Choisir de marcher sous la pluie

We often wait for the right moment to take the plunge.
Good times, good energy, good pay, good mood.
We say to ourselves:

“I’ll start when things get better.”
“I’ll look into it when I have more time.”

The result: we put our lives on hold while waiting for a perfectly blue sky… which never really comes.

What if stepping outside your comfort zone didn't mean quitting everything overnight, but simply choosing to walk in the rain from time to time? Accepting that conditions aren't ideal, but moving forward anyway.

What does “walking in the rain” mean in real life?

Rain is not just water that falls from the sky.
In your life, rain symbolizes everything that is:

uncomfortable,
Not planned.,
not under your control,
A little disturbing for your ego or your image.

Walking in the rain can look like:

go to a date even if you're stressed,
dare to say what you really think,
try a new activity without being “"Good)"” from the very beginning,
Going out alone when you hate it,
launch a project even if it's not perfect.

These are the moments when everything inside you wants to stay warm, at home, in your comfort zone.
But something deeper knows that if you don't move forward now, you risk staying stuck in the same place for a long time.

Why our brain hates leaving its comfort zone

Stepping outside your comfort zone is uncomfortable, that's normal.
Your brain is programmed to:

prioritize what is predictable.,
avoid what looks like danger,
repeat what he already knows.

Even if your current situation doesn't completely suit you, it's familiar. Your brain prefers that to the unknown, because the unknown requires energy, adaptation, and courage.

That's why:

You always find a good excuse not to get started.,
You're putting off until tomorrow what really matters to you.,
You feel like you're stuck in a limbo.

The good news is that you don't need to revolutionize everything.
You can gently train your brain to discomfort, like gradually getting used to walking in the rain.

Walking in the rain: a manageable discomfort

We often imagine stepping out of our comfort zone as a huge leap into the void: moving to the other side of the world, changing jobs overnight, starting all over again from scratch.
In reality, it starts with small daily acts, manageable discomforts.

Examples of "little rains" in your daily life:

Say “"No"” to a request that doesn't suit you, even if you're afraid of disappointing.
Ask for help instead of carrying everything alone.
Speaking up in meetings, even with a trembling voice.
Post something that is important to you, even if you fear judgment.
Going to an event where you know almost no one.

Every time you dare to take that small step outside your comfort zone, you send a message to your brain:

“We can go out a little, it won't kill us. We survive the rain.”

Little by little, the discomfort becomes more bearable. You gain confidence in your ability to manage it.

The hidden benefits of discomfort

Choosing to walk in the rain is not about forcing yourself for pleasure.
It means accepting that discomfort is part of the journey when you want a more aligned, more authentic life.

By stepping (slightly) out of your comfort zone, you gain:

More confidence in yourself You see, you can manage more than you thought possible.
More freedom : you are no longer a prisoner of your fears and habits.
Greater resilience : you become less vulnerable to unforeseen events.
Greater internal coherence : you are getting closer to the person you truly want to be.

You switch from mode to:

“I wait until everything is perfect before I live.”
in mode:
“I also live when it’s grey, when I’m scared, when it’s not ideal.”

How to step out of your comfort zone… without hurting yourself

Warning: stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't mean exhausting yourself, putting yourself in danger, or constantly criticizing yourself because “You’re not doing enough.”.

The idea is to embrace discomfort, but with kindness:

🔹 1. Start small

Choose one “light rain” :

send a message,
say what you think once,
sign up for an activity that appeals to you.

You don't need to change everything, just prove to your brain that you can handle a slightly higher degree of discomfort.

🔹 2. Plan a shelter after the effort

After walking in the rain, we go home, dry off, and get warm.
Do the same with discomfort:

Plan a relaxing moment afterwards: a TV series, a coffee, a call with someone you trust.,
Don't minimize your effort (“It was nothing”): acknowledge what you did.

🔹 3. Record your victories

Here's a “List of rains crossed” :

every time you dared to do something that scared you,
even if the result wasn't perfect.

It will help you see that you are really making progress, even if it's just millimeters.

What if you stopped waiting for the bright sunshine?

The truth is, if you wait:

to have the confidence to take the plunge,
to no longer be afraid to act.,
to be perfectly ready for change…

… you might be waiting a long time.

Choosing to walk in the rain is deciding that your life is worth living even when:

You are tired,
You doubt,
You're afraid of what others think.,
The timing isn't perfectly aligned.

It's not heroic, it's not spectacular.
It's just one step after another, under a slightly grey sky, with the quiet certainty that every step counts.

You can very well start today, with a tiny step.
An email, a decision, a sentence.
A gesture that tells you:

“Okay, it’s raining. But I’m going anyway.”