We’ve all heard the expression “jump out of your comfort zone” or “step out of your comfort zone,” but personally, I disagree with this saying. I believe that by telling someone that they should ‘step out of their comfort zone,’ you are basically saying that they should do things that make them uncomfortable or anxious. Why would you want someone to feel uncomfortable? Why would you want them to be anxious? You don’t, right? So why tell them to step outside of what they are comfortable with doing?
For example, say your friend has an anxiety disorder, and what gives them anxiety are things like public speaking or talking to someone that they do not know. Would you tell that friend to just leap straight into it and speak at a mall full of strangers, all at once? No? Would that not be considered ‘jumping out‘ of their comfort zone?
Now, in writing, comfort zones are a completely different story, if you ask me. In writing, coming out of your comfort zone means to write about a topic or a specific origin that you typically do not write about. Personally, I believe that doing so results in bettering your writing – and maybe even your state of mind whenever you think about that origin or topic and your opinions on said topic. There is another popular expression that we have all heard on one occasion or numerous ones: “Practice makes perfect.” In reality, practice does not make perfect because such a thing as “perfect” does not exist. Every piece of writing you create or begin to create will not be perfect – there will be flaws, regardless of how many hours you pour into it, editing, rewriting, and just simply changing it. No piece of writing will be perfect.
Practice may not make perfect, but that’s okay. Practice simply betters you and your work until you are satisfied with what you have produced, and comfort zones are what makes that writing unique from anyone else’s. Maybe you’re never written about a family member’s death because every time you think about it, you can’t help but do anything other than cry, or you’ve brought up a past memory but never had the voice in your writing be your own – you always had a character who had the same memories as your own, and they were the “I” in your story. All it takes is to gradually ease into bettering your work or your fears. Then, you will be even closer to expanding that comfort zone.
I completely agree with your argument that, in certain situations, comfort zones are a good place to reside; one day, however, there will come a time in someone’s life in which they need to take a gigantic leap from their comfort zone- there is no other option. How will they manage to feel comfortable enough outside of their regular zones if they have never before stepped away from what they know? It is good to not pressure anyone into doing things they’d prefer not to, but sometimes, we need to change, adapt, grow from what we know. We have to do scary or uncomfortable small tasks so that in the future big tasks do not seem so daunting. Great argument, enjoyed reading it!
I like that you gave your opinion at the beginning, using words like “you” and questions that pertain to the reader, making us really think about what you’re writing. I agree with your main statement of the first paragraph, that when someone asks you to step out of your comfort zone, they indirectly ask you to do something you feel uncomfortable or anxious about. I agree that many people don’t know, or try to learn, other people’s limits (comfort zones). I like that you turned in the middle, saying that with writing, comfort zones become somewhat warped. It shows that you have a versatile opinion, and your words aren’t only one-sided, which is a really great technique. Great job!