Claire ran a thriving women’s wellbeing clinic just outside Manchester. With a background in fitness and mindset coaching, she’d built a loyal local following, especially among busy mums and peri-menopausal women looking for holistic support.
She was respected. Booked out. Known in the community.
But something didn’t feel right anymore. But the problem is the familiar feels safe even when it’s not working for a part of us.
Claire first noticed it in winter. The same sessions, the same routines, the same chat about how tight everyone’s shoulders were. Her diary was full – she should have been content but underneath, she felt stuck – like she was ticking boxes, not making an impact.
She’d always prided herself on consistency. She’d run her clinic the same way since 2017. Her clients liked it. It worked. So… what was the problem?
She told herself she should be grateful. And yet, every time she thought about launching the group coaching programme she’d dreamed of for two years, her stomach knotted.
Not because it was a bad idea.
But because it was different.
Here’s the paradox when it comes to comfort zones: they’re not always comfortable. In fact they can be down right uncomfortable.
But our comfort zones are familiar and a part of us likes that – it’s how we survive.
Claire had become skilled at navigating the known – her calendar, her pricing, her marketing routine. But deep down, she was also:
- Undercharging for her 1:1s.
- Ignoring her creative itch.
- Saying “maybe next quarter” to her bigger goals.
And with each delay, a quiet dissatisfaction and general “meh” grew.
“I feel like I’m coasting,” she said to a colleague over a coffee.
“It’s not awful… but I know I’m playing smaller than I could be.”
Sound familiar?
So why do we stay somewhere we aren’t thriving? Why do we stay in the uncomfortable comfort zone?
Here are a few reasons why:
- It feels safer than change.
- We’ve built an identity there.
- We’re afraid of outgrowing people, roles, or systems that once served us.
- Our ego likes it here.
And because part of us likes the familiar. Even when it frustrates another part us.
Claire wasn’t lazy or unmotivated. She was human. Her nervous system was doing its job – keeping her in the known to avoid perceived risk.
But staying still was becoming more painful than moving forward.
Claire decided to run a pilot of her group programme for five existing clients. She didn’t build the full funnel. She didn’t make it perfect. She just invited five women she already trusted and delivered the first session on Zoom, notes scribbled on a notepad.
It wasn’t polished. But it sparked something.
The women loved it. They opened up in new ways. Claire felt more energised after one group call than she had in months of back-to-back appointments.
That was the moment her comfort zone cracked open from one brave step.
Over the following three months, Claire:
- Reduced her 1:1 hours by 30%.
- Launched a 6-week group reset in time for September’s back-to-school buzz.
- Finally increased her prices without the guilt.
And the biggest shift? She stopped waiting to feel “ready.”
Instead, she moved when she felt restless.
The comfort zone isn’t inherently bad. It often holds the systems, structure, and safety we needed when we started.
But when it starts to feel like a trap instead of freedom, it’s time to stretch.
Just because something is working… doesn’t mean it’s right for where you are now.
If you’re nodding along with Claire’s story, consider this your gentle nudge: You don’t have to burn everything down. But you do have to listen to the part of you that’s ready for more.
If you’re feeling stuck in the familiar and would love support to stretch into something bolder, reach out to me via email philippa@holdmyhandcoaching.com and let’s get a 1:1 booked in – we can work on this together.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x