How to Stretch Beyond Your Comfort Zone (Even When It Hurts)
What a hike down the Matterhorn taught me about perfectionism, resilience, and growth.
A year ago, I was a different person. My comfort zone was smaller, confined by the perfectionist mindset that once defined me. But now, I’ve learned to:
Move faster
Ask for help sooner
Learn from mistakes and keep moving forward
Embrace experimenting as an exciting and essential part of life
A wonderful tingly, light feeling has replaced the heaviness and anxiety of perfectionism. I no longer let fear of failure dictate my choices. I no longer obsess over being one step away from disaster. Instead, I trust that no matter what life throws at me, I can handle it.
My new standard of success? Experimenting. Moving faster. Expanding my comfort zone in ways that offer more freedom and choices. Sometimes I want to take risks and move quickly; other times, it feels right to go step by step. The beauty is that the decision is mine—it’s no longer a chain around my neck but a key to unlocking new possibilities.
I’m creating a life guided more by curiosity and compassion than judgment and harshness.
One moment that showed me how far I’ve come happened on a recent trip to Switzerland. My husband and I toured several cities, and one highlight was visiting Zermatt, home to the iconic Matterhorn. While we’re not serious mountain climbers, we wanted to hike trails with great views. So we took a cogwheel train up over 10,000 feet!
After soaking in the panoramic views, we decided to walk part of the way down. It was a perfect day—sunny skies, temperatures in the 60s—and when my husband suggested a longer, steeper route back to Zermatt, without hesitation I thought, Why not? We can take our time. It’s a perfect day.
What could go wrong?
We took the train two more stops and began our descent. Soon we realized we needed more water. The station directed us to a nearby five-star hotel, and when we rounded the corner, we found an oasis: an elegant hotel with a pool, huge trees, stunning views, and an outdoor café. We lingered there, enjoying the unexpected luxury before filling our bottles.
Back on the trail, we passed a lively café where live music drifted into the hills. We couldn’t resist singing what little we remembered of The Sound of Music.
As we continued, the path narrowed and became increasingly steep. I began to feel a twinge of fear. We had good shoes but no hiking poles, and the trail was full of trip hazards. Others seemed to breeze by as if gliding on skis, but instead of comparing myself, I chose to slow down, stay present, and take in the beauty—the Matterhorn, nearby peaks, and ever-changing clouds.
By the time we reached Zermatt, my quadriceps were screaming in pain. I sat down, barely able to walk, and looked back up at the mountain we had just descended: Wow, I really did that.
The next day, my legs reminded me of every step, so I treated myself to a massage. When I explained why, the masseuse said something that stayed with me: “It’s good to stretch yourself. Your muscles will get stronger.”
Reflecting on that hike, I realized it wasn’t just my muscles that had strengthened—it was my comfort zone. Yes, stretching beyond what I was used to came with pain, but instead of beating myself up, I embraced it. Growth comes with growing pains. Stretch, and you grow. I managed the discomfort, learned from it, and expanded what’s possible for me.
A week later, back home, I had to tackle something I was out of practice with. In the past, I would have panicked or over-prepared. This time, I prepared as much as I reasonably could and jumped in. To my surprise, I enjoyed it. I found myself embracing the learning and leaning into the discomfort of being outside my comfort zone.
Perfectionists like me want to be thoroughly prepared for everything—but that’s neither possible nor desirable. It limits opportunities. If I wait for perfect, I’ll miss out on experiences that could be transformative in my life and career.
As summer fades into fall, I’m asking myself: Where are the areas I want to keep stretching? What is calling me forward?
What about you?
Are you ready to connect with others on a similar journey? Join my private LinkedIn group, The Productive Perfectionist, where recovering perfectionists come together to share insights and support one another. In this community, we explore practical strategies for managing perfectionist tendencies while building genuine productivity and sustainable personal growth. It's a space where the pursuit of excellence meets self-compassion—and where you'll find you're not alone in this process.
