Get Uncomfortable

Those who live in poverty often participate in more self destructive behaviors than other populations. These behaviors include drinking, smoking, drugs, gang involvement, teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, crime, and so on. People who grow up in this type of environment learn to find comfort in these behaviors, despite the destructive nature. To maintain comfort, many self sabotage by making these behavioral choices. This may be done consciously or not. They remain in their comfort zone and the cycle continues.

To combat this behavior in the youth, efforts are being made to promote the value of an education. That education can take you anywhere you want to go. The problem with this goal is that it is a long term goal. Teens don't look that far into the future. They go to school year after year with the promise that one day it will pay off. It will pay off, but many get lost on the way to the finish line.

Maybe we should take a more simplified, short-sighted goal. Simply encourage teens to step out of their comfort zone. Talk to somebody new, go somewhere new, read something new, learn something new, do something new, experience anything new. New experiences spark curiosity, creativity, thought, and emotion. If we can achieve these things in the minds of youth, then we have achieved something special.

This shouldn't be a goal just for youths, but for everyone. Everyone needs to have new experiences. Everyone needs to be curious, creative, thoughtful, and emotional. Everyone can benefit. New experiences can go good or they can go bad. You might get burned. You might find freedom. But you won't find out until you step out of the comfort zone.