Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone: A Mauritian Perspective

Most of us can recall the unease of walking into a school hall for the first time, surrounded by older students and teachers we had never met. That feeling, a mix of self-consciousness and uncertainty, is something nearly every person experiences at some point. In his latest column for the Mauritius Times, Dr Rajagopal Soondron explores why that discomfort exists, where it comes from, and what it teaches us about being human.

According to Dr Soondron, children begin developing the capacity for empathy, the ability to understand how others feel and to imagine themselves in someone else's position, around the age of four. This is a gradual process. By the time a child reaches eleven or twelve and enters secondary school in Mauritius, that growing awareness of others becomes both a social tool and a source of anxiety.

The secondary school environment in Mauritius is a significant transition. Students move from the relatively sheltered setting of primary school, where they often know most of their classmates, into larger institutions with new peers, older students, and more demanding academic expectations. The school assembly, the public recitation, the sports day performance: these are moments that force young people out of what psychologists call the comfort zone.

The comfort zone is not simply laziness or timidity. It is the mental and emotional space where a person feels safe, competent and in control. Staying inside it requires no courage and carries little risk. But it also limits growth. Dr Soondron suggests that the stretching of this zone, the moments when we are pushed or choose to step beyond what feels familiar, is where personal development actually happens.

This idea carries particular resonance in the Mauritian context. Mauritius is a small, tightly connected society where social reputation and community relationships carry enormous weight. The fear of embarrassment, of being judged by neighbours, colleagues or extended family, can keep people locked in patterns that no longer serve them. Whether in the classroom, the workplace or civic life, the reluctance to speak up, to challenge, or to try something new is a recognisable feature of how many Mauritians navigate social life.

Dr Soondron draws on both developmental psychology and personal observation to argue that the discomfort of new situations is not a warning sign to retreat. It is, instead, an invitation to expand. The child who stands up in the school hall and speaks despite trembling knees is building a resource that will serve them throughout life.

What this means: For parents, educators and employers in Mauritius, this column is a reminder that shielding young people from discomfort can actually hold them back. Creating structured opportunities for students and employees to face manageable challenges, public speaking, group debates, new responsibilities, helps build the resilience and adaptability that a rapidly changing economy and society demand.

Dr Soondron's column, published regularly in the Mauritius Times, blends medical and philosophical thinking to reflect on everyday Mauritian life.

Source: Mauritius Times