I don’t really care too much for trash reality TV however, I do LOVE the show Top Chef. Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode (Thank you Wiki!)

I was watching Top Chef: Masters the other day (which is a spin-off of the original show where 12 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges). As I was watching these world renewed chefs scramble to create brillant dishes in a short amount of time, I had a revelation. One of these, 5-star, chefs eluded that being in the competition forced her to use her creativity in a way that she hasn’t in many years. At that very moment, I had an “a-ha” moment. As artists, when we place ourselves outside of our “comfort zone,” something amazing happens. It is at this juncture where creativity spreads its wings and we are able to surprise ourselves by creating something really. In the previous episode, this same chef played it safe and was almost sent home. From there, she decided she needed to take some risks, break away from her norm and… she did. By doing so, she created a dish that the critics loved and clinched the win.

So sure… you can create the perfect picture when all things are optimal (i.e. lighting, subject, exposure, etc.) however, when you are challenged or forced to do something different something incredible comes out of it. I realized that the entire nature of the show is to push people out of their comfort zone. To challenge them to think outside the box. To force them to tap into their creativity. To push them to create never before seen masterpieces. That being said, I’m booking a one-way ticket out of my comfort zone because once you leave that space, you’ll find where the magic happens.

~Saadia