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Humans are creatures of habits. As creatures, we have some basic needs – for example food and shelter. Habits are the patterns and behaviors that we have developed to help us satisfy those needs. Habits play a role beyond our physical needs. They are active in our lives as social creatures. In conversations, we take turns and normally finish them gracefully. A hazard of habits is that we are not engaged in the task in the same way as when we are doing something that is not habitual. There have been countless times that I have left the house for work and when I turn off the car in the work parking lot I have no memory of driving there. Occasionally, I wondered if that had been the day that all my traffic lights were green.
Another hazard of habits is that they cut us off from our creative selves. I see a close link between creativity and entrepreneurialism. As an entrepreneur, I understand living where I fear to be. The Harvard Business School’s definition of being entrepreneurial, namely “the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources.” Success is dependent on our willingness to step out of our comfort zones.
We like our comfort zones. We know every fish in the pond. We know how to deal with problems; there is nothing new under the sun. We intrinsically know that if we want to learn something new and grow, we will have to leave our comfort zone. This is where learning starts, where interesting things happen, where you do not immediately have a response to everything.
There is the point where you are just overwhelmed. That is the panic zone. At some point, all that you can do is to try to keep your head outside the water – hoping that someone will save you. In this fight or flight mode, there is no learning.
The sweet spot is right before your panic zone. Through the challenges faced in this spot you will learn the most, grow the most, and change the most. It has been through Rotary that I have found most of my sweet spots of discovery. The path to discovery started with answering “yes” to requests to participate in a service project or to serve the Club or District. Once I took that first step, I found that I was not alone and had the support of other Rotarians. Go to your sweet spot. Let your ReCSWUSA family know how we can support you.
“Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.” – Rumi