There's a concept in psychology¹ called "the comfort zone," which is a place or situation where you feel safe, comfortable, and without stress. It sounds nice and peaceful, doesn't it? Who wouldn't like to live in such a place all the time?

心理学当中有个概念叫做「舒适圈」，那是你会感到安全的一种地方或情况，而且舒服又没有压力。听起来还满不错又平静的，对吧？谁不会想一直住在这样的地方呢？

 

Unfortunately, if you never venture outside of your comfort zone, you'll never grow. A kid who never tries cycling downhill because he's afraid of scraping his knee will never feel confident while riding a bike. A shy woman who always avoids social settings because she fears embarrassment² will always feels self-conscious around others. A gym-goer who never tries lifting heavier weights because he's afraid he won't be able to lift them will never grow his muscles.

很不幸的是，如果你从不跨出舒适圈去冒险的话，你永远不会成长。一个害怕擦伤膝盖而从不试着骑脚踏车下坡的孩子，他永远不会满怀信心地骑车。一个因为怕尴尬而总是避免社交场合的害羞女性，她永远都会在他人面前感到扭捏。一个去健身房但因为怕举不动而从不试着举更重的人，他永远都无法再练壮他的肌肉。

 

Heck! If it wasn't for the first curious prehistoric³ humans, we would still live in caves. And you most certainly wouldn't be watching this video now.

见鬼了!若不是因为最早那群充满好奇的史前人类，我们现在还会住在山洞里呢。而你现在就绝对不会在看这部影片了。

 

Leaving your comfort zone, as uncomfortable and stressful as that can be sometimes, is a must if you want to grow as a person. Make it a habit to try new things as often as you can. Skydiving, talking to that random⁴ stranger, learning a foreign language, picking a strange new book, taking Argentinian tango classes, rock climbing, learning how to sew... What new things will you try today?

离开你的舒适圈，虽然那有时候会让人感到不舒服或是有压力，那是件必须的事，如果你想要自我成长的话。养成尽可能多尝试新事物的习惯。跳伞、随便跟一个陌生人讲话、学一种外语、挑一本没看过的新书、上阿根廷探戈的课、攀岩、学习缝纫... 今天你要挑战哪项新事物呢？

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