the path out of comfort zone..

Last week, i was at a friend's birthday chalet at Aloha Loyang. A friend of her called and was asking for directions to her unit. This person, who was lost, wasnt too far away; she was just minutes away at the Reception office. Not being familiar she did not know the way, and my friend too had a hard time describing the way. In the end her boy ran there to bring her in.

Small incident, but it did made me think about it. Actually, if that girl tried to explore around and walk further from the reception, she would have found that the bungolows ran down in order, and thus definately found that unit without guidance. But she didnt.

Just like our daily life. We are given so many opportunities every day to make decisions, and several are never tried before options. Because they are unknown choices, just like that girl who was not familiar, we didnt venture into it. And who knows? It might not be as hard as we thought and we would have yield some benefits out of it. Or saved money or time. ...Just like going to new places/countries to tour or just take up a job offer.

The fact is because people normally do not go beyond their comfort zone. The reception area was the comfort zone to that girl, by exploring beyond there into the darkness (it was night) she would have hit regions of unknown and might get lost. Likewise, what we always do or what other had always done is the comfort zone -- it had been tried and tested. That new job offer might be hard; that financial investment have risk; that driving trip to malaysia might be dangerous.

But so what if that girl ventured and was still lost? She could have re-tracked and went back to that reception area to seek help again. Or simply called for help at where ever she had reached. At least she had taken the opportunity to try. However, similiarities end here and life is not so simple anymore. The job is bounded by contract, you do shit and be stuck for long period; The risk of that investment burnt a big and painful hole on your savings; the trip ended up on accident, injuries, or even robbed and mugged. That's why you cant say just try it.

So are we all going to play safe forever? No of course...we would try to see the risk level and measure the amount i can lose. And certainly that is based on the level of commitment/responsibility we have now. No wonder when my dad was young he tried everything; as a old married man he fears anything.

Or perhaps that why they say "ignorant is bliss"... the less you are aware of the risk the more you dare to try.. and who knows, some are lucky, and do yield something.

Unlucky ones? Learnt it from the hard way.


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