TINT
( Called it—maybe

(¥Y The downfall of the underachievers

(Y Sweetening the deal with a ‘honey’

And more!

Have your voice heard!

Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

M opinions@theotherpress.ca

www. theotherpress.ca

 

Leaving the comfort zone and
tossing out perceptions

» How new situations will change your life

Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

W: all have our
perceptions, beliefs,
and principles. It’s great to
have them. Our belief systems
govern how we behave to

ourselves and others, as well as
influence our decisions. But it’s

 

equally great to have beliefs that a

allow for change and growth.
Perspectives that get you out
of your comfort zone and let
you take risks are ones that will
improve not just your life in
wonderful ways, but the lives
of everyone you interact with

daily. It'll allow you to become a

highly effective person.
Stepping out of a comfort

zone—and by extension, taking :

risks—is the only way anything
changes in life. Every friend we
have, every place we've visited,
and even every food we’ve
eaten all started by us taking
the plunge into the unfamiliar.
Whether it’s as simple as going
to the gym or taking up a more
extreme hobby like mountain
climbing, these pursuits bring
joy to those who experience

: them. This is true for any

: hobby: acting, writing, crafts,
: cooking, and anything that

: involves some sort of skill. Skills :
: are picked up through effort,
: but developing them allows one :
: to get ahead in life.

It’s not just learning how

: to do new things. People exist

: outside the comfort zone.
Everyone we've ever interacted
: with started out as a stranger.
Some of those strangers have

: gone on to be our boyfriends or

: all about taking that first step
4: and allowing yourself to say

: or do something you haven't

: considered before.

The more experiences

: we have, the more challenges

: we'll face. On the reverse

: end, we also acquire more

. : triumphs and develop the

. : skills needed to deal with these

ai: : challenges. Living your life in

 

: girlfriends, trusted professors,
: best friends, employers, etc.

: Those of us who constantly

: challenge ourselves to step

: out of our comfort zones

: often establish relationships

: in less conventional ways. It’s

' > away that involves avoiding

: new situations will leave

: you unprepared to deal with

: problems. It’ll leave you not

: knowing much about yourself

: or what youre capable of. It'll

: definitely never lead to any self-
: improvement.

So pair up with that weird

: kid fora project, go bungee

: jumping even if you're terrified
: of heights, or watch a new

: show you've never heard of

=: on Netflix. Hey, if you're really
» : nervous, just order a different
: kind of burger than usual

: at McDonald’s. Take baby

: steps, but taking those steps

: is the only way to discover

: opportunities and things that
: will challenge and inspire

: you. It’ll improve your life,

: relationships, charisma, and

: ultimately turn you into the

: best person you can be.

 

Occupational hazard

» Be careful not to fall into a job trap

Elliot Chan

Opinions Editor

M opinions
@theotherpress.ca

 

s winter thaws, our
wallets and bank accounts
are doing everything but

made at the beginning of the

year has not been as successful
as we wanted it to be, and that
means we are hitting Craigslist

and other employment websites :

more frequently, looking for
anything to soften the blow of
our bills. Sadly, the jobs that
are offered on those sites are
temporary solutions—or at
least they should be seen as
that, lest we become trapped as
lifers.

The older I get the more I

realize I’m probably not going
: to wind up on the breadline or
: in the poor house (knock on

: wood). What I’m afraid of is

: ending up ina job that I have

: no desire to grow old in. I’m

: worried that I will just take

. ° , whatever comes along and
hibernating. The saving plan we become satisfied with paying
: the bills, earning my benefits,

: and living the rest of my life in
: peaceful mediocrity.

You might be thinking that
mediocrity is not so bad. As

long as you do a good job you
: can end up anywhere. Evena
: general clerk at Walmart can
: work their way up to upper

: management if they shake

: the right hands and kiss the

: right ass. I believe that is

: the right attitude for many.

: Many people have no desire

: to chase a dream or purse a

: competitive profession. Some

: people are willing to just bury

: their head, fly under the radar,

: and work to live. But I thinka
satisfying career is as important
: asa satisfying romantic

: relationship—you can lie to :
: yourself and say that everything :
: is fine; but if it’s not, the bonds
: that hold you will become
shackles, not a lifeline.

We must be cautious of

: these “job traps,” because our
: lives are short. Nine-to-five, five :
days a week adds up quickly.

; When you apply for these jobs,
; along with your resumé and

; cover letter, also include an

: “escape plan.” Of course, don’t
: show this escape plan to your

: prospective employers, Rather,

: keep it to yourself or share it

: witha friend or family member
who understands you career

: strategy.

How does this “escape

: plan” work? Here’s an example:
Let’s say you are applying

: at arestaurant, a common

: choice for college students.

Once you've gotten the job,

: allowed the initial excitement
to simmer, and the pleasure

: ofa new opportunity fade, ask
: yourself the classic question:

: where do you see yourself in five :

years? The answer is, of course,

The bonds that
hold you will
become shackles,
not a lifeline.

A career is not a sprint; it’sa

: life-long endeavour. It’s not one
: single race; it’s many different

: competitions, challenging many
: different disciplines. Of course

: you should pay your bills, work,
: and be able to support yourself,

: Ye i . : but be honest, bussing tables

: doing the job of your choice. So ? ang taking orders is not what
: be it! In five years, regardless of :
; your circumstances, you'll quit.
: Say it! You'll quit. Gain some
financial running room with the : sjjow it.
: job and then return to the game ;

: plan. Do the job you want.

: you were born to do. Don’t let
: anyone tell you to settle. The
: trap will kill you slowly... if you