As we bring closure to the rock climbing unit, I'd like you to reflect on your experiences over the past few weeks and comment on the following:
- What does the term "comfort zone" mean to you?
- Did you move beyond your comfort zone during the climbing expedition?
- When, specifically?
- If you decided to stay within your comfort zone, what was one reason for doing so?
- How do you feel about yourself after stepping out of your comfort zone? OR...
- How do you feel about yourself after choosing not to step outside your comfort zone?
- If you did step out of your comfort zone, what allowed you to do it? OR...
- If you didn't step out of your comfort zone, what if anything prevented you from doing so?
- Is pushing yourself beyond what is comfortable important to you? Why or why not?
- What is the value of stepping out of a comfort zone?
- Should people who do not move beyond their comfort zone be pushed a little harder to do so? Why or why not?
- What are some good reasons for remaining in a place where you feel entirely comfortable?
- Are you more apt to step out of your comfort zone while climbing or engaging in adventure activities than in every-day life? Why or why not?
- What is one specific thing you can do to step out of your comfort zone in every-day life?
- In studying the diagram, what is the difference between the "groan zone" and the "growth zone"?
- What is the relationship between risk and growth? In your answer, address the different types of risk we have discussed: "perceived" risk and "actual" risk.
This will be due before class on Friday, April 24, 2009. As always, I look forward to reading your responses.
Robin Brady
ReplyDeleteThe word comfort zone means to me that you have experience and feel comfortable in doing a certain task. You also have trust in other people around you and are confident in what you are doing. I believe that I did move beyond my comfort zone in the climbing trip. I was afraid to belay people over a cliff. Hanging there looking down over a cliff was rather frighening for me but once I did it, I felt a lot more comfortable about it. I don’t enjoy it but I feel more comfortable. I didn’t climb too much. I enjoy bouldering more and I believe that I am some what afraid of hights. I believe that I tried to move within my comfort zone. I am proud of myself for belaying someone while I was haning over a cliff. I didn’t think I could do it at first but I knew we had built a strong anchor and that there was people there to back me up so I believe I tried. The value of stepping out o a comfort zone is great because you proved to yourself that you can do something that you didn’t think you could. It makes you a stronger person.
I believe that everyone should be pushed alittle bit, but if they are really afraid of something and start crying or freaking out than maybe you shouldn’t push them too far because it could really ruin the whole experience for them and they might never want to do it again. Honestly I feel as they I was very afraid of sailing. I don’t know why. The little sail boats I fear and I feel I was pushed too far in going in them and I never want to go in one again. So I don’t think people should be pused too hard because they might look at that experience like how I did with sailing. Now I really don’t ever want to do it again. I had a bad experience and don’t want to be in that position again.
Some good reasons for being in an experience where you feel comfortable is that you enjoy yourself a lot more and that you don’t get a bad experience and never want to do it again. Like me with sailing.
I am more apt to step out of my comfort zone when I have some knowledge about a certain subject and when I enjoy it. If I don’t fear it than I have no problem getting in that zone. The growth zone is where you feel as though you have over-come something. You feel more accomplished and experienced. It makes you a stronger and better person. The groan zone is your familiar pattern of life. Risk and growth is something everyone has to do deal with. Growth is taking experiences and learning from them. Taking a risk is always worth it as well because you learn from it. There two good things everyone needs to do.
Overall, the climbing trip was a good experience. I enjoyed learning about climbing. I may not be a huge fan but I enjoyed it and plan to keep climbing somewhat and get used to it. The Acadia National Park was awesome. I have never been there and really njoyed seeing thunder hole and sand beach. That was really cool. I also thought hiking to the top of the mountain was neat because I could see some awesome views!
The comfort zone is that place that is familiar; familiar actions, activities, places, talking only to people you already know, or to people you don’t know but within a comfortable range of small talk. It means just doing whatever you usually end up doing. I think the mind and body need stimulation in order to thrive, and by staying in our comfort zone something happens to our minds and body. They become unused essentially, they may even atrophy if this goes on long enough. There is so much in the world to experience, it is unlikely that we would run out of novel and exciting things to bring us out of our comfort zones. However, when I am not sure of when I will be able to experience something like that again I jump at the chance to do it and would likely regret not doing so.
ReplyDeleteDuring the climbing trip I definitely went out past my comfort zone by being supported just by the gear we placed in the cracks on the rock. Also if was so very different climbing on real rock, it gave climbing a much different feel, that took a little time to get familiar with. Standing on the top of the cliff feels a lot better than being hung 60 feet above the ground being lowered by someone else. I tried not to stay in my comfort zone because I didn’t know when the next time would be that I would be able to step out of it.
After stepping out I was able to get comfortable about the type of climbing we were doing. I had to give myself a little push. I had to realize that these systems we were setting up were safe and were critiqued using the LEADSTER acronym. I have learned to keep in mind that Im probably, or most definitely going to be okay. By stepping out of those comfort zones we can become more well rounded people, with a much broader perspective. Although I think this is something we should experience for ourselves I don’t think this is something that people should be pushed to do. If it doesn’t turn out that well or the person has a bad reaction to the activity they may be less willing or unwilling to try and step out of their comfort zone with you or that specific activity.
People also deal with anxiety differently, someone may or may not do very well with it and find it more difficult to step out of their comfort zone than someone else. Anxiety in the right amounts can actually help us perform better, too much or too little does not. I think the biggest thing is keeping our heads straight in order to keep any stressful event or activity in its place and not let it get out of proportion internally. That may help keep anxiety in check. And this is something that happens with everything people do, not just adventure sports. Maybe driving in inclement weather, talking to new people, holding snakes or spiders, or just walking outside may be out of somebodies comfort zone. Even eating a new food could be considered stepping out of ones comfort zone. These are all just little things to some but may not be so, to others.
I think the one thing you can do on a daily basis is talk to somebody new, an actual conversation that may extend beyond the usual small talk pleasantries. Getting to know someone may be very uncomfortable at first. But I also think no matter what you do on a daily basis, it will become familiar and will become comfortable, so you have to change up your strategy from time to time to keep things fresh. You will often find yourself in the groan zone if your stepping out of your comfort zone. This is that little period of personal resistance to change that may ultimately represent your feeling about an activity or might give way to the growth zone which becomes a new comfort zone with the addition of more skills and experience. And maybe that is what seperates people who are continually stepping out of their comfort zone from the ones who would rather not. Maybe they are growth zone junkies, addicted to their sense of accomplishment, and confidence with their use of new skills in their repertoire. I think our current skill sets definitely have some influence over what new activities and skill we may strive for, and be likely to step out of our comfort zone for.
This sort of thinking can be used when looking at any living system. In plants you can see that a plant makes a risk everytime it grows. Will its new growth be supported by sunlight and nutrients or will it eventually wither and perish. This is a real risk for the plant. If an animal is rewarded for its behavior, it helps to solidify the habit and make it more likely they repeat it. This could be a real or percieved risk by the young animal. This is what humans do as children, we do not know right from wrong we just risk and it is either rewarded or or punished. This can be percieved risk or real risk. We may end up falling from the tree or successfully making it to the top, we will either be told its wrong to beat up other children or rewarded for sharing with the other children. And each time one of these instances happens we will grow or die, and hopefully we continue to step out of our comfort zones so that we can keep growing year after year.
Dana Marble
ReplyDeleteFirst off, there are way too many questions for this blog, so I'm already outside my comfort zone. To me the comfort zone is an area where a person is not challenged either mentally or physically. An example of this is a sports enthusiast that sits in front of the TV eating chips and drinking beer. I don't think there are any couch potatoes in the adventure recreation program.
I definetely moved out of my comfort zone even before I started climbing. The main reason is my fear of heights. This is not to say that I didn't have faith in the system. I knew that I was totally safe, I had complete trust in the equipment and everyone doing the belaying.
The only thing that I really had to overcome was my fear of heights. Standing on the edge and looking down was the most challenging part of the climb. I came very close to refusing to belay, I was almost sick. After belaying down my stress level seemed to go back down. Climbing up I concentrated on climbing, looking for hand holds and foot holds. This isn't to say that I was comfortable but by the time I finished the climb I was feeling more sure of myself.
At this stage perhaps I was crossing ove from the groan zone to the growth zone.
My greatest concern when I belayed for the first time was that everything was done right.
First I looked closely at the anchors, then I did a very through BARK check. Under no circumstances did I want anything to go wrong. Sitting on the edge with my legs over the edge was not as bad as belaying but I was still way beyond my confort zone. Getting proper techniques and rhythm took a couple of minutes but once you get it the rest went smoothly.
It was not until the next day that I felt thatI had really accomplished anything. I was glad that I did it and somewhat proud that I had actually climbed that vertical wall.
Overall this trip was a total success. There are several high pointsthat stand out.
First, we had perfect weather all four days. Also the morning that the Park Rangers stopped at the campsite next door really stands out. Taking time to go into Bar Harbor really stands out. I think everyone was in their comfort zone. The climbing experience is the most memoriable, this is something I will remmeber forever. The last day really topped off the whole trip, it was perfect end to four days of wonderful weather.
Casey Ryder
ReplyDeleteBlog
5/13/09
The term comfort zone to me means the constantly changing state of mind the body experiences when its limits are pushed out side a zone of comfort. Basically when the mind is pushed to a point of discomfort. I don’t believe I went outside my comfort zone at any point on this climbing trip. The reason for this is that I didn’t have any desire to push myself because I just don’t get much reward out of climbing.
At certain points I do feel pushing myself outside that comfort zone is important and that’s because I always like to better myself. But again I want to be rewarded for doing so and climbing didn’t offer me that. The value of stepping out of your comfort zone is usually a reward in the end a kind of self-realization that you can do any thing you put your mind to.
I feel people should be pushed outside their comfort zone because sometimes a little push can get someone pretty far. And in the end I think one would appreciate it in the end. But at the same time I think if someone is learning then keeping them inside their comfort zone is important so that there is no distraction. In adventure and stuff you’re more likely to step outside that comfort zone because a lot of the activities are meant to push someone physically and mentally.
The diff between the groan and the growth is that someone can be pushed outside that groan zone and into the growth zone were they begin to learn because they’re trying new things.
Samantha Sutton
ReplyDeleteTo me the comfort zone is where a person is when they are the most comfortable. It’s when there is no risk, change, or adventure to their life.
Well I didn’t really go beyond my comfort zone on this trip because I didn’t climb. I didn’t let myself go beyond my comfort zone. I guess I don’t really know exactly why I wouldn’t climb. It’s partly because I’m scared, partly because I don’t believe I could physically do it, partly because I don’t trust the anchor or the belayer, and on top of all of that I don’t really like trying something like this in front of everyone watching.
I don’t really feel any different even though I didn’t push myself outside of my comfort zone. Climbing isn’t my thing and I don’t regret not climbing.
Like I said before I’m not completely sure what it was that wouldn’t allow me to go beyond my comfort zone. I think it was a combination of things.
In certain situations pushing myself is important to me, but not in all situations. And this trip was not a situation where I wish I had pushed myself. I’m just convinced that I wasn’t meant to climb. Like for example at the rock climbing competition thing, I would try a problem and not be able to do it. Them I would think I should be able to do it, so I’d try again, but then I’d fail again, and again. Then I just got frustrated with it all, and pretty much gave up, because I do not believe that I can physically climb.
The value of stepping out of your comfort zone is you get to push yourself further than you thought you could go. Then you usually get a since of accomplishment from it.
Yes and no. You should give them a nudge to see if they should be pushed, don’t just think you can push everyone into doing something they don’t want to. Because it may not work the way you hoped. Like in sailing, I felt I had to do something that really didn’t want to do. Then my first experience was awful and now I hate sailing and don’t really want to ever try it again. And before we started sailing I thought it looked really cool and I really thought I was going to like sailing. But it didn’t really turn out that way. And if I had started sailing on my own terms, like in the summer or on a pond or maybe wearing a wet suit. To be honest what scared me the most other than the little control I had over the boat, I was terrified of falling back into that freezing cold water.
I think good reasons for staying in your comfort zone are like I mentioned above. Because it might be an awful first experience, and they may never want to try it again.
I don’t think that your can really divide the two choices as everyday life and adventure activities. Because I am perfectly ok with paddling a rapid without even thinking about it, but I wont climb a rock. And I’m sure I do stuff every day that pushes me out of my comfort zone, but I hate giving oral presentations. So I think it really depends on the situation and the consequences of not stepping outside my comfort zone. Like in sailing I wouldn’t have gotten back into the boat, but I was sure I wouldn’t pass sailing class so I got back in and now I hate it.
I think that if you really wanted to step outside your comfort zone you would have regrets, which would eventually make yourself step outside the comfort zone. But if you have no interests in it then I don’t think your ready yet. So I don’t think there is anything you can just do to get over a fear or outside a comfort zone. I think it just happens when your ready.
The groan zone is when you hate what your doing and you maybe complain about it. The growth zone would be after the groan zone. It is where you realize you accomplished something, and you might feel proud of yourself.
The relationship between risk and growth is, that when you take some risk or push yourself outside of your comfort zone then you accomplish something. So you experience some growth from doing something you didn’t think you could do. And maybe you learn something about yourself. Then there is perceived risk and actual risk. Perceived risk is something that looks risky, but it actually isn’t. Like climbing with the anchors we built looks risky and unsafe, but they are actually really safe. We checked them ourselves. Actual risk is when you’re actually taking a risk, like climbing with out being clipped into any back up, is actually risky because you could potentially die if you fell.