This story was originally published on HackerNoon at: https://hackernoon.com/why-leave-your-comfort-zone-is-really-bad-advice-and-what-to-do-instead. Discover why 'leaving your comfort zone' is bad advice and learn actionable steps to gradually expand your comfort zone for lasting personal growth and success. Check more stories related to life-hacking at: https://hackernoon.com/c/life-hacking. You can also check exclusive content about #psychology, #stepping-outside-comfort-zone, #personal-development, #personal-growth, #what-is-the-comfort-zone, #the-panic-zone-explained, #hackernoon-top-story, #how-to-improve-self-esteem, and more. This story was written by: @rimaeneva. Learn more about this writer by checking @rimaeneva's about page, and for more stories, please visit hackernoon.com. The comfort zone refers to our psychological safety net, kept in place by self-concept. We have a concept of self - the collection of ideas we hold about who we are and what we do or don't do. As we age, our idea of self becomes more cemented and therefore we’re less open to experiencing new things or leaving our comfort zone.