when I think about them.
So I tried to redirect and focus more on things that brought out that feeling. I noticed a common class of them were about expressing myself emotionally in front of others. This felt like a useful feeling to finally put into words.
There’s a whole web of unwritten rules and many doors that I keep closed, I just wish I could think of more banal/prosaic things to expand into. Like what day-to-day power-ups do I not allow myself to use? What obvious or fundamental skills am I missing because I’m focusing on the “impressive” stuff? I hope to explore this more in the other CoZE days.
Share a story about finding something shiny by exploring past your comfort zone.
My girlfriend egged me on to audition for an indie band I liked in college. That is definitely not something I was comfortable with—even just reaching out to someone I didn’t know scared (and still scares) me. But I auditioned and got the part. I didn’t even think ahead—this now meant I had to play shows. In front of people. YIKES.
For the past 3 years, every single show was a CoZE. The first few were pure terror. Thankfully they were very small at first. Eventually the shows got much bigger—we were about to play our biggest show yet before Covid hit.
I still get scared before every show but I’ve gotten through it every time. My bandmates are my best friends and I’ve had some of the best experiences in my life from this. Younger me would be proud.