Stepping out of our Comfort Zone
You may have heard the expression, "life is like riding a bike uphill, you need to keep on riding to keep your balance”.
Stepping out of our comfort zone is perhaps one of the most important lessons which we can implement while developing a business or an organization.
It is an essential part of developing a business or generating revenue yet it can not be taught in a classroom setting or through a virtual webinar. It must be tried and experienced first-hand through trial and error. The benefits reaped as a result of our efforts are generally unanticipated and often take us by surprise.
It brings to mind a valuable insight I once heard during a JBN event. The featured panelist shared her memories as a young child, sitting at the dining room table along with her father, making fundraising cold-calls to prospective donors on behalf of an organization her parents were involved with. Those experiences gave her the confidence to never hesitate before reaching out to new investors or clients while developing her successful financial firm later on in life.
With the advent of technology comes tremendous opportunities to reach thousands or millions of people just with the click of a button, such as when posting on social media or by sending out an email blast. Each of these tools have their place and advantages, but nothing can truly substitute an in-person interaction or personal phone call to an old business acquaintance, friend or prospective client.
Stepping out of our comfort zone is important in all areas of life but it is especially relevant in regards to our character development, our connection with our Jewish heritage and our contribution to society as a whole.
In this week's Torah portion we learn about the first Jewish couple, Abraham and Sarah, and their journey of discovering G-d and teaching monotheism to the world. The name of the portion is called “Lech Lecha (literally: Go, to you)” based on the first command of G-d to Abraham, “And the Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you (Genesis 12:1)”.
Interestingly, the words Lech (go) Lecha (to you), seem to connote two opposite ideas. “Lech” suggests changing the status-quo or venturing out to another place. “Lecha” implies introspection and getting to know one's self. But in truth, these two terms are actually complimentary. By going out of our comfort zone we discover the real “you”.
Up until that point, Abraham and Sarah were enjoying relative success in inspiring the masses to live a moral life based on the belief in one G-d. But G-d instructed them to leave their comfort zone and travel to the promised land where they will be made into a great nation. As Rashi explains, “Go forth ( lit. go to you), for your benefit and for your good, and there I will make you into a great nation, but here, you will not merit to have children. Moreover, I will make your character known in the world”.
Abraham and Sarah could have easily looked back at their accomplishments up until that point and feel a genuine sense of satisfaction from their successes. However, notwithstanding their great past achievements, their impact was essentially limited by their human capabilities.
For them to truly fulfill their mission in life by transcending their limitations and connecting with the Divine, they had to allow themselves to step out of their comfort zone by following G-d's command and leave everything behind.
Eventually, after a series of tests, they were blessed with a wonderful family, great wealth, the gift of the land of Israel, and the eventual formation of the Jewish nation.
In regards to our connection with our Jewish heritage, it is tempting to fall into a routine and comfort zone without advancing in our knowledge of Judaism and practical performance of Mitzvot. But like all good things, in order for it to remain meaningful, joyful and relevant, we must always find ways to step out of our comfort zone and increase our observance and knowledge, albeit in baby steps.
G-d's command to Abraham in this verse can additionally be seen as a command for us to leave the comfort of our own insulated lives and venture out to the world-at-large in order to transform it into a G-dly place. Abraham's love of G-d was so palpable that its intensity inspired others to abandon their idolatrous lifestyles and serve the one, true G-d. Like a large flame that attracts smaller sparks, Abraham's fiery love for G-d attracted and awakened the sparks of G-dly devotion dormant in these people.
As descendants of Abraham and Sarah, we are also called upon to be “A light unto the nations” and serve as a living example by studying Torah, performing Mitzvot, and inspiring the people around us . By fulfilling this mission, we not only further the goal of making the world into a G-dly place, we also reap benefits. By selflessly working with others, we simultaneously learn from them, since "the wise learn from everyone they encounter (-Pirkei Avot)”. G-d therefore tells us that if we enter the real world, our full inner potential will be realized and our true, best selves will be manifest; this never could have happened had we stayed focused solely on our own self-improvement. With this explanation in mind, G-d's words can now be read, "Go…that I may show [the world the real] you.
As our generation is referred to as “The last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption”, each of us have the merit and responsibility to complete the mission that our ancestors, Abraham & Sarah, began over 3500 years ago to transform this world into a G-dly home by doing acts of goodness and kindness and ushering in the final redemption.
