In this episode of Next Act Ninjas, Rachael Van Pelt challenges you to break free from your comfort zone and embrace a growth mindset as you step into the next exciting phase of your life. Rachael shares her own inspiring story of leaving a secure career in academia to become an entrepreneur and real estate investor, highlighting the transformative power of stepping into the unknown. Discover the true potential of neuroplasticity and learn why the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is a myth that holds us back. Rachael discusses how staying adaptable and continuously learning new skills is crucial, especially in the face of technological advancements and ageism in the workplace. Join us as we push the boundaries, embrace challenges as opportunities, and unlock the incredible potential that lies beyond our comfort zones.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Breaking Free from the Comfort Zone
02:33 The Benefits of Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
03:29 Neuroplasticity and Lifelong Learning
05:32 Challenging Ageism and Stereotypes
06:29 Building Confidence and Taking Small Steps
07:11 Interrupt Old Patterns of Belief to Change your Neurocircuitry
09:03 Find Support to Break out of Your Comfort Zone
Welcome back to Next Act Ninjas, the number one podcast for mastering your lifestyle longevity. I'm your host, Rachael Van Pelt, a retired healthspan scientist turned Realtor and coach. Today we're going to shake things up a bit.
I'm sure you've heard the quote, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." This powerful quote by Neil Donald Walsh perfectly encapsulates what we'll be diving into today. Because I think it's time that we challenge the status quo. We're going to talk about breaking free from your comfort zone, especially as you start crafting your Next Act.
But first, I want to share a personal story with you. About seven years ago, I quite suddenly decided to retire from academia to embark on an encore career. Now, I had no business doing that. I wasn't unhappy, just the opposite. I was a successful scientist with ample NIH funding and abundance of support from my university. I was on track for tenure, and I was as secure as I could have ever hoped. In fact, that secure future was exactly what I had eagerly worked for throughout my 25 years as a scientist.
But therein lies the problem. Security became my nemesis. I found myself getting far too comfortable. On the one hand, the certainty felt nice. On the other hand, I started craving a bit of uncertainty and challenge. Boy, did I get what I asked for. Leaving behind my old identity as a scientist to embrace being an entrepreneur and a real estate investor was the most uncertain and challenging thing I ever did. But it was also the best thing I ever did. It was great for my health, my wealth, my relationships, my spirit. That's why today I want to talk about the benefits of breaking free from the comfort zone, especially as we age.
But what exactly is the comfort zone? Well, it's that familiar safe space where we feel in control and stress free. While it's nice to feel comfortable, staying in this zone is exactly what prevents us from reaching our full potential. When we step out of our comfort zone, we challenge ourselves. This leads to increased resilience, creativity, self-esteem. It opens up new opportunities and helps us grow as individuals. In today's fast-paced world, especially with technological advancements, I think it's more important than ever to be adaptable. Jobs are changing and new skills are required. So embracing a growth mindset is the only way we're going to stay relevant and thrive.
Now you've probably heard the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." But this cliche, while it suggests that as we get older we're less capable of learning and adapting. This simply isn't true, is it? In fact, the latest research in neuroscience tells us that the brain is capable of change even into old age. We call this neuroplasticity, meaning our brains can form new connections and pathways throughout our lives. In other words, we can continue to learn and grow no matter how old we are.
Yes, older adults do appear to have less neuroplasticity than younger adults. That's why it's harder to learn a new language as an adult compared to when we were younger. However, the aging brain is still able to increase neural activity and develop new connections to improve cognitive function. This plasticity is why lifestyle interventions (such as exercise, cognitive stimulation, social engagement) can improve cognitive function in older adults.
I think it's absolutely critical that we combat this harmful belief that we old dogs can't learn new tricks or that creativity and brilliant ideas only come when we're young. There's this pervasive idea among entrepreneurs that if you haven't launched a successful business by the age of 30, then you've missed the boat. It's crazy! These are the kinds of ageist stereotypes that limit our potential. And yet, Colonel Sanders founded KFC when he was 65. Grandma Moses started painting in her late 70s, became one of America's most famous folk artists. These individuals, they didn't let age stop them from pursuing new passions and achieving success.
And you don't have to be an entrepreneur or artist to break out of your comfort zone. Scientists can become realtors. Paralegals can learn to train AI. Bankers can become nurses. Sedentary 70-year-olds can run marathons. The list of challenges is endless. Ageism in the workplace, it's a real issue. I know that. But we can counteract it by updating our skills and showcasing our experience as a strength. Network with other people, other forward-thinkers, and stay informed about industry trends. Whatever you do, don't be that person that fights to keep the status quo. This is not the time for that. Now is the time to embrace a little uncertainty. Change, stay flexible.
If it's been a while since you tried something new, challenge yourself with something small to start, like learning a new app or trying a new recipe. Small steps build confidence so you feel comfortable with bigger challenges. After you've made a few really small changes, challenge yourself with something bigger. Maybe it's learning to meditate or play pickleball. Pick a big enough of a challenge that'll take a little time to master, but small enough that it's not going to hurt your ego too much if you fail. Not that you can fail here. Simply breaking out of your comfort zone is a huge win. Then, if you really feel up to it, go for that big challenge that's been calling to you, that's been tugging on your heart.
We all know we can't keep doing the same thing and hoping for different results. And yet, we fear change, don't we? Why is that? Why wouldn't we jump at the chance to try something new? to interrupt our well-worn patterns of behavior and embrace change? I'm not talking about creating unnecessary drama in our lives or spontaneously quitting a job or long-term relationship just to shake things up. No, I'm talking about being willing to change our physiology, our mindset, our outlook on life. I'm talking about seeing opportunities and possibilities where once you saw only uncertainty.
If you want to grow and evolve, you need to become more connected to your future vision than your past memories. You have to want to actually change. Yes, it does feel harder as we age. We do have more mental baggage. We've been running the same loops in our heads for a long time, so our neurocircuitry has established well-worn pathways. But didn't we just say that our brains are still plastic, they have plasticity? They sure do! In fact, it's exactly why we need to interrupt our old patterns, exercise those neurons, so to speak.
Your life is sacred, stop wasting it. If you want to master your health and wealth longevity to live the highest quality of life for as long as you have left to live, then accepting status quo is not an option. Prepare for change and prepare to let go of old stories. Stop arguing for your limitations. Age is not an excuse.
And make sure you have a support system. Sometimes family and friends will actually hold us back. Sometimes they're our biggest obstacle to change simply because when you grow and you evolve, it feels like a threat to their status quo, their comfort zone. But in this day and age, it is relatively easy to find a community of people online that will support you in whatever new endeavor you pursue. That's why I strive here at Next Act Ninjas to create a space where we can encourage and support one another to master our health and wealth longevity. Because I know what a difference that can make. I've been blessed with wonderful mentors throughout my life. So, I would never advocate for going it alone, especially when you're stepping into the unknown. Success leaves clues. So learn from someone who has successfully done what you want to do.
I have a challenge for you this week. Just think of one thing you've always wanted to try but haven't yet. Take a small step towards that. Maybe it's signing up for a class, starting a new hobby, learning a new technology. And I'd love to hear about your experiences and progress. Share your journey with us in the group. Let's support and inspire each other because stepping out of our comfort zone is the first step towards growth and new opportunities. Get those neurons firing in new and unusual ways. Embrace the challenge and you're going to be amazed at who you become in the process.
Until next time, keep pushing those boundaries and live well, love more, age less, my friends.