For thousands of years, our species has evolved to minimize fear. That fear (aka survival instinct) keeps us away from heights, dangerous spiders, and for some, public speaking.
It’s not really the mountain top, eight legs, or the audience that instills fear, though. It’s often staring into the face of something unknown that causes a fear response.
The same can be true of our creative work. Peering over the edge seems unnecessary when we’re happy in the safety of our comfort zone. When it comes to creativity though, it can be even more dangerous to stay put.
The Comfort Zone Paradox
The daily grind has an evolutionary advantage. By building positive habits, we increasingly become more efficient in our routine. We produce greater output with less input. We enter careers to provide stability and comfort.
This tendency towards stability and familiarity is not without reason. Avoiding risks keeps us alive, after all!
This cozy, though stagnant, place is known as the comfort zone. Judith Bardwick’s 1991 book Danger in the Comfort Zone, describes it as a “behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition”. She also states that the zone involves a “limited set of behaviors that deliver a steady level of performance”.
Living comfortably and relatively free of risk, fear, or stress sounds great. But paradoxically, it’s often spending too much time in the comfort zone that can prevent us from becoming our most creative selves.
When Stagnation Stunts Creativity
The part of the brain that screens our decision-making, the prefrontal cortex, is wired to adapt to routine. When we continuously choose a task or action, there’s no need for the brain to apply critical thinking as the choice must be safe and therefore correct. Thus, we land softly on a plateau of “anti-growth”.
This stability feeds on our natural inclination to avoid fear (of failure, rejection, starting, or even of greater success). According to the neuroscientist Daniela Schiller, avoidance is a “natural response to fear.” Though, she adds, “It’s not the one that works.”
Since creativity relies on the ability to connect new ideas, it tracks that changing up your routine will result in a boost of creative thinking. In his book Leonardo’s Brain: Understanding Da Vinci’s Creative Genius, Dr. Leonard Shlain wrote that the key to the artist’s impressive mind was his ability to “access different ways of thinking, to see more clearly the interconnectedness of everything, and in doing so, to reach a different state of consciousness than the rest of us.”
Actively working to disrupt patterns and routines could lead to better creative work. And that means, of course, facing our fears.
Embracing the Unknown
Simply “stepping out of your comfort zone” is easier said than done.
The element of unpredictability contributes significantly to avoidance. A study looked at what the stress response would be for touching a potentially electrified fence. Amazingly, subjects showed greater stress where there was a 50% chance of being shocked as compared to when they knew there was a 100% chance of being shocked if they touched it.
In a similar vein, psychologist Ema Tanovic found that people were reluctant to venture into potentially profitable situations if there was an element of unpredictability involved. How many of us pass up on a higher-paying job in exchange for the one we already know how to do?
We don’t like unknowns – especially when risk is involved. Knowing which risks to take, though, involves weighing the stress vs the reward, and engaging in critical thinking to determine whether some discomfort is worth it.
It also helps to recognize when fear is an indicator not of danger but of the possibility for growth. And the discomfort involved is often necessary for pushing creative boundaries.
Fear as an Indicator of Growth Opportunities
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” – Helen Keller
Fear is healthy. Spiders can be dangerous. So can falling from heights. Public speaking can lead to embarrassment. However, understanding fear as essential to positive possibilities can be transformative.
If something seems scary, it’s likely an indicator of opportunities for growth. The views from the top can be great. In other words, if approached correctly, overcoming these fears can pay off. When it comes to creativity, what scares us may also help us break out of a stagnant creative rut.
How to Do What Scares You
According to the work of psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe, for about 90% of cases, exposure therapy results in a reduction in fear and anxiety. Just as exposure is the best way to deal with phobias, taking that first step and building up the confidence to face our fears is what will inevitably bust us out of our comfort zone.
When we’re ready to face those fears, we open up opportunities for learning and growth. We’re then able to acquire new skills, set new goals, face exciting challenges, and ultimately expand creative horizons.
Here are some useful tips for breaking out of the comfort zone plateau and accepting fear.
- Start Small: Manageable steps that stretch your boundaries but aren’t overwhelming. Gradually increase the level of difficulty as you venture into unknowns.
- Set Clear Goals: Define specific goals for what you want to achieve. Having a clear purpose will give you direction and motivation.
- Play “Worst Case Scenario”: Walk yourself through the worst-case scenario and realize it’s not that bad. Plus, it’s an opportunity for some fun creative writing!
- Play “Best Case Scenario”: Imagine yourself successfully completing the task that scares you. Visualization is proven to help reduce anxiety.
- Break It Down: If the task seems too daunting, focus on completing one step at a time.
- Seek Support: Share aspirations with friends, family, or fellow creatives. Be open to encouragement and advice (and help when needed). A creative support network can be a powerful driver!
- Frame it Positively: Research shows that people prefer a disease treatment described as 95% effective, vs one described as 5% ineffective. Instead of focusing solely on the possible risks, shift your perspective towards the positive to help your brain see the potential rather than the risk.
- Accept Discomfort: Embrace the discomfort as a sign that you’re challenging yourself and evolving.
- Keep a Fear Journal: Document fears and the steps you’re taking to overcome them, and reflections along the way.
- Take Risks Regularly: Make a habit of trying something new on a regular basis. The more you expose yourself to new experiences, the more comfortable you’ll become with discomfort.
- Celebrate Progress: Treat yourself when you achieve milestones or successfully face your fears. Positive reinforcement can motivate you to continue pushing boundaries.
Breaking the Creative Plateaus
It’s easy to become stagnant after achieving certain goals. We’re hard-wired to avoid risks to our comfort or safety. But actively setting new goals is what propels us forward and drives improvement.
Facing our fears, taking on new challenges, and inviting opportunities for personal growth stimulates the mind, opening us up to new perspectives. It’s there, outside the comfort zone, that we can discover inspiration for our best creative ideas.
