We have these meet-and-greet events at work, a chance to introduce yourself to all the new hires in the organization. They’re a little bit awkward, and I’m not the most extroverted guy in the world, so I usually avoid them. But I forced myself to go to one this week, to get out of my comfort zone. It definitely was awkward in the beginning, but I eventually struck up a conversation with a few new colleagues, all of whom were smart and interesting. I even ended up talking for a while with the head of HR. I didn’t seek her out in the crowd or anything. We just ended up standing next to each other. I think it probably made a positive impression on her, which only helps my standing in the organization. It made me realize that when you put yourself out there, good things happen.
I think what I’m realizing is that my comfort zone doesn’t really invite other people in. I’m most comfortable when I’m in my own little bubble. I’m pretty introverted by nature, so it makes sense. And I’m not about to start being a Chatty Cathy at the office, inviting people to lunch and setting up weekend retreats. But I have opened up a little bit more with people since starting this process, and it’s been mostly positive. In particular, I’ve made an effort to connect with a few colleagues who I can tell are like me—you know, a little guarded and reserved. I could tell they were unsure of my motive, but once we got past that initial awkwardness, we ended up having a nice conversation. I don’t think we’re going to become besties, but it felt good to make the human connection.
Eating is the ultimate for me, so getting outside of the comfort zone is pretty easy. Just stop eating. It has been pretty hard, especially being in a bad mood most of the time. But I have been able to recognize that tucking into a burger and fries or a bag of potato chips would be a short-term solution for my crankiness. A couple hours later I’d be right back where I started. Whereas the good feeling I’ve had from exercise lasts longer. I’m miserable when it’s happening, but then I feel good for a while after. With eating, it’s the opposite. I feel good shoveling food in my mouth, but then I feel like crap.