Susan Neustrom - The Comfort Zone Illusion: Leaving Your Comfort Zone Is Not So Hard After All

About a year ago, I was cleaning out my office filing cabinet, sorting through papers, and I stumbled upon a class assignment from my graduate coursework titled, Ten Things I Must Do Before I Die. The paper was dated 2009 and I could tell I had put much thought into compiling a list of important accomplishments, what I believed would make my life complete. As I reviewed the list, to my surprise, many of the ten items identified as significant way back then had been achieved. My bucket list contained some really great things. For example, earn a doctorate, travel to England, be a keynote speaker, and lead a nonprofit. Check it off, accomplished! Pretty good, I thought, way to go.

Even though I gasped in wonder at how many things I could scratch off my bucket list, the very first item, number one on my list of great things, seemed to just glare at me. Really, my first priority is still left undone. Unbelievable! I did not complete what I felt was the most important thing in my life, an accomplishment that certainly needs to be a scratched off before I die. Number one item on my bucket list: WRITE A BOOK. Of course, the desire to write a book was present for some time, much earlier than 2009. However, my confidence, capability, and courage to put words on paper, share my thoughts, and expose my inner feelings never was strong enough to actually write a book. Consequently, of all the great things on my list, write a book remained number one just waiting for the right time, the right attitude, and the right people to come into my life so I could finish what I believed was of utmost importance.

At last, because of a few, well, many good friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, I can now put a striking line though the first item on my bucket list. Without their help, support, and encouragement, more than likely, I would still be staring at my list, listening to my inner voice telling me I will never write a book, and feeling a sense of loss for what I could not accomplish. Instead, I am happy, joyful, delighted, excited, and filled with gratitude for my circle of support knowing that this book is the result of their belief in my ability to accomplish a goal, even if it took me a long, long time.

Before I thank everyone, I first want acknowledge my eighth grade teacher, Sister Teresa, for seeing something in me, way back in 1963 that I certainly did not see or couldnt even imagine at thirteen. It was toward the end of the school year and graduation was quickly approaching. One afternoon, Sister was returning graded papers to each student. I was not really paying attention to her because I was daydreaming about summer, the Beatles, and boys, not about my future. When she reached my desk, she stopped, looked me in the eyes, and uttered these words as she handed back my paper, Someday, you will be a writer I looked down at my paper: an A and a gold star. After that incident, I never gave her premonition even one thought. That is, until recently, when I suddenly realized being an author was my calling, my ambition, and my desire. If I had only listened to the words of wisdom from a very smart lady.

Then again, since I waited so long to write this book, I now have more to share with the world. Of course, without the help and guidance of my book coach, Cathy Fyock, I would still be on Chapter One, hoping the right words spring out on the page. I could never get past perfection, nothing was ever good enough. She directed me to create an editorial board to review my work and provide much needed feedback. This was my first attempt at sharing my work and allowing myself to be vulnerable. My cry for help was not in vain because I quickly established the best editorial board I could ever imagine. Thank you to my dear friend and former colleague, Diane Ferguson, for reading every word, shortening my long, drawn-out sentences and sharing her thoughts throughout the entire manuscript. Spending quality time together offering perspectives about the purpose of the book was not only helpful, but reassuring for me to know my experience can help others. She made me understand that my work has meaning.

For the gift of prose and critical thinking, I want to acknowledge Elias Christoforou, an experienced Human Resource and Marketing director and good friend. His understanding of the content of the book combined with thought-provoking questions and suggestions was valuable in developing a theory- and concept-driven book about leaving your comfort zone and creating action steps for continuous movement from stage to stage. My heartfelt thanks goes to Alison Ooms, Higher Brain facilitator and friend, for her encouragement and positive feedback on helping me to realize that my words, writing this book, really does matter.

Without reservation, I could list numerous occasions where people have asked me about writing a book, and with every request, my desire to become an author grew stronger. I have shared my story with many GED graduates, adult students, educators, and people in career transition. Each time I relate the story, I personally relive the journey, tingle with excitement, and sigh in amazement. Without a doubt, I am so thankful for the opportunity to motivate and inspire others. After writing this book, I will finally remove the very first item on my 2009 bucket list. But in all honesty, I can say, the list will not be any shorter. I just updated my bucket list for 2015, and added WRITE TWO MORE BOOKS for items 1 and 2.