The Freedom of Stepping Outside Of Your Comfort Zone
April 21, 2025
Writer: Lily Rosendahl
Edited by: Zoe Gellert
Many of us are told to explore new things and step outside our comfort zone. Although this is common advice, it is usually a terrifying idea. For years, I found myself ignoring this advice, telling myself and others, “I’m happy doing the things I’m comfortable with.”Although I genuinely believed this then, I now see that living in constant comfort does not always equate to living your best life.
Over the last three years, I have begun stepping outside of my comfort zone through a mix of being forced to and, sometimes, out of my desire.
My first significant step towards my newfound freedom was going to college. I had always known that after I graduated high school, I would attend college, but when the reality of this set in, I was anxious. My previous excitement to explore other parts of the country and to meet people from different walks of life quickly turned to anxiety and fear. I had a new cycle of constant thoughts that attending Tulane, which had always been my dream school, was a mistake because it was halfway across the country from home. I was suddenly convinced that I would not find “my people.”
Around March, my senior year of high school, I was still not committed to college. I began to panic, searching for schools closer to home, trying to find schools with students I already knew. Thankfully, my parents saw through this anxiety and pushed me to attend Tulane events for admitted students, where I began meeting people who would enroll in the fall. This push was the beginning of stepping outside my comfort zone. I began to meet new people and see, that outside of my small high school, there were people I would connect with. This was the beginning of my journey to liberate myself from the anxieties that kept me in my small bubble of comfort.
Another significant hurdle came during my sophomore year at Tulane. I had a wonderful freshman year of college, but for various reasons, I was worried about resuming classes this fall.
I had spent the summer back in the comfort of my small town, with my family and friends whom I had known for many years, and I fell back into the familiar routine that I had loved and missed. Returning to New Orleans this past fall was a difficult transition. Other than attending classes, I often wanted to stay in my room, missing out on so many meaningful connections and experiences. There were clubs I was interested in, but I didn’t know any members, so I didn’t join them. Eventually, I realized how unhealthy this was. Although I was comfortable staying in my room, rather than reaching out to people and getting involved on campus, I knew that I was not taking advantage of this time in my life. I could have been exploring New Orleans with great people or getting more involved on campus, but instead, I kept myself cooped up in my room for the safety and comfort of isolation. Once I decided to make a change, to take that leap, my quality of life began improving immensely. I reached out to girls I had been friendly with the previous semester, but was truthfully not all that tied to, and it was one of the best decisions I could have made because these girls have become my best friends. Although I was nervous, one small step of reaching out to people encouraged me to apply this ideology in other aspects of my life. I have joined clubs where I didn’t know anyone and have been more confident in all my endeavors, all because I’ve learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone can lead to beautiful things.
Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone may look different for each person, but the life lesson is universal; it can lead to opportunities and relationships you would have never known. The freedom that comes with taking a chance is unlike anything else.