How to Find the Courage to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone When You’re Stuck.
Ever found yourself in a loop of showing up ... and then shrinking back?
Maybe you go to speak up in a meeting — you even take a breath — but something stops you.
Your mind races. You second-guess yourself.
And then the moment passes…
…only to hear someone else say exactly what you were going to say.
And now you’re mad at yourself — again.
Or maybe you're sitting on an important email, re-reading it for the fifth time.
Or dreaming of quitting your job, starting a business, asking for a raise, going for the promotion — but… you just can’t take the first step.
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken.
You’re stuck in a pattern.
I know it from the inside out.
The frustration. The shame. The sadness.
The internal storm it creates — and the way it drains your energy and erodes your self-trust.
The ache of knowing you're not being seen, heard, or fully expressed — even though you have so much to offer.
So how do you break free?
First, let's talk about what doesn't work.
When that inner part of you kicks in — the one that wants to keep you safe by holding you back — the worst thing you can do is fight it or shame it.
I used to do exactly that.
When I froze or held back, I’d launch into inner interrogation mode: "Why are you doing this? What's wrong with you? Just say it!"
It never helped. It just made things worse.
My body would get hot and tense. My brain would fog. I'd freeze harder.
What I didn’t realise back then was this I was being hijacked by old programming.
Rules I had absorbed as a child like, " If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. Don't be too much. Don't be precocious. You're not the only one in the room."
Maybe your voices sound different, more like, "If you're no 100% sure, don't send it. If you can't prove it, don't say it. What if you're wrong?"
These are protector parts.
We all have internal protectors.
They’re trying to help.
But most of them are young, outdated, and unskilled.
Their job? To keep you from feeling embarrassment, failure, or rejection.
So what if, instead of fighting them, you tried this:
Step 1: Thank the Part of You That's Holding Back.
Yes — really.
Try saying something like:
“Thank you for trying to keep me safe. You’ve worked hard. I see you. And I appreciate what you’ve done.”
- Notice what happens in your body.
- Does something soften?
- Does your breath deepen?
- Does your jaw unclench or your belly relax?
That moment of soothing might be all you need to take your next step.
And if you find yourself overanalysing why you are the way you are — give yourself permission to stop.
There’s no neat answer.
It’s not just your story — it’s part of our shared humanity.
Step 2: Focus on What You Want — and Take One Brave Step Toward It.
- Is it asking for a raise?
- Sending the email?
- Launching the dream?
- Saying what you really want to say?
- Name the thing. Then take one step.
Because here’s the truth:
The fastest way to fail at your dream… is to never begin.
So many of us live in a space I call uncomfortably comfortable.
It’s familiar — and frustrating.
We complain. We vent. But we stay still.
Real Growth Isn’t Comfortable — But It’s Worth It
In my own business, I’ve noticed how visibility triggers this exact same pattern.
Every time I expand… I feel the pull to retract.
But I’m learning to keep going. To take up space. To ride the wave.
And I want to invite you to do the same.
To take just one step.
Like you did when you were learning to walk.
You didn’t need certainty back then — just curiosity and courage.
You might fall. But you’re unlikely to die.
And you just might rise.
Want support with this kind of inner courage?
Book a complimentary discovery call... and together we can explore your first step.