What is comfort? It is the “safe” place we hide in when we hold the belief that our true desires are out of reach. It is a place of certainty, where taking risks is not required. Judgment and criticism are minimal to non-existent. Comfort is also the place where our hopes, dreams, ideas and creative work die. It is the place we succumb to when fear is in control. Comfort is the graveyard of our spirit, and fear is the killer.
Fear is an emotion that we experience more often than we take notice of. It lurks in the dark corners of our life, and is a master of disguise in suits that resemble self-doubt, perfectionism, judgment, and comparison. It is the taunting voice that bullies its way in just when you think you’re ready to take that leap into the life of your dreams. It will remind you of all your flaws, tell you that you’re not worthy of success, and that when everything falls apart, so will you.
Fear is every thought that buries your desires and submerges you into the belief that where you are now in life is where you’ll remain. Fear of uncertainty, fear of what people will think, and fear of revealing your most authentic self to the world are all reasons we get stuck in the so-called place of comfort.
Surrendering to the resistance, we go about our mundane lives, moving through the motions simply to make ends meet. Not even realizing how much our spirit has died, we numb ourselves by overindulging in unhealthy foods and wasted hours of meaningless scrolling through our phone. Then, at the end of the day we have to “take the edge off” with a few too many drinks. Our enthusiasm for life is lost and replaced with fatigue and feelings of hopelessness.
When it takes everything in our power to rise from the bed each morning, we are left to only wonder how we begin to bring meaning back into our life. How do we live out our heart’s desire to contribute the one unique gift each and every one of us was born with, without allowing fear to take control? The answer – courage.
Courage allows you to live a life that makes you feel truly alive. It is a place of peace, clarity and empowerment; where you are able to do what fills you up with indescribable joy, consumes your thoughts, and pushes you to achieve things you never thought were possible.
Courage is taking risks and exposing your flaws, all while inching closer and closer to your dreams. Courage is the voice of strength, it will tell you that the only failed attempt is the one not taken. Courage is the destination for anyone who desires a life of pure joy, purpose, and meaning. The trouble for most, is the journey we must endure to get there.
The road to courage is rough and winding. It requires kindness and self-compassion, which comfort can numb right out of us. Self-compassion is the daily work of reminding ourselves that we are worthy of love and belonging, regardless of a specific outcome. Self-compassion is the threshold to courage.
Courage is built from a foundation of worthiness and must be fueled with a vital energy that will push you to thrive at your fullest potential. The energy you feed your mind and body will mirror the energy you put into and receive out of life.
Some may never know the exhilaration that comes from that leap into the life you dream of, and that is ok for them. However, I might question if fear is forcing them to succumb to that choice.
For others, it may take years of forward and backward progress before taking action. However the case, know you are worthy of the life you dream of. My hope for you is that you have the strength to climb out of that place of comfort and leap into a life that brings you indescribable joy from sharing your unique gift the world has been waiting for.