There is a creature living in your head. It’s called your amygdala, also known as the “Lizard Brain.” This little monster sits at the top of your spine intercepting and filtering all of the messages that your higher mind is trying to send your body.
The Lizard Seeks Comfort
It’s responsible for behaviors such as “fight or flight.” It’s also what causes knots in your stomach when you’re nervous. It has one goal: survival. The best way to survive is to blend in, avoid risky situations.
When you’re pushing your limits, the Lizard is there telling you “slow down,” or “get out of this situation.” It’s telling you that you can’t. “You can’t run that far,” “you can’t give that speech,” “you can’t pass that test.”
When you’re uncomfortable and seek ways to get back to comfort, the Lizard is talking.
The Lizard is Wrong
You’re capable of far more than your amygdala says you are. When you give in to the Lizard, you’re letting it’s comfort-seeking behavior cut you short of your true potential.
Shut up, Lizard!
Have you ever thought about thinking? You know, that weird space in your mind where you can actually watch yourself think? That “Observer” position is key to defeating the Lizard. When I feel that I should stop or give up, I listen to my thoughts. I quickly realize, “I’m seeking comfort.” Just by observing this, I am able to dispassionately reconsider and press on.
An amazing thing happens when you leave your comfort zone.
It stretches, never returning to its original dimensions. Your comfort zone is capable of expanding, but only by you grabbing its border and pulling from the outside.
By the way, discomfort is ok. We don’t actually HAVE to be comfortable every minute of every day.
My goal is to become so comfortable battling the Lizard that leaving my comfort zone is within my comfort zone. In other words, I want to be comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable.
