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Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Darlene Hawley

Brené Brown says, “We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both. Not at the same time.”

I'm typically a creature of habit. A lot of what I do, places I shop, books and blogs I read, podcasts I listen to, what I watch, food I eat, and beverages I drink are often the same every time.

I love consistency. I love knowing what I’m gonna get. It makes me feel like it’s the safe bet. The right choice. I know I’m going to win. I’ll be happy.

If I’m being honest, it makes the control freak in me happy.

Knowing that I can be a creature of habit, I’ve been trying to step out of my comfort zone lately.

Ordering food outside of the norm when I’m at a restaurant I’ve been to. Picking places to eat that I’ve never been to. Reading books and watching shows that I don’t naturally gravitate to. Following new people on LinkedIn and getting new perceptions on things I’m taking in.

Even my work routine is being shaken up, maybe it’s the summer vibe or the kids being home, or even a bit of exhaustion that caught up to me.

Mixing up my routines is a bit uncomfortable.

Yet when I do. I'm always surprised at the outcome. Rarely is it a loss or what I would call a bad choice.

I'm often surprised at the outcome and thrilled that I tried it.

It can even be something I want to add to my list of things I enjoy … going forward.

For Fathers Day we took my husband to Cheesecake Factory for Linner. (Yep it wasn’t lunch or dinner since the only reservation I could get was at 2 pm so it was Linner)

If you’ve ever eaten there the menu is overwhelming. Way too many choices and all of them sound good. Making it near impossible to choose.

The creature of habit in me wanted to get the Spicy Cashew Chicken, as it’s what I ordered almost weekly back in my retail management days when I worked at The Forum Shops, at Gap and they were just a few doors down from my store. (funny thing is my 17-year-old ordered it, not knowing it was what I ate my entire pregnancy with him when I worked there)

Instead, I pushed myself to order something different and ended up ordering a beet, citrus, and avocado salad. And it was delish. (I’m already planning a trip to the grocery store so I can recreate it for lunch every day this week … I might even be obsessed with it … lol.)

Where are you noticing that you're staying too close to your comfort zone?

What might shift for you if you try something new, experiment a little, and push yourself to try new things?

Going outside of your comfort zone can feel awkward, challenging, and just downright uncomfortable.

But what if it was actually just you being courageous?

Brené Brown says, “We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both. Not at the same time.”

I invite you this Summer to be courageous and step out of the norm and shake things up a bit.

Let me know what you try new this week and lean into that sensation of buffing up your courageous muscle.

Ps. I’m participating in Coach to Profit 4.0 and sharing my Storytelling Course as part of the bundle, where you’ll get everything you need to transform your coaching, consulting, or client-based business into a lead-generating, client-closing machine. Grab the bundle before Friday when the price goes up.

>>>Check it out here<<<


10 Effective Communication Tips

I offer 1:1 Executive Leadership & Business Coaching & Team Trainings! If you would like to explore what working together would look like, I invite you to submit an application.

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Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for service based entrepreneurs

Hey There!

I'm Darlene



As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.


My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.


Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.


Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.


Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.

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