Global Growth Zone

I think a lot about comfort zones. When we went into COVID lockdown, the entire world was asked to step outside of its comfort zone. We left offices, schools, day cares, bars, restaurants, movies - our normal everyday lives - for a slightly scary, lonely, uncertain existence. 

I have been reflecting on the lessons I learned from my students when I taught wilderness expedition courses.  On expedition, the people who embrace discomfort and step fully into the experience are transformed into bigger, better people.  In fact, I intentionally create disorienting experience in order to allow participants to have a transformative experience.

Welcome to your expedition

We don't have a choice about whether we want to join the Great COVID-19 Wilderness Expedition.  It is here and so are we. We can embrace the uncertainty and allow it to make us better people or we can hide out and miss the experience.  This what I learned from my students about how to embrace the expedition.

1. Embrace your discomfort.  The participants on wilderness expeditions who learn and grow the most are the ones who consciously step out of their comfort zones and into the experience at hand.  They immerse themselves into uncertainty, new experiences, new relationships, and new roles. Step into this disorienting, transformative experience with intention in order to accept the changes that present themselves.
2. Find your friends.  Stepping (or being forced) out of our comfort zones causes us to feel lonely, scared, and disoriented.  On wilderness expeditions, the group facilitator coaches the participants to ask for help and offer support to one another.  Accepting for help is hard, but it builds essential connections.  Reach out to friends, colleagues, and intriguing acquaintances to ask and offer help right now.
3. Reflect on what you are learning. On university-level expedition courses, I required my students to keep a daily journal.  Only a tiny fraction of what they learned was about the topic of the course - most of what they took away was about human relationships, inner strengths, and tenacity.  Paying attention matters during hard times.  Keep a written journal or plan heartfelt conversations with loved ones during this time.
4. Feel your inner strength.  Each person on a wilderness expedition has a moment when they think "I just can't do this any more."  And then they dig a little deeper to push past the exhaustion, fear and self-doubt... and they find themselves flooded with the feeling of euphoria on the summit of a mountain peak. Then when they return back home they realize that they stretched their comfort zone (often significantly).  Give yourself credit for what you are doing right now and you are making your way through it. Realize that there is more in you than you think.

Wilderness expeditions are unforgettable - and transformative. People learn to embrace uncertainty. They make lifelong friendships. They notice and accept the significant accomplishments that they make each day.  They also persevere and realize they are stronger than they ever imagined.  Welcome to your expedition. You've got this.

Please share how you and your community are growing during the COVID-19 Wilderness Expedition in the comments below.