I am going to do some shorter, snappier posts, just seeding an idea or an interesting (as in A.F.E.A.R.) point of view.
Google “Get out of your comfort zone” and you will get about 160,000,000 results. That’s solid framing!
But is it true?
My cousin – yes, the senior curator of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Belgium – surprised me the other day by stating the opposite: he performs (as in doing his best work) best when he is IN his comfort zone.
Just a couple of days later, I see this Tweet from Niels Pflaeging:
Niels is a management exorcist and a real myth-buster. I always listen to him.
So maybe the trick to do your best work is to find your comfort zone? Or is it all apeshit – or pop psychology – as Niels suggests above?
Let me know what you think.
Petervan Studios 
I like the drawing, but the two areas are disconnected.I think, it is more about being in or out of the flow zone. In the flow we can think, feel and act at the same time. It is comfortable, but it can be too comfortable, nothing new will happen. On the edge of the flow zone we feel our vulnerability and unsecurity. This is, where the magic or just learning can happen. Beyond the edge we are in the stressmode: fight or paralyses.
Thx for your feedback, Thomas. Much appreciated. Looks like you have a more fluid feel for comfort zone, and call it flow zone. I am still puzzled by Niels’ comment that comfort zone (or flow zones) just don’t exist…