We all seek comfort, no doubt about it. And we certainly need it in this age of what I call normalized stress. We almost take for granted that we are going to be tense and exhausted and irritated in our daily lives. And when we are, we need to seek relief to avoid damage to health and quality of life.
But there are times when seeking comfort is a short road to broken dreams. A degree of discomfort comes with the territory of growth and development. Any adult going through a transition is going to experience discomfort. And big dreams really require us to stretch way out of our comfort zones.
We not only have to feel creative tension, we have to work with it or we will never experience the changes we desire. Your body mind may be interpreting this tension as unpleasant or even dangerous. And so at least unconsciously we are directed to make a big U-turn on the road to progress.
Can you think of a goal or project that you have abandoned mid-stream? Ever start a challenging class and drop out? Do you have unfinished projects that got the better of you and are languishing in your basement or attic or back in the closet? Did you take a nap and never get back to it?
We usually have lots of ways to rationalize this. The one I hear most often is “I’m too busy.” What we are usually too busy with are the daily routines that we complain about all the time.
Staying on the couch in front of the TV is certainly safe and comfortable. Hours can go by before you get up and go to bed. There is a reason that TV is called the “great hypnotic.” You can disappear inside it and never know you are gone. It’s hard to stay conscious in front of it.
I want to suggest that you learn to accept, acknowledge and work through the necessary discomfort that comes with the goals you have set. Instead of avoiding it, embrace it as a sign of progress. A sign that you are moving and that you are moving in the right direction.
Focus on the possibilities in your new endeavor, and open yourself up to the inspiration and help that comes when you do.










