The End Of Your Comfort Zone

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

I have heard, and read, that quote time and time again. And still, I must confess, never has it been a life motto for me. Fear is often what holds me back…fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of danger… Yet, those times when I have acknowledged the fear and decided to walk into the discomfort of it anyway, those are the times that I have seen the most dramatic shifts in my life.

June 23, 2022 marked the one year anniversary of my resignation from the role of classroom teacher. Upon making the decision to inform my principal that I wouldn’t be returning for the 2021/22 school year, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited for my upcoming summer travels, and also anxious about whether I’d regret my choice come September. Mostly I was worried about how I’d fare financially. Did I really have enough savings to step away from steady work? What if, God forbid, I found myself in a health emergency? What if I never was able to find another job with a livable income? These were the questions that plagued me. 

Fortunately, I had the encouragement and support of many. My Dad has always been of the opinion that once I’d earned my Master’s Degree and had 5+ years of professional experience under me, I could afford to step away for a period of time and let myself “wander” a bit. My brother felt strongly that this decision was essential to my well-being and development. My partner assured me that he’d be by my side through it all and that we’d figure it out together. 

So, while I was not at all certain, and most definitely afraid, I wrote my letter of resignation and booked a one way flight to Ohio on the last day of school. There, I met my boyfriend, and six months of van travels ensued. 

My time away from work was filled with days spent in nature across the country. Moto-trials riding in Tennessee, site-seeing in South Dakota, kayaking in Montana, mountain biking and peak summiting in Colorado, hiking in Jackson Hole, running in Oregon, camping in Utah, and even flying a plane in southern California. As I look back at pictures from that period of time, I can’t help but envy my past self. 

Yet, even as I was immersed in adventure, there remained a part of me that still worried about what would come next. With my time away from the classroom, I was better able to reflect and process my last seven years in the field of Education. I love teaching, as I love being with children and treasure the relationships that I created with my students and their families. Teaching is extremely challenging though – challenging in a way that left me feeling emotionally, physically and mentally depleted at the end of almost every school day (and this was pre-pandemic). The constant noise of buzzing voices, the demand to wear so many hats within a given hour (teacher, counselor, parent, nurse…), and the worry felt for the well-being of each child, takes its toll. I missed the kids, but I didn’t miss the rest of it. But, if not teaching, then what? 

In November of 2021, I found myself in Southern California where my partner had an interview scheduled. He was offered a role and all of a sudden we were putting plans into place for a move at the beginning of January. 

I was thrilled for my boyfriend, as I knew this job to be a dream opportunity for him. But, I was also pretty sad – him taking a job meant the end of OUR travels, at least for a while. Additionally, with the cost of living in California, and my own dwindling bank account, I felt pressure to find work again myself. That familiar voice popped up, “Had I made the right decision in leaving a decently paying job? Will I be able to find work again?”

Many journal entries and vulnerable conversations with friends and family had helped me to realize that going back into teaching wasn’t really what I desired. No, a few months of traveling and seeing how a large number of my friends were working had left me aching to find remote work, preferably within the field of Education. I wanted to continue to positively impact both students and teachers, just not from the place of a classroom teacher AND I wanted flexibility in where I worked. 

I applied for 63 jobs – no joke, I counted. I received 3 call backs for screening interviews (that lead nowhere) and one yes to a contract work with a reputable K-12 curriculum company. That voice of questioning grew louder with each rejection email that came my way. I began to believe that I may, indeed, never find a job in the line of work that I sought. I wasn’t even sure if teaching would pan out for the coming school year, as California has many hoops to jump through around educator licensure. Needless to say, there were many tear-filled nights as I questioned my own professional worth.  

One afternoon, as I walked home from a day spent substitute teaching, I received a call from a close friend. He was calling to share that a position had opened up within the organization he works with and he was curious if I was interested. I knew of this organization, having used their curriculum – which focuses on social and emotional development – in my own classroom of first graders. I was definitely interested. 

One month later, I had a job. A job that I am passionate about, that allows me to impact students and educators, AND from which I can work remotely. 

One year ago I left the classroom, terrified of what would come next. Yet, I couldn’t have made a better decision for myself, as the clarity I have gained around my own direction professionally and personally has been substantial. The fear was there, but I decided to do it anyway. 

There have been many anxious moments along the way, as I could never be sure how things would turn out. But something I am beginning to understand is, that is okay. We rarely know how things will turn out. All we can do is trust that we’ll have the necessary resources to rise to the challenge. 

Is there something you’re longing to do? A change you yearn to make? It needn’t be as big as quitting your job to take time to travel. If fear of “what if” is leaving you in paralysis, I encourage you to lean into this fear a bit. Is there a step you can take that feels manageable? It needn’t be dramatic, just a step. Because in the end, who knows where that one step might take you. 
“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Roy T. Bennett