“The hardest thing to do is leaving your comfort zone. But you have to let go of the life you’re familiar with and take the risk to live the life you dream about.” -T. Arigo
If you want to be better at basketball, you have to get outside of your comfort zone. Most of us, including myself, tend to get trapped in that comfort zone and stay there. And I do not blame you. It is good to be there. Everything is nice and warm, relaxed, and safe. But the problem is that when we stay there, we are stagnant in our growth. Because when you are in your comfort zone you go through the motion. You do the same things all over again and expect a different result. Did you know that that’s also a definition of insanity?
Yet, when you get out of your comfort zone something magical happens. You begin to grow. You become a better basketball player. And as an athlete, that’s what you want. To become the best possible version of yourself. Not only for personal gain but also for your team’s benefit as well. When you push yourself to the limit, you might inspire others to do the same. You have to work, you have to challenge yourself every time you want to give up. One extra shot, one extra lap, faster, harder, better, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it takes to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Because then, and only then, it’s when you begin to grow.
Ok. But how do you get out of that comfort zone? When do I know I am at the edge and I am about to get out of it?
Did you ever fake an injury to get out of a workout because you were too tired or not feeling it?
Did you ever do only 7 reps out of 10 in the weight room because it was too hard? Or do reps with less weight, even though you know very well you could do with more?
That means you are in your comfort zone. You are not willing to work the least amount you need to do to get in better shape or get stronger in the gym. When this happens to you, you need to get out of it as soon as possible, or you will be left behind. You are not cheating the coach by doing fewer reps, or fewer laps. You are only cheating yourself. In the end, you will suffer the most because you will be stagnant and other players will come and take your job.
To get out of that comfort zone is that when things get tough, you have to push through. Get in that extra lap, do one more rep, start taking risks, set new goals, and crush them! And as you do that, with time, you will see how things that seemed hard to you, now are easy. Why? Because as you grow, you also expand your comfort zone. So when this happens, it is time to set new milestones and crush them as well. This can be a neverending cycle that will help you get better as a basketball player, and build the best version of yourself. Why do all this? Because at the end of your career, when all is said and done, you do not want to have any regrets.
This was something that has been on my mind today as I was working out. I hope it inspired you to take action and get out of that comfort zone!
I wish you good luck in everything that you do, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
