Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be difficult.  As the saying goes, you like what you like.  But I’ve found that trying something different can turn out to be enjoyable.  Like trying sushi for the first time or speaking out at a meeting when you would rather stay quiet.  Who knows, you may even like sushi. But unless you are willing to take a “leap of faith” you will never know.

So, if you are interested in stepping out of your comfort zone, I propose an experiment.  Try reading about a topic that you wouldn’t normally be drawn to or listen to a genre of music you don’t know much about.

If you’re not sure where to begin, you can try a book or music from the following list to get you started.

Books

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay

Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization  by W. Hodding Carter

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart

Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon’s Army & Other Diabolical Insects by Amy Stewart

Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft by Simon Houpt

Under the Black Flag: the Romance and the Reality of Life among the Pirates              by David Cordingly

Music

Rock Symphonies by David Garrett

Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles

X & Y by Coldplay

Plectrumelectrum by Prince & 3rdEyeGirl

Hypnotic Eye by Tom Petty

Carla Bruni by Carla Bruni

Lazaretto by Jack White

If you do happen to give any of these titles a try – post your reviews (positive or negative) here.  What would YOU recommend people give a read or listen, to move beyond their comfort zone?