Brock’s been having trouble sleeping at night, so last week we took him to Overlake Hospital for a sleep study.
Being that he’s only 18 months old, I didn’t think he was gonna be too keen on the nurses attaching all these electrodes and other pieces of monitoring equipment to him.
To be honest, I thought it was gonna be one heck of a battle, but Brock proved me wrong.
Sure, he fussed a little bit, but overall, he was a really good sport.
The little guy did extremely well, even though he was totally outside his comfort zone.
As I watched his reaction to the nurses wiring him up for sound, it brought back memories of the many times I’ve been outside my own comfort zone.
At first, it feels kind of awkward.
You feel a little out of place.
You wonder if everything will work out alright.
I can remember one specific time that I was thrust outside of my comfort zone – BIG TIME.
In 2000, my friend Joe brought me up on stage at his seminar, in front of 500 people.
Prior to that, I’d never done any public speaking, so you can imagine how awkward that experience was for me.
But when it was all said and done, it wasn’t that bad.
No one chastised me.
No one belittled me.
No one teased me.
In fact, after I left the stage, many people approached me and thanked me for sharing.
Talk about a pleasant surprise, even if I was so nervous that I couldn’t remember what I’d talked about.
These days, I get outside of my comfort zone all the time.
In fact, I pretty much live outside my comfort zone.
Am I suggesting that you do the same?
Not necessarily.
But here’s a simple exercise for you to try, and I guarantee it will make you feel good.
Next time you’re out and about, at the grocery store, the gas station, a restaurant or wherever, I want you to go out of your way to compliment a complete stranger.
Compliment them on their clothing, their hair, their shoes, whatever.
Just compliment them on something.
Yes, it might get you out of your comfort zone, but it will also make them, and you feel REALLY good.
So go ahead – try it.
And once you’ve had the experience, who knows, you might decide that you want to get out of your comfort zone more often.
Oh, and just in case you we’re wondering…
Turns out that Brock is just a normal little boy who likes to make use of his entire bed at night.
He doesn’t have any sleep disorders at all.
Have fun with this little experiment, and let me know how it goes.
Dedicated to your success,
Kevin Thompson
“The Automatic Income Coach”
Hi Kevin – So cute! What a great little sport! I can’t believe how fast he is growing – losing that baby look; looking more like a little boy. I always appreciate your stories and the application. Have a great weekend!
Dawn Wilder
Hey Kevin Thompson,
I think that little Brock, althouth he was outside his comfort zone, he thought that this is a kind of a game, because nothing hurt him,
and his daddy was close to him, to give him confidence while he was
outside his comfort zone.
Little Brock is a nice old boy.
Hello Kevin,
Yes, you are quite right. If you compliment other people, even on things which at first glance might appear very minor, based on my experience both parties, the complimenter and the person being complimented, usually experience what I would call a mental high!
Regards,
Jean-Paul
Hi Kevin,
Glad to hear the good news about your boy, remember to give God the glory for without Him we are lost. i am a minister so i practice this exercise daily, several times daily as a matter of fact, and you are exactly correct it does make you and the other people feel good.When I compliment someone I usually end by telling them to have a blessed day,which also makes them smile.
Regards,
God Bless
Daniel Burke
Hi Kevin
Brock reminds me of when my youngest Kelly had to have heart surgery when she was three. She will be 21 in a month. I thought she would have a fit with all the needles and everything. When they were taking her blood, after the third needle, she looked at me and said in a low voice, “Mommy, can they stop now” What a trooper she was, I was the wreck. Children do surprise us. Hope all goes well for Brock and the rest of your family.
Complimenting others is a good idea, you lose nothing whereas the other person usually feels happy about it. The point is, you always feel happy by making others happy. But there are also some crooks in this strange world of ours, they take it as a reproach.
Brock is a little champ! Glad everything is fine.
I agree with you 100% on exerting your comfort zone. I used to be a quiet, shy, hide-in-the-back kinda guy. Once I built the confidence with a few exercises (quite like you describe here)I have gained much success as a result of being ‘outward’. Now, I live in that zone. I no longer do things unless they are outside of my comfort zone, those things I delegate to others now. There is a sense of freedom, attraction and positivity when you live like this and I would suggest everyone give it a shot. In addition to paying strangers compliments try something else new, every day. Try a new food, drive a different route, just something new, maybe even something daring. Just get out of the ‘plain-ol’ zone you’re in and start living life.
The GREAT E.E.G of the “WONDER BRAIN” WAY-TO-GO BROCKY!!!! I have what you call EPILEPSY OF the WONDERFULL BRAIN!! SO I Know what these GREAT KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH!?!
Hi Kevin, what a cute picture of Brock as he looked very curious about what was happening
to him. I can’t believe how fast Brock has grown up and being such
a good sport during his hospital stay tells you just how grown up he has become. As far as the comfort zone thing, I’ve done that a few times already and you are soo right, it’s
akward at first but in the end it is a good feeling for you and the person that you complimented. Oh! and I’m glad that Brock is just a little boy who likes to make use of his entire bed at night. Great news!! for his parents especially. Thanks for sharing
Kevin and have a wonderful week-end.
Great idea Kevin, I pracise this daily. A compliment or a helping hand goes a long way in this world, and we are all just here to help each other and you never know what someone is going though and your compliment could change their world. Below is a link to a clip that might people open their eyes to the world around them.
http://worriersanonymous.org/Share/Getservice.htm
Have a great weekend!
This Michael Leach i hope the child gets better,i will pray for the child to be healed and made whole again. Thank You
Gail, thanks so much for sharing that video. You’re right, that video will definitely open people’s eyes.
I’m going to post it on the blog next week.
Hi, Kevin.
Great story about Brock & great idea. Actualy, I think I’ve seldom if ever been outside my comfort zone. I just have a very large comfort zone, & it readily expands to whatever size or shape I need it to have. I’ve been in many situations such as my many experiences in the Peruvian jungle in 1975 & 76 that have stretched me, & I hope made me a better & wiser person, but I’ve honestly never felt outside my comfort zone.
Your suggestion about complimenting strangers is something that I have done all my life, almost automatically, and continue to do at the age of 70 & will as long as God leaves me on this earth. Where ever I go, shopping, grocery store, out to eat, at airports, on planes, trains or buses, etc., I always strike up a conversation with people around me or people waiting on me. I always look for things to compliment people about, and I always find out their names. Often bank tellers, waitresses, etc. have told me things in their lives they are struggling with & asked me to pray for them “because I know you must be a Christian (which I am, but I think that’s better shown by actions than by telling people I am.) I have many times gone to management or to the personnel dept. to put in a good word for someone. Every time I am in the hospital, I make lists of people (name, position, department, shift, etc.) that I can think of something good to say about (which is almost everyone with whom I come i contact) and turn in my list when I leave, or mail it in later, with a request that these people receive some sort of commendation for commendable service. More than once I have seen people in service jobs reduced to tears by rude treatment from customers. After those customers leave, I always call them over or ask for them to be sent over, do my best to apologize for the rude behavior, & encourage them by telling them I think they are doing an excellent job under trying circumstances. I also always tip generously, & have taught my husband to do so, even if the service was not so hot, in hopes that it will encourage the ones giving good service & perhaps motivate those whose service is poor to do better.
Liked your article and also enjoyed reading all the comments. I agree with the idea of always finding something good to say, to people you come in contact with. It’s one step closer to a wonderful and happy time for all concerned.
Children are incredible sometimes we have to learn from them. It is said children that not sleep well have alergy to some food. orientation of his bed must be north.
With my son I had the same problem, so I gave him a bath and put him in bed. I massage his back until he felt asleep.Brock is happy child he is fine
Brock looks like a real trooper I was one of those kids that would use every inch of the bed sometimes wake at the bottom,covers never stayed tucked in, pillows always took a beaten-12 years ago I took a sleep studyand was wired just like that.Great idea stepping out of comfort zone. Thanks,I have been staying in the zone and not progressing, need to step out and step up. Idea is great I know how I feel with a compliment and it would someone DAY.
What a sport your little Brock is! I had the same experience with the wired baby when my oldest was 1. It is amazing that they can get all them wires on such an active little toddler!
You are right about getting out of your comfort zone. It is awkward at first but as you embrace it, it gets easier and easier. As a mother to young children I am amazed at how many times they have to get out of their comfort zone. It is daily. The adults that stop getting out of their comfort zones are the ones who are just settling or that do not think they have a choice. It is much more rewarding to get a little uncomfortable every now and again!
Thanks for the great article!
nice to know Brock is ok. teel Lisa and baby girl Thompson hi!
Hiya, Cute lit’l guy. My daughter was 4 before she slept thru the night. I took her to a sleep clinic as well. No answers from them.
I did find an answer myself. It may sound strange but I bought her a water bed. Honest!
Wish I would of tried it years before! Worked like a charm! Good Luck! Kathy
Hi Kevin,
Having been through a sleep study I don’t know how a child would do. Glad to see it turned out not to be a sleep disorder.
I just got back from a sales trip to California. We were test marketing a new product, setting appointments with business owners and explaining what we knew little about. Talk about out of the comfort zone!! The last appointment was with the operations manager who had to leave just as we got there. He would be back in a half hour. The CEO saw us outside in the production yard and wanted to know who the heck we were. There were three of us and Paul is 6′-8″ tall, really sticks out. Long story short the CEO made us feel really at home and was very interested in what we had to offer. Best meeting of the trip.
Complimenting someone is something I often do and is not out of my comfort zone. It usually has wonderful results. It’s not about me, but all about them. Give it a try, you will enjoy it!
Alan
Hey there Kevin,
What a cute little guy. Talking to complete strangers is not new for me. I do it all the time at the grocery store, WalMart, or where ever. I have a problem getting up in front of a crowd. Last year I took on the job of Drop-Center Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child and some how one of the local T.V. Stations decided they want to do an interview about how our church was helping this excellent cause. I called my pastor and told him and he knew how uncomfortable I would be, and he asked me if I wanted him to call one of the Junior Pastors to answer the questions. I gladly told him to get someone here fast. I had only been in the position for 6 weeks and I felt that I just didn’t know enough to be able to answer the questions that the reporter would pose to me. But this year I am ready for anything. I can talk to anyone one on one but not to a group.
Angie
Hey Kevin
What a cute little guy and more importantly what a trooper. I did a sleep study back in November of 09 and let me tell you…getting wired up like that…yeah just a little different, especially when you’re asleep.
Good point about being outside of your comfort zone. We go through life with others manipulating our time and priorities. A majority of people will try this or that and then never really keep up with it. As you have shown and proven focused concise effort with desire drive and determination always lead to success.