5 Ways To Live A Bolder, Happier Life

Comfort zones are, well, comfortable. They're the cozy nooks of life — predictable and easy and snug. Like a cushy hotel room, hiding out in one can prove pretty tempting. But staying stuck will keep your life stagnant and your growth stunted.

Straying outside your comfort zone isn't easy, but risks and adventures and new experiences are what make this life worth living. Conquering new areas and endeavors can add hugely to your happiness.

Here are five ways to expand your outlook, open yourself up to life and kick that pesky comfort zone to the curb:

1. Go to social gatherings, even when you don't feel like it.

It's normal to want to retreat into a protective shell, particularly when you're feeling less than fantastic. But hibernating limits your outlook and experience, often trapping you in a mental loop of self-obsession and negativity. Staying home alone often leads you to drastically underestimate how much you'll enjoy going out and interacting with others.

I'm not suggesting you force yourself to attend every cocktail party and baby shower (they won't all be winners), but pushing yourself to socialize is often a bridge to a better mood. Continue reading.

Originally posted on Mind,Body,Green.