Change is hard. Even good change. One reason is that some part of us is always attached to our comfort zone. There’s a part of us that just wants things to stay familiar and predictable, and it fears the unknown. It feels safer in that cocoon.
This part can operate strongly in the subconscious, trying to “protect” us from venturing too far out of the comfort zone. It’s also attached to ease and pleasure and is afraid we’ll lose whatever creature comforts we have in place. You know this voice. It’s the one that says, “oh why bother going to the gym when you can just stay here and sit on the couch and watch TV and have some cookies?”
Becoming an EFT Practitioner or building your EFT practice will challenge you to go beyond your comfort zone. I’ve been feeling it as I’ve been building this new website and creating this new program. As I told someone recently, “Why can’t we stay in our comfort zone and grow? Somebody set that up wrong!”
It’s in the subconscious
The protective part of us can be quite hidden and we only know it is there by our feelings. Here are five signs that your protector is operating beneath the surface and trying to keep you in your comfort zone:
1 – Procrastinating
2 – Feeling like you’re driving with the brakes on, forcing yourself against inner resistance
3 – Experiencing generalized anxiety and irrational fears about what you want to do
4 – Making excuses
5 – Simply feeling awfully uncomfortable!
So what to do?
It helps to realize that the feelings are coming from a part of you but they are not ALL of you. So step back a bit. Realize that the resistant part of you is actually trying to protect you. It has a very limited view and can’t see beyond what feels comfortable now. But there is another, more evolved part of you that has the capacity to dream and envision a greater reality. There is a longing to challenge yourself and fulfill your potential. There are wings in you that want to develop and spread and fly.
Recently we found the beautiful caterpillar of my picture on a parsley leaf in our garden. He was very happily munching away and I bet he was in his comfort zone. But soon he will feel the need to spin a cocoon and that will probably feel like a very safe comfort zone to him, secluded and protected. Then the cocoon will be too small, too confined as the butterfly develops and feels the urge to spread its wings and emerge as the beautiful creature that it has become. I can’t imagine how far out of the comfort zone that is for the caterpillar! But the life force is strong and the caterpillar would not be able to refuse its destiny if it tried.
A compassionate way to tap
Once we recognize any resistant feelings, it can help to simply acknowledge the protective part and tap:
Even though I feel _______ (uncomfortable, anxious, resistant, want to avoid this and make excuses, etc.), I love and accept myself, and I appreciate that a part of me is just trying to protect me…
Even though I have this protective part, just wants to keep me in my comfort zone, I accept all parts of me…
Even though I’m really feeling that part right now, I can help it calm down…
Then tap for the feelings: “can’t do this… it’s too hard… so uncomfortable… who do I think I am?… “
I sometimes come back to the Karate Chop spot to affirm:
There’s another part of me that really wants to grow. I choose to listen to this wiser part of me… I don’t need so much protection! … it’s okay to try new things… to expand… to face the fears and do it anyway…”
Keep working to reassure your protector part and expand your comfort zone. It is worth it!
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