An expert has revealed why doing things which terrify you can make you more confident – including getting lost, going on rollercoasters and public speaking. Psychologist Dr Eleanor Bryant, from the University of Bradford, believes people can be guilty of spending too much of their lives in their comfort zones, missing opportunities to discover things about themselves they wouldn’t otherwise.
Facing Intimidating Situations
She highlights that facing situations that feel intimidating, and discovering how you cope with them, can help build confidence. As such, she wants people to get stuck into something they’re scared of but would like to do – such as braving a Halloween maze, asking someone on a date, or wild swimming.
Her comments come as she teams up with Alton Towers Resort to mark its annual Scarefest event, which features a series of immersive scare mazes and attractions designed to challenge guests to confront their fears in a safe environment.
The Power of Small Steps
Dr Bryant said: "People often stay in their comfort zone because they know the parameters. They know what will happen. The unknown can be terrifying because people don't know how they'll cope with the feelings that come with it."
"However, if all your life is spent in your comfort zone, you may miss opportunities to reach your full potential. The more you take small steps outside your comfort zone, the easier bigger challenges become. If there is no significant harm in doing something, do it."
"People can often look back on their lives and regret missed opportunities for happiness and excitement because they've spent too much time existing within a safe little bubble."
Benign Masochism Explained
Dr Bryant said part of the appeal of rollercoasters and scare attractions is something psychologists refer to as "benign masochism" which involves voluntarily choosing experiences that feel frightening or uncomfortable despite knowing there is no real danger.
She said: "Benign masochism is essentially choosing to experience something that feels scary, uncomfortable or threatening while knowing you are ultimately safe. You get all the anticipation, fear and adrenaline that come with the experience, but you also get the relief afterwards."
"That journey from fear to relief is a huge part of why people enjoy it. For some people, it's the adrenaline itself they enjoy. For others, it's proving to themselves they can do it. The reward often comes afterwards when you realise you were frightened but coped. That feeling of achievement can then be applied elsewhere in life because you've demonstrated to yourself that you're capable of handling situations that initially felt intimidating."
Building Confidence Through Experience
She also believes many people underestimate how adaptable their brains are and how quickly confidence can grow once they begin exposing themselves to manageable challenges: "One of the reasons stepping outside your comfort zone can be so powerful is because our brains are incredibly adaptable. We know from neuroplasticity that we can continue learning throughout our lives and create new pathways in the brain."
"Whether it's learning to become more confident, more self-compassionate or simply less fearful of something, our brains adapt to the experiences we expose ourselves to. The more often we do those things, the less intimidating they become. People often assume confidence is something you either have or you don't, but confidence is built through experience. If you repeatedly challenge yourself and discover you can cope, eventually your brain starts to expect success rather than fear failure."
Howard Ebison, vice president of Alton Towers Resort, added: "Dr Bryant’s comments highlight something many people can relate to - that some of life’s most rewarding experiences often begin with taking a step outside your comfort zone. Scarefest gives people the chance to experience that unique feeling of overcoming a fear in a completely safe environment. Whether it’s stepping into a scare maze, riding one of our thrilling rollercoasters after dark or simply doing something they wouldn’t normally do, guests often leave with a real sense of achievement."
