7.8 Laila Ali: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

“The only way you can grow is to push yourself out of your comfort zone.” - Laila Ali

When was the last time you did something hard?

My 3 daughters play sports, and they go to a trainer in the summertime. Today, one of them said, “The workout was sooo hard because we had to run sooo much.”

As she was telling me this, I was looking up quotes from former boxing champion Laila Ali. She was the daughter of legend Muhammad Ali, but she made a name for herself, finishing her boxing career with a perfect 24-0 record.

The quote that I came across from her was, “The only way you can grow is to push yourself out of your comfort zone.”

I shared the quote with my kids and said, “If you want to  grow — whether as an athlete, a leader, or a person— you have to be willing to do things that stretch you, like running harder, further, or longer than you are used to.

Staying in your comfort zone might feel safe and easy, but it keeps you stagnant and stuck in the same place. Growth happens when you challenge yourself — mentally, physically, and emotionally — even when it’s uncomfortable.

That might mean facing your fears, trying something new, risking failure, or doing the hard things that don’t come naturally.

This mindset is a big part of how Laila became a champion in the ring and a strong voice outside of it.

Instead of complaining when you have to do hard things, embrace it because this is where growth happens. 

Question of the Day: What’s one action you can take to push past your comfort zone?