I heard Timothy B Schmit of The Eagles being interviewed recently and he was talking about his new solo album which is called “Leap of Faith.” He said something really interesting during the course of the interview which was that “anytime you put yourself in front of people you are taking a leap of faith.” He added “you say here it is and then wait for a reaction and some feedback.”

It got me thinking about why people resist taking leap of faiths and stay stuck in their comfort zones even though they may not be happy with the status quo. Over the years I’ve come across many people who have resisted taking a leap of faith for a variety of reasons despite being unhappy. Some hated their jobs, others were bored with their career and wondering if this is it, some were unhappy in their relationship. Others felt that felt life was passing them by, were generally bored and stuck in a rut.

The main reasons that people stay stuck and procrastinate tend to be because of a strong sense of responsibility to others, fear of failure and the unknown. Also people underestimate their capabilities. It’s quite common that people who have been in a job for a long time become institutionalized. They begin to think that they aren’t capable of doing something else.

I’ve seen many instances of people staying in a job that they detested because they didn’t have the confidence to do something else. However, some of them got made redundant and this forced them to take action. A fresh set of circumstances had been presented to them and they had to step up. It gave them the opportunity to do something new. In doing so, they found something that brought them greater satisfaction and fulfillment. They also discovered hidden strengths and talents.

As well as fear, limiting beliefs and negative thinking can get in our way and stop us being all that we can be. Our brains sometimes don’t help us positively, as they are designed to keep us safe, comfortable and on occasions make us risk averse.

Additionally, past setbacks and disappointments can keep us stuck in our comfort zone as we start to doubt our capabilities. It can mean that we don’t feel resourceful enough to cope with the demands of changed circumstances or we’re fearful to repeat past mistakes.

Procrastination and the need for perfectionism can also stop us fulfilling our potential. Many people worry about making the wrong decision but what’s more worrying is never making a decision. We sometimes stick with what we know because we like to know what the outcome will be if we make a change. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with guarantees.

There is a famous phrase “that if you leap the net will appear” this can inspire us to take a leap of faith when we’re contemplating change. If we listen to our hearts, have done our planning and know that the change is the right course of action for us, then a magic seems to happen. It’s incredible that when we fully commit to action, believe in a positive outcome and set our mind to succeed, the world has a knack of conspiring to support us. The right people and circumstances tend to show up at the right time to support us. It is also said that “when the student is ready the teacher appears.”

We can all learn something from artists who have to give up the need to know the outcome of a particular project when they start out and instead fully embrace the creative process and trust where it takes them. It’s a bit like viewing life as an adventure and enjoying the journey.

By staying in our comfort zone, we don’t discover our true self, our hidden depths and potential and experience all that life has to offer. We can all stay in our comfort zone and spend time wishing and dreaming of a better life or we can take a leap into the unknown and create our own version of how you want life to look. It’s worth reminding ourselves when we feel stuck that a ship in harbour is safe but that’s not what ships were built for.

You may have a dream to visit a new country, write a book, change job, start a new business, begin a new hobby or learn a new skill.

If you feel like you are stuck in a rut and want to step out of your comfort zone, start by making small changes to your daily routine. Visit new places and go to events that you wouldn’t normally go to, read new books, watch different TV programmes or make a commitment to meet new people etc. Break any big goals that you have into achievable baby steps so it’s easier to start and keep going. Remember that small consistent actions lead to outstanding results.

This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect and consider what you would like to start if you knew that things would work out positively. What step could you take to get things moving?

This week’s quotation:

“There are many talented people who haven’t fulfilled their dreams because they over thought it, or they were too cautious, and were unwilling to make the leap of faith.” James Cameron.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk