幾個月前，一篇週一嗎哪討論了我們許多人都會遇到的一個議題：舒適圈。這個主題很適合被重新討論，因為它是人們在職場及生活中經常遇到的問題。這是我們最喜歡待的地方，威脅感最低，因為它是熟悉可預測的。這麼做很舒服，因為我們不必承擔超出日常的壓力和挑戰。

我們個人的「舒適圈」可以用特定的舉止、思想、觀念和行為識別出來，它們會成為一種永久的習慣。舒適圈很安穩，不用擔心、焦慮或冒險。但是，舒適圈的生活會讓我們無法實現比現在更大的成就。它阻礙我們發現自己更大的能耐，因為我們拒絕向未知發展。舒適圈也會阻礙我們探索新的想法，妨礙我們發現問題和做決定。

如果耽溺在安全感和掌控一切的優越感中，我們就很難改變現狀。但是，舒適圈不是資產，反而會引導公司或個人走上無聊、停滯、不滿、忌妒他人、為每件事找藉口的道路。

選擇留在舒適圈就代表放棄發展和成長機會，也會扼殺自己的職業生涯。平靜無波的時光以及停滯的生活會使人貧窮。離開舒適圈能發現新的機會和潛力，得到更大的信任，增加創造力，甚至恢復生活鬥志。

聖經中列舉了許多例子，這些人在本地活得很舒適，做自己想做的事情。但是上帝對他們有更大更好的計劃。為了實現這些，祂必須迫使他們走出自己的舒適圈。例如：

給亞伯拉罕的挑戰。上帝挑戰亞伯拉罕：「你要離開本地、本族、父家」，往上帝要指示他的地方去。（創世記12章1-3節）雖然有「成為大國」的美好應許，這對亞伯蘭的舒適圈來說是一個衝擊。希伯來語中的「離開」一詞「 lech-lecha」有兩個意思，一個是「走」，第二是「向著自己」。意思是亞伯蘭痛苦地離開了家鄉，接受尋求自己真實身份的挑戰。

應許之地的大工程。對於已經習慣了四個世紀的生活方式的以色列人來說，上帝指示他們離開以色列前往應許之地衝擊性的粉碎了他們的舒適圈。上帝興起偉大的領袖，正如我們所知的“出埃及記”，摩西精確的帶領以色列民的過程，這是一個面對、克服舒適圈的獨特故事。

探索另一面。耶穌基督挑戰門徒說：「…我們渡到那邊去吧。」（馬可福音4章35節）門徒非常了解大海，他們知道如何安全航行，但是因為時間太晚了，要渡到對岸去是一個大挑戰，風險很大。然後，在他們離開後不久，狂風暴雨就開始了！他們的舒適圈遭到重擊。這時只有相信耶穌，才能幫助他們在很不舒適的環境中生存。

但是耶穌的話安慰他們：「我們渡到……」。你知道為什麼嗎？因為這代表他會和我們一起去。知道耶穌與我們同在，去到「對岸」可以成為安全又令人興奮的冒險！

©版權所有 為賽爾吉澳․佛提斯。他是一位策略管理顧問，專長是企業領導。他也是巴西聖保羅市CBMC的會員，他協助複審周一嗎哪和將其翻譯成葡萄牙文已經有20多年的時間。

反省與討論問題

1. 你有「舒適圈」嗎？你會如何形容它？
2. 你認為突破自己的舒適圈容易嗎？為什麼你會這麼認為呢？請從個人和他人兩方面解釋。對企業、公司和其他類型的組織又是如何呢？
3. 請舉出一個跨出舒適圈對你有益的例子。這個經歷是否能幫助你更頻繁地離開舒適圈，探索陌生的環境？請解釋原因。
4. 信心對克服留在舒適圈內的誘惑有什麼作用？耶穌的挑戰和應許「讓我們渡到那邊去」對你有什麼意義？

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考：(因經文較長，考慮到篇幅和新舊約經文，您可以參閱下列未列出的經文: 創世紀6:9-7:5、)：

出埃及記3章1-14節
3:1 摩西牧養他岳父米甸祭司葉忒羅的羊群；一日領羊群往野外去，到了　神的山，就是何烈山
3:2 耶和華的使者從荊棘裏火焰中向摩西顯現。摩西觀看，不料，荊棘被火燒著，卻沒有燒毀。
3:3 摩西說：「我要過去看這大異象，這荊棘為何沒有燒壞呢？」
3:4 耶和華　神見他過去要看，就從荊棘裏呼叫說：「摩西！摩西！」他說：「我在這裏。」
3:5 　神說：「不要近前來。當把你腳上的鞋脫下來，因為你所站之地是聖地」；
3:6 又說：「我是你父親的　神，是亞伯拉罕的　神，以撒的　神，雅各的　神。」摩西蒙上臉，因為怕看　神。
3:7 耶和華說：「我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦，我實在看見了；他們因受督工的轄制所發的哀聲，我也聽見了。我原知道他們的痛苦，
3:8 我下來是要救他們脫離埃及人的手，領他們出了那地，到美好、寬闊、流奶與蜜之地，就是到迦南人、赫人、亞摩利人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人之地。
3:9 現在以色列人的哀聲達到我耳中，我也看見埃及人怎樣欺壓他們。
3:10 故此，我要打發你去見法老，使你可以將我的百姓以色列人從埃及領出來。」
3:11 摩西對　神說：「我是甚麼人，竟能去見法老，將以色列人從埃及領出來呢？」
3:12 　神說：「我必與你同在。你將百姓從埃及領出來之後，你們必在這山上事奉我；這就是我打發你去的證據。」
3:13 摩西對　神說：「我到以色列人那裏，對他們說：『你們祖宗的　神打發我到你們這裏來。』他們若問我說：『他叫甚麼名字？』我要對他們說甚麼呢？」
3:14 　神對摩西說：「我是自有永有的」；又說：「你要對以色列人這樣說：『那自有的打發我到你們這裏來。』」

詩篇37篇4-5節
37:4 又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。
37:5 當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。

箴言3章5-6節
3:5 你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，
3:6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。

馬太福音28章19-20節
28:19 所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗（或譯：給他們施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名）。
28:20 凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」

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DISCOMFORTING FACTS ABOUT THE COMFORT ZONE

By Sergio M. Fortes

Several months back, an edition of Monday Manna discussed something many of us have encountered: the comfort zone. It seemed fitting to revisit this topic, since it is a common issue of the everyday workplace, as well as people’s lives. It is where we like to be and feel least threatened; it is familiar and predictable. It seems comfortable because we are not being stretched and challenged beyond our normal practices.

Our individual “comfort zone” can be identified through specific actions, thoughts, concepts and behaviors, which become a permanent habit. The comfort zone brings the benefits of harmony, without fear, anxiety, or risk. However, life in the comfort zone can prevent us from achieving more than we knew that we could. It keeps us from discovering we have greater capacities than we realized, because we refuse to extend ourselves beyond what we already know. The comfort zone prevents us from exploring new ideas, blocks questions, and inhibits decision-making.

Enjoying the benefits of safety and the feeling that everything is under our control, we often find it difficult to change that status quo. However, rather than being an asset, the comfort zone can lead a company or a individual onto the path that fosters boredom, stagnation, dissatisfaction, envy towards others, and supplies excuses for everything.

Choosing to remain in the comfort zone means giving up the development process, as well as opportunities for growth. It could be regarded as aborting one’s professional life. The years pass unchallenged, and the stagnant life becomes impoverished. Escaping from the comfort zone leads to discovering new opportunities and potential, the conquest of greater trust, increases in creativity, and even revival of the will to live.

The Scriptures present numerous examples of people who seemed very comfortable where they were, doing what they had been doing. But God had bigger and better plans for them. To accomplish those, He needed to force them out of their comfort zones. Here are a few of them:

The Challenge to Abram.God challenged Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home”, going to a land that he would show him (Genesis 12.1-3). Despite the fabulous promise that he would become “the father of a great nation,” it was quite an attack on Abram’s comfort zone. The word “leave” in Hebrew is “lech-lecha,” a nearly identical two-term word play. The first means, “Go,” and the second, “To yourself.” It meant Abram’s traumatic departure from his homeland, with the challenge to seek his most authentic identity.

The Huge Project of the Promised Land.For Israel, a people used to the sameness of four centuries of routine, God’s instruction for them to leave in pursuit of the Promised Land must have been an overwhelming rattle to the nation’s comfort zone. Great leaders were raised by God who guided them precisely during the process we know as the “exodus.” It serves as a unique story for how to face and overcome the comfort zone.

Exploring the Other Side. Jesus Christ challenged His disciples: “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35). They knew that sea very well. They knew how to navigate it comfortably. But getting to the other side was a great challenge: it was late, and going there could be risky. Then, soon after they left, a raging storm began! Their comfort zone was bombarded. Only trust in Jesus enabled them to survive the realm of discomfort.

Jesus’ statement is comforting: “Let us go….” Do you know why? Because it means He goes along us. And knowing that He is there, crossing to the “other side” can become a safe, yet exhilirating adventure!

Sergio Fortes is a mentor and consultant in logistics and corporate strategic business. As a member of CBMC in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, he coordinated “Monday’s Manna” review and translation in Portuguese for more than 20 years. He remains committed to the Lord Jesus in His mission to make disciples.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you have a “comfort zone”? How would you describe it?
2. How easy do you find it to venture outside your comfort zone? Why do you think this is so – not only for yourself, but also for others? Even for businesses, corporations and other types of organizations?
3. Think of an example when willingness to step outside your comfort zone proved to be beneficial. Did that result in your being able to step into the unfamiliar more often? Why or why not?
4. What role does faith have in overcoming the temptation to remain within one’s comfort zone? What does Jesus’ challenge and promise, “Let us go to the other side,” mean for you?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Genesis 6:9-7:5; Exodus 3:1-14; Psalm 37:4-5; Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 28:19-20

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