Exiting Your Comfort Zone: Moana Teaches Us About Self Growth
Disney’s “Moana” is more than just a captivating story of adventure. It’s a powerful metaphor for self growth and stepping out of our comfort zone. Just as Moana ventures beyond the reef of her island home, our immersions were created to help you push past your comfort zones and truly evolve and flourish.
The 4 stages of self growth
1. Acknowledging the comfort zone
This is the ultimate destination in our self growth journey. This is where, like Moana, we discover our true identity and purpose. In our lives, it’s where we find greater meaning, set ambitious goals, extend ourselves, and love to our values. It’s where we show up better for other people—as co-workers, as life partners, as parents, and as children. We are better people for others when we take care of ourselves.
A majority of us work for other people, so we often look to satisfy someone else’s goals before our own. It’s no wonder we get stuck on the treadmill of life, and forget to make space to honour ourselves. Sometimes, the motivation to improve for others can be the push we need to start our self growth journey.
2. Crossing the reef of fear
Venturing into the unknown is daunting, and in Moana’s case taboo. It’s the “fear zone,” filled with self-doubt and anxiety. Moana faced this when she first set sail to cross the reef. She questioned her abilities and her purpose. Similarly in our own self growth journey, hesitation and our own insecurities can hold us back. But we have to cross this obstacle in order to grow beyond our comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to push traditional boundaries of learning and go outside the reef to explore alternative ways to grow. What could you explore that you previously haven’t thought of? It’s never too late to honour yourself.
3. Navigating the learning zone
Once we push past our initial fears, we enter the learning zone—an important stage of self growth. This is where we acquire new skills, face challenges, and expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. It’s where we remind ourselves of our capacity to adapt and overcome, pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone.
This process of self-discovery is crucial for personal growth and gaining an understanding of your strengths as a leader, as well as the derailers. This then lays the foundation for stronger personal identification flowing into better team dynamics.
4. Reaching the growth zone
This is the ultimate destination in our self growth journey. This is where, like Moana, we discover our true identity and purpose. In our lives, it’s where we find greater meaning, set ambitious goals, extend ourselves, and love to our values. It’s where we show up better for other people—as co-workers, as life partners, as parents, and as children. We are better people for others when we take care of ourselves.
A majority of us work for other people, so we often look to satisfy someone else’s goals before our own. It’s no wonder we get stuck on the treadmill of life, and forget to make space to honour ourselves. Sometimes, the motivation to improve for others can be the push we need to start our self growth journey.
Life after immersion
Immersion is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. So as you return to your regular lives from an immersion, I hope you carry with you the courage to go beyond your reef and comfort zone, and take the chance to implement what you’ve learned into your daily routines. An example of this would be transforming your daily routine of social media from a time-sink into a source of inspiration and wellbeing. Follow accounts that motivate, educate, teach, and inspire you to be a better version of yourself; and leave behind the accounts that have you comparing yourself or feeling like a lesser version of yourself. Even this small change can make all the difference.
Your journey of self growth and discovery is ongoing. It’s filled with challenges and triumphs. But most importantly, it’s filled with countless opportunities to redefine yourself and your limits.