In different situations, people feel different: in some, they are comfortable, in others they are uncomfortable, and in others, they do not have a certain feeling. We call the comfort zone that part of the world, that psychological “space” in which a given person feels “at home” so that he is relaxed, calm and enjoying himself. It is not an empty space, but rather it is filled with those amenities in which the person feels good. It is made up of certain places and spaces, includes his favourite activities, and contains some specific people to whom the person is emotionally attached and with whom he has certain relationships.
Each comfort zone has its boundary to that other part of the world where a person does not feel so comfortable. While in their comfort zone – the pleasure zone – the person does not feel threatened so that they are not afraid, they are not tense, but calm. Outside, she functions differently, estimates that there is an increased risk of being threatened, so she does not feel safe, her emotions are elevated, and at times she is worried, afraid, angry, offended and the like.
Every human must learn to function beyond their comfort zone. The important thing is that he still has it, so he can return to it to relax and rest. Problems arise when this zone is “narrowed” so that the person does not have the opportunity to relax and rest, or when the person is so scared of functioning in the outside world that he refuses to leave it.
We often call this zone the comfort zone, and the word comfort comes from the Latin com – with, and fortis – strength, fortification. Therefore, we can think of it as a kind of personal fortification in front of the outside world full of challenges and dangers.
Although people like to stay where they are comfortable, the nature of life is such that it forces them to occasionally venture out of the space and get used to new amenities.
For children, the initial comfort zone is primarily their relationship with their parents and others who love them, as well as the familiar territory that constitutes the home and its immediate surroundings. It is the task of parents to encourage their child’s development, in order to expand their comfort zone so that they can feel better in other parts of the world. To be able to do this, a child must learn to act in various new situations, with different people, and must learn new activities. What a person’s comfort zone is depends on the person’s abilities and skills. Exposure to new situations contributes to the child’s confidence and habituation to new content.
In order to learn and develop, it is good for everyone – adults or children – to take on a challenge from time to time and step out of their own zone.
By: Nikola Jovic
The Update 