Welcome to the Growth Chronicle, and congratulations on taking the 1st step towards unlocking the next level in your life.
Whenever “Growth” is mentioned in a conversation, it cannot be discussed without discussing the importance of the comfort zone.
There’s a space in life that feels safe. Comfortable. It’s where your routines are predictable, and challenges seem minimal. But here’s the truth: nothing grows in that space.
This “comfort zone” is more like a trap—a maze we’ve built for ourselves. It feels secure, but it’s holding us back from the life we want.
Have you seen The Maze Runner?
It’s a movie about a group of boys trapped in a deadly, ever-changing maze. By day, some of them—runners—venture out, searching for an exit. But they always return before dark, fearing the monsters that awaken at night. The rest stay within the four walls of a garden, believing they’re safe there.
Until one day, their supposed sanctuary is invaded, and they realize the walls were never truly safe. The only way to survive is to face the maze head-on. A young hero named Thomas leads the charge, challenging the status quo, outsmarting the monsters, and finding the way out.
In many ways, we’re like those boys. The maze is our mind, filled with doubts, distractions, and fears. The walls of the garden? That’s our comfort zone—familiar but suffocating. And the monsters? They’re our fears of failure, rejection, or the unknown.
My Own Maze
In 2018, I found myself at a crossroads. I had just graduated with $50,000 in student loans, a failing career, and no clear direction. Depression was my constant companion, and I felt trapped in patterns of laziness and self-doubt.
Something had to change.
One cold November morning, I committed to waking up at 4:30 AM to run. It wasn’t just about fitness; it was about discipline and confronting my weaknesses.
The first day was brutal. I stepped outside into freezing temperatures, gasping for air after only a few minutes. My mind screamed at me to stop, to go back inside where it was warm. But I pushed through. I ran three miles that day, taking breaks after every half mile. It wasn’t pretty, but I did it.
The next day was no easier. Nor the day after that. Some mornings, I couldn’t even get out of bed. But I kept coming back, chipping away at the mental walls I had built for myself each time.
Then, on the seventh day, something clicked. As I ran through the frigid darkness, I realized the monsters I was battling weren’t outside me but inside me: my fears, insecurities, and excuses. Every step I took at 4:30 AM was a step toward defeating them.
That’s when I understood growth doesn’t happen in the light, where it’s easy. It occurs in the dark when no one’s watching when the monsters are strongest.
Breaking Free
The comfort zone isn’t genuinely safe—it’s just familiar. Staying there means staying stuck, living on autopilot, and letting fear dictate your choices.
To grow, you have to face the maze. You must confront your fears, challenge your routines, and take risks.
Here’s what worked for me:
Set Specific Goals: I started small—wake up early and run. From there, I built bigger goals around my passions and long-term vision.
Visualize Success: Each night, I imagined myself running the following day: the cold, the pain, and the pride I’d feel afterward. Visualization prepared me to face the obstacles.
Stop Negotiating: When the alarm went off, I didn’t give myself the option to hit snooze. I decided ahead of time that I wouldn’t negotiate with myself.
Remember Your Why: On tough days, I reminded myself why I started. My “why” was freedom—from mediocrity, fear, and self-doubt.
Know It’s Temporary: Pain is fleeting. Growth lasts. When I struggled, I focused on how good I’d feel when it was over.
Your Turn
What’s your comfort zone? Maybe it’s a job you’ve outgrown, a stagnant routine, or a dream you’ve put on hold because it feels too risky. Whatever it is, I promise you: everything you want is outside those walls.
But you have to be willing to step into the maze.
Ready to take the first step?
👉 Liked this article? You can read the larger version of this article here: Read the Blog
This week, I challenge you to reflect on your own maze. What fears are keeping you stuck? What steps can you take to confront them?
Growth begins where comfort ends. So, GO, be the hero of your story.
Talk soon!
Rochan
