The Downside of Comfort + An Announcement

The Downside of Comfort

initially it might seem there’s no downside of comfort but hear me out. does anyone else ever feel that deep need for a change? it’s a deep but sort of silent need. it’s quiet so you can sort of ignore it – you’d much rather continue to be your comfortable, current self. that’s where i’m at currently.

i’m comfortable.

like her:

let me tell you, i love comfort. i seek it out. i know what it’s like to be uncomfortable. i know what it’s like not to know where rent money is coming from or declining opportunities and experiences because of my anxiety. i’m like our rescue dog, sugar, who will nudge over pillows and stack blankets for optimum comfort. it’s part of living, we naturally seek comfort.

there’s a catch. the downside of comfort, if you will. most of us are constantly seeking comfort. this might be in the form of working a ton of hours to be able to buy a more ‘comfortable’ house/car/jacket/lifestyle. it might be in the form of playing small (comfort) when you know you’re capable of so much more. it might be in the form of sticking with the same routine in your life because it’s safe (comfortable) even when you know things need to change.

that’s where i’m at. i’m comfortable and yet know i’m capable of more.

it’s a weird spot to be in. one part of me is like, “YES! new things! new ideas! you’re growing and changing, it’s so exciting! the possibilities are endless – let’s do this!” let’s call this part the seeker (no, i’m not mad that this also relates to harry potter). i’m seeking a higher, deeper purpose in life.

the other part of me is like, “yeah…but also like…kick your feet up. watch netflix. ask your husband to bring you another blanket and your toddler to bring you a cookie. you earned this comfort, enjoy it! what else could you possibly need from this life?” let’s call it the neutral zone. though it may seem like this is a happy place, it’s really a median, a neutral zone of comfort with little focus on growth. i’m not unhappy or ungrateful but rather at a comfortable baseline.

i am grateful to be back to this neutral zone since i was on the flip side of dark, unhappy times pretty recently. but thanks to therapy and a change in medication, i am feeling back to that baseline (thaaaank goodness) and i’m ready for more.

that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with being comfortable. we need that feeling and that space because the world, especially these days, is exhausting. however, it’s easy to fall into the trap of staying in that comfortable place a littttle too long when you know you’re capable of more. that’s the downside of comfort.

anyone else ever felt this odd paradox?

so, i’m going to spend the next few weeks prioritizing the seeker in me, even though the other part of me wants to stay comfortable and not change a thing.

i have some new changes that excite me (and also freak me out a bit) but i keep remembering, i can do hard things.

this means that i’m going to take a two-week break from writing on here to spend my energy writing something more aligned with my seeker-self.

i will be sharing more on the new wifestyle and sharing snippets and random ramblings on my instagram! stay tuned and thanks for your patience. it’s because of this community that i’m listening to the seeker part and wanting to do more.

with that, i’ll leave you with our fall family photo because it’s my new favorite (great capture, jef)! did i pick the photo where ravery and i look better than atlas vs. the one where she’s smiling but we look weird? yes, yes i did.

how are you? are you more in a seeker space or neutral/comfort zone right now?