***Sorry in advance for anything written on the green wall behind us–I mean, it’s a comedy club! 🙂

Okay, so lately I’ve been looking for ways to really push myself out of my comfort zone…

Well, my best friend mentioned that she was considering stand-up comedy. Let me just say, she would be PERFECT for stand-up. She’s hilarious!

So I was excited and ready for her to get started.  I told my dad about it and he mentioned a comedy class nearby and signed us all up for a full day workshop. Before I knew it, all three of us were signed up for a six week stand-up comedy class with a final where you have to get up on stage in front of a real, live, paying audience and do a 5 minute set. FIVE MINUTES of trying to be funny. On stage. In a room full of people who paid to be there. Who paid for us to make them laugh. Let me just get very real here for a sec….I get nervous talking in front of a room of more than 2 people. Sometimes I even get nervous talking in a room of less than 2 people. But on a good day, I am nervous talking to more than 2 people, where all focus is on me. ALL FOCUS.

Anyways, needless to say, even the thought of doing this freaked me the heck out! Not only was I going to have to talk to a room full of people but I had to make them laugh at the same time. And these people would be paying for me to make them laugh. Holy crap guys! I’m not even a funny person. I don’t mean to put myself down but I know my strengths, and comedy is definitely not one of them!

So…last night was the final! Graduation night. Having to get up and perform a five minute set. And of all weeks, this week was probably the least prepared I could’ve been. It had been a really long, draining week. One of those weeks where I was going non-stop, running low on sleep and surviving only thanks to my daily coffee and positive thoughts. I didn’t really have a chance to hone in on some good jokes or practice what I did have planned of my set. So, I just went in prepared to talk and hope that I could remember the main topics.

All of these thoughts were going through my head–like what if I say something stupid, what if NO ONE laughs, what if I totally forget everything to say, what if I lose it and there’s no other option but to just book it off stage?  I had to really force the rational side of my mind to jump in and remind me that these are all the WORST case scenario and most likely would not happen. But even if they did…so what if I don’t make anyone laugh or if I forget everything? At least I went against my fears and just got up there and did it. So I did.

I got up in front of this live, paying audience with my only objective being to get up there and just do it. No worries if I totally bomb. Just get up there and do it. So we get there and are ushered back to the green room with all of the other comedians. The time flies & before I know it, it’s my turn to get up. So I went up there, performed my set, and even got a few laughs. But the best part of it…is that I did it! I just did it!

Let me tell you, getting out of your comfort zone is scary but after you do, it feels AMAZING. Plus, you’ll never know how you feel about something until you try it. You’ll never get better if you’re not constantly challenging yourself. Stand-up comedy definitely isn’t my calling but it was still an amazing experience. I learned a lot about myself and it really challenged me as a person. Any new experience that challenges you will lead to growth, you just have to push past that fear.

Here are some of the top things I learned from this experience:

1. Fear will happen but you just can’t let it stop you.

2. Most of your fears are self-created and they’ll really ever only manifest in your mind.

3. Who cares what other people think. 

4. You really can do whatever you set your mind to.

5. Always have an open mind & try new things!

6. You can’t learn & grow if you don’t step out of your comfort zone and get uncomfortable.
7. Worst case scenario probably won’t happen..but even if it does, you’ll survive. Try not to stress.

This was massively outside of my comfort zone but I did it and it felt amazing! I proved to myself that I could do something that totally freaked me out. What’s something that’s totally out of your comfort zone that you could do this week? I challenge you to do it! Now I realize that this is a kinda crazy example but it doesn’t have to be this intense. Just pick something. Maybe it’s trying that new fitness class you’ve always wanted to try, or talking to that guy/girl you’ve never mustered up the courage to talk to. Whatever it is, pick something and just do it.

What are you going to do this week?

Let me know in the comments below!

Xoxo

Ashley