Okay, so, I wanna share something I’ve been doing lately – it’s called “boundary stepping.” Sounds a bit weird, I know, but trust me, it’s been pretty cool. Basically, it’s all about pushing myself to do things I wouldn’t normally do. Like, I’m not exactly a social butterfly, but I decided to start going to these local meetups. I found some groups online that seemed interesting, and, man, it was tough at first. Showing up to a place where you don’t know anyone? Not my idea of a fun time. But I pushed myself to go anyway.
The first time, I just kind of stood around, feeling super awkward. I did manage to talk to a few people, though, even if it was just small talk. Then, I started going to these meetups more regularly. And guess what? It got easier. I started recognizing some faces, and people started recognizing me. I even made a couple of friends, which was totally unexpected. We started hanging out outside of the meetups, doing stuff like checking out a new restaurant or just chilling at someone’s place.
And it wasn’t just about social stuff. I also pushed myself to try new things at work. There was this project that no one really wanted to take on because it seemed super complicated. I’m no expert, but I thought, “What the heck, I’ll give it a shot.” So, I volunteered. It was definitely a challenge, and I had to do a ton of research and ask a lot of questions. But I stuck with it, and, in the end, I actually pulled it off. My boss was impressed, and I felt pretty darn good about myself. This whole experience made me realize I was selling myself short before.
- Identified my comfort zones. First, I had to figure out what I was actually comfortable with. What things did I avoid?
- Chose a boundary to push. I picked one thing that felt a little scary but also kind of exciting. For me, it was the social stuff and taking on a challenge at work.
- Took the first step. This was the hardest part, honestly. Actually showing up to that first meetup and volunteering for that project took some serious willpower.
- Kept at it. I didn’t just stop after one try. I kept going back to the meetups and I kept working on that project, even when it got tough.
- Reflected on my progress. I made sure to think about how things were going. Was I feeling more comfortable? Was I learning new things?
Here’s what I did step-by-step:
Now, I’m not saying I’m this totally transformed person or anything. I still have my comfort zones, for sure. But I’m definitely more willing to step outside of them now. It’s like, I know I can handle it, and that’s a pretty awesome feeling. This whole “boundary stepping” thing, it’s not about changing who you are. It’s about discovering that you’re capable of more than you think. And that’s something everyone should try, I really think so.
