The 21-Day Out-Of-Comfort -Zone Challenge

‘Bhaiyya, I’m getting bored at home during the lockdown,’ said Rahul over a Zoom call. ‘I need excitement.’

‘Yes bhaiyya,’ said Rinku. ‘Could we find a way to add excitement and also grow while at home?’

‘That’d be interesting,’ said Rakesh. ‘What exactly do you mean by excitement and growth?’

‘Excitement is something that gives me a rush,’ said Rahul. ‘Makes me feel happy afterwards.’

 ‘And growth is learning something new,’ said Rinku. ‘Something that makes me better.’

‘I have the perfect recipe for this,’ said Rakesh. ‘The 21 day challenge that our Professor taught us in a workshop. Apparently, if we do something for 21 days it becomes a habit, that’s why 21 days.’

‘A 21 day challenge!’ said Rahul. ‘Sounds interesting. What do we do bhaiyya?’

‘It’s pretty simple,’ said Rakesh. ‘Our Professor told us to do one thing that’s out of our comfort zone, for 21 days. It can be small or big, but it should make you feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, while doing it. And after you’ve done it, you should feel happy that you did it. Like you’ve broken a barrier.’

‘Interesting,’ said Rinku. ‘What’s the growth angle in this bhaiyya?”

‘Well Rinku,’ said Rakesh. ‘Most of us stay inside our comfort zones which limits our growth. To grow, we need to be adaptable, vulnerable, flexible, be ok with trying, failing, being wrong, being rejected. By pushing ourselves to do small out-of-comfort-zone acts which put us in such situations every day, we’ll accelerate our growth in 21 days. And the vulnerability, anticipation, pushing of emotional boundaries makes it exciting.’

‘Bhaiyya,’ asked Rahul. ‘What out-of-comfort-zone activity can I do at home?’

‘Do things out of your ‘character,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘Things you don’t like, fear, you’ve been avoiding doing. You tell me.’

‘Hmm, clean my room,’ said Rahul. ‘Have a real conversation with family, interview parents, grandparents and find their stories, tell mom I love her, reconnect with lost friends, family, make up with those I messed up, perform a song, dance, recite a poem, do stand up comedy, teach tech online to grandparents ..’

‘Put myself out on social media and be seen,’ said Rinku. ‘Make chai for our security, volunteer to distribute food, be off the mobile and other screens for 24 hours, be the opposite of what I am, blog, appreciate the government on social media …’

‘Good,’ said Rakesh. ‘Think up more stuff and do what makes you uncomfortable most. In 21 days, you should be comfortable being out-of-your-comfort zone. That’s serious growth.’

‘This is so cool,’ said Rahul. ‘I’m announcing the challenge on social media right now. Let’s compare notes every day.’

‘It’s brilliant at growing us and our confidence,’ said Rinku. ‘And fun. Chef Rinku is baking a cake today. First time ever.’

Pro Tip: The biggest barrier to our growth is staying within our comfort zone. Do the Out-of-Comfort-Zone challenge for 21 days and break the barriers to your growth, gently. You’ll grow significantly.’

Exercise: Tell students to list 21 things that are out of their comfort zone, something that grows them  – from small things like appreciating someone to, doing a good deed, to posting something on social media, to being seen in ways one has been seen before  - anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. They can do the first act in class. They can share how they feel. Tell them to do it for 21 days diligently. (Tip – behave like the way normally wouldn’t, that’s out of comfort zone enough)

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