Being Comfortable is a Trap!

Yeah, it’s a paradox. Everyone loves to enjoy being comfortable, right? Not having a worry in the world and living a relaxing lifestyle. That’s what we’re all striving for, isn’t it? …Is it really?

Viktor Frankl, the author of Man’s Search for Meaning, writes about how we ultimately need something to hope for. We need to “do” in order to move towards our inner-most desires. And, since we get what we are and not what we want, that means we must become more in order to reach our hopes and dreams.

“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task.” –     Viktor Frankl

If personal development is so good for us, why do so few people ever do the inner work to develop themselves? Why do so few people ever change? People talk about wanting to change or grow all the time, but then resist it when it becomes unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, we are all creatures of habit. We get use to being a certain way, even if it doesnt work very well. It’s what we’re use to and comfortable with because it’s familiar. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

Humor yourself with this exercise:

Clasp your hands together and notice which thumb is on top. Now refold your hands so that the other thumb is on top. How does that feel? Does it feel awkward, strange, weird or wrong?

Notice what your body wants to do. Does it want to go back to the first position, your normal position, your habitual condition? Let yourself do that. Go back to the original position. How does that feel? Does it feel better, right, comfortable? Is it a relief to be back in this position?

That simple exercise shows the basic reason why most people never experience the quality of life they secretly yearn for. They would rather be comfortable than do what is required to produce the desired result. They get stuck in what is called their ‘comfort zone’.

Your comfort zone is one of life’s greatest traps! You’ll find yourself “settling” for what you have, instead of continuing to move forward and strive for your dreams. It’s part of the “rat race” where all of life’s distractions deter you from living the life you dream of. The life that you can look back on with fulfillment instead of regret. Time goes by so fast that before you know it, you’re not young anymore!

But it’s okay! Now you know. You’re aware of your comfort zone and can prepare yourself for life’s challenges by continuing to grow – always learning.

If you understand nature, you understand that everything is constantly changing. Which means everything is either growing and evolving or becoming obsolete and dying.

It’s great to be comfortable for a while, as long as it’s a means to recharge, reflect and create. That’s a big difference from being lazy and stagnant. Being still is very different from doing nothing!

Next time you’re complaining about things being rough, rest assured – you’ll survive like you always do. And when you come out, you’ll be that much stronger, better and more experienced.

And if you’re in your comfort zone now, beware of the trap!