Cryobody with Keith Mabbutt

A big thank you to Keith Mabbutt of the Street Soccer Foundation for writing this article. We love to hear about our client experiences.

This week has made me reflect on what it is to operate in the so-called ‘Comfort Zone’ and why it is vital you shouldn’t if you want different outcomes, success levels or to grow your business.

Earlier in the week I visited Cryojuvenate in Sevenoaks, Kent run by the lovely Ruth Hyde. I was booked in for a ‘Cryo Body’ treatment: standing in a Chamber, to be iced at -90 degrees C for what was 4 minutes. I’m pleased to say I survived!

Many industry professionals recommend extreme cold as a way to improve mental and physical health. Then just two days later, after a gym session, I decided to sit in a Sauna to help myself unwind and relax. I clocked the temperature at +90 degrees C. I’d literally gone from one extreme to the other!

Human beings are very habitual in nature. We often do many things throughout the day in exactly the same way. Think about it. You jump out of bed first thing in the morning or you regularly hit the snooze button… You’re straight in the shower, or you start off with a coffee or breakfast…

Many people who know me know that I love to have a cold shower to start the day. It gets the blood circulating and certainly wakes you up! If you haven’t tried it, give it a go. To ease yourself in, try dropping the temperature towards the end of your routine for 10 seconds. I’d love to hear how you get on…

But there it is again: routine. Most of us have a way we do things. We will typically wash in exactly the same way each morning. We will eat breakfast the same way. Put on our clothes in the same way: are you bottom half or top half first?! The way we think and act… it’s often throughout the day, habitual. We do things out of habit. We’re comfortable and know it carries us through.

But here’s the thing – if you want a different outcome, whatever that may be or however you may wish to define it – you MUST break the habit and do things differently.

The Cambridge Dictionary describes the ‘Comfort Zone’ as: “a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.”

And there you have it. The precise reason why you shouldn’t stay in your comfort zone if you want to achieve or be more successful – in however way you define it. If you want to grow or to learn – we all must test ourselves: both our ability and determination. This is what moves us forward. Whether you’re in business, running your own company or whether you’re a professional sportsperson: to achieve you must test yourself and put your level of determination and desire to the test.

Why? Because no-one else typically will. It’s up to you how far you want to go and how you’re going to get there.

I’m a big believer in personal development being one of the best investments you can ever make. Being the best version of you not only benefits you – but everyone around you: your family, friends, and work colleagues. Stepping outside of your comfort zone offers no better way to grow. You will present yourself with new challenges and experiences that can help re-set your mindset.

It can make you become more adaptable, healthier and stronger. It will boost your self-confidence and self-belief, which in turn can lead to your achieving greater success – thanksto the confidence, experience, learning, and determination it inspires.

You will learn that failure is rare because the most common outcomes are success, learning, and personal development.

If you become more determined to try new and different things, you will naturally grow as a person and your focus will then remain on what you are learning and have experienced rather than any particular so-called failure.

As your comfort zone expands, you will see new opportunities previously obscured by your own barriers. You will become more resilient and prepared for whatever comes your way. The more open you are to new possibilities, the more diverse your experiences, and the more confident you will become in your ability.

So – this week, I’ve iced myself at -90, warmed myself at +90, and in-between, kept busy driving forward The Street Soccer Foundation. And I’ve done so with a mindset that is firmly locked onto the reason why. Because I’m passionate about how powerful football is in uniting people, improving their health and well-being, and then through our facilitated coaching, being able to make a genuine difference in other people’s lives. What will I do next week to ‘challenge the zone’? Perhaps Banger Racing!

When was the last time you stepped outside your own comfort zone? How often do you do it? How has it helped you in your life or in business? Please comment and share