The comfort zone
- that impulse to think the thoughts we have always thought,
to associate with the people
we have always associated with,
to behave the way we have always behaved,
is perhaps the worst enemy
of personal growth
and development.
There is a human tendency
to move from areas of discomfort
to areas of comfort.
or perceived comfort,
rather than to truly safe growth zones . . .
This tendency is the curse
of the average person.
It keeps them perpetually avoiding change,
avoiding the growth zones,
avoiding maturing,
and growth.
It is the perceived comfort zone
that will cause people to aim low,
and settle for little. 1
The comfort zone is a deceptively safe place.
A warm place.
A cozy place. . .
A place where we can be assured
that nothing majorly untoward can happen to us.
We can find it in the people around us,
where we work,
where we live
and whom we love.
We can find it in the things that we do;
the clockwork regularity
of our daily lives.
But the comfort zone
can be a seductively dangerous thing . . .
It cradles us in its warm embrace
and keeps us safe;
and yet,
that safety always
comes at a price.
When we’re afraid,
it lures us to return to the familiar,
and forget initially
just why we had wanted to leave that,
and it tries to keep us there,
no matter how bad it is. . .
It lulls us into a comforting slumber
and dulls most of us into narrow channels;
into a deep state of experiential
comatose-like flat-lined life.
The symptoms do not come out all at once.
It creeps on you from behind.
At first, just a glimpse of a cool shadow
that slowly envelops you,
and ever-so-charmingly,
holds you in its reins.
You find yourself going through the motions
of life in all its aspects
and finally it dawns on you,
as you sit down in your comfortable chair
probably in the midst of a crunch deadline of office work
or sitting in front of your television
with a cool drink in hand;
you’ve become a simple cog,
a small wheel nut,
an inconsequential accessory to society.
The realization that a problem exists
is always the first step,
as the cliché goes.
It’s what we do next which is important.
Do we grow roots
and welcome this as an all-loving mother,
or do we move on to new vistas
with a chance for failure at every turn?
For a lot of us,
change is a fearful thing;
a multi-headed hydra that
would consume us in its chaotic wrath.
The constant reminder
that we need to have as a mantra is that
change is good,
it evolves us,
makes us grow.
It takes us to new places and new people.
It brings to us constant new experiences
from which we can learn
and hopefully,
divine our inner selves.
Adaptation to constant change
doing old things in new ways,
and new things using “old” ways,
improves our state of mind;
makes it more flexible
and helps us cope with the occasional
downturns that life throws at us.
Make change your friend,
allow for its infinite varieties
of experiences and in time,
it will be the biggest thing
you would look forward to. 2
You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling,
so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly! 3
- that impulse to think the thoughts we have always thought,
to associate with the people
we have always associated with,
to behave the way we have always behaved,
is perhaps the worst enemy
of personal growth
and development.
There is a human tendency
to move from areas of discomfort
to areas of comfort.
or perceived comfort,
rather than to truly safe growth zones . . .
This tendency is the curse
of the average person.
It keeps them perpetually avoiding change,
avoiding the growth zones,
avoiding maturing,
and growth.
It is the perceived comfort zone
that will cause people to aim low,
and settle for little. 1
The comfort zone is a deceptively safe place.
A warm place.
A cozy place. . .
A place where we can be assured
that nothing majorly untoward can happen to us.
We can find it in the people around us,
where we work,
where we live
and whom we love.
We can find it in the things that we do;
the clockwork regularity
of our daily lives.
But the comfort zone
can be a seductively dangerous thing . . .
It cradles us in its warm embrace
and keeps us safe;
and yet,
that safety always
comes at a price.
When we’re afraid,
it lures us to return to the familiar,
and forget initially
just why we had wanted to leave that,
and it tries to keep us there,
no matter how bad it is. . .
It lulls us into a comforting slumber
and dulls most of us into narrow channels;
into a deep state of experiential
comatose-like flat-lined life.
The symptoms do not come out all at once.
It creeps on you from behind.
At first, just a glimpse of a cool shadow
that slowly envelops you,
and ever-so-charmingly,
holds you in its reins.
You find yourself going through the motions
of life in all its aspects
and finally it dawns on you,
as you sit down in your comfortable chair
probably in the midst of a crunch deadline of office work
or sitting in front of your television
with a cool drink in hand;
you’ve become a simple cog,
a small wheel nut,
an inconsequential accessory to society.
The realization that a problem exists
is always the first step,
as the cliché goes.
It’s what we do next which is important.
Do we grow roots
and welcome this as an all-loving mother,
or do we move on to new vistas
with a chance for failure at every turn?
For a lot of us,
change is a fearful thing;
a multi-headed hydra that
would consume us in its chaotic wrath.
The constant reminder
that we need to have as a mantra is that
change is good,
it evolves us,
makes us grow.
It takes us to new places and new people.
It brings to us constant new experiences
from which we can learn
and hopefully,
divine our inner selves.
Adaptation to constant change
doing old things in new ways,
and new things using “old” ways,
improves our state of mind;
makes it more flexible
and helps us cope with the occasional
downturns that life throws at us.
Make change your friend,
allow for its infinite varieties
of experiences and in time,
it will be the biggest thing
you would look forward to. 2
You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling,
so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly! 3
Hold on to what is good,
even if it is a handful of earth.
And hold on to what you believe,
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life,
even when it is easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
even when I have gone away from you. 4
even if it is a handful of earth.
And hold on to what you believe,
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life,
even when it is easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
even when I have gone away from you. 4
The things you fear
are undefeatable,
not by their nature,
but by your approach. 5
To get something you never had,
you have to do something you never did.
Merely opening your hands
to receive something better
is often all it takes. 6
Enjoy life;
this is not a rehearsal. . .
are undefeatable,
not by their nature,
but by your approach. 5
To get something you never had,
you have to do something you never did.
Merely opening your hands
to receive something better
is often all it takes. 6
Enjoy life;
this is not a rehearsal. . .
Credits:
[1] ~Unknown
[2] -Allowance for change ~anon
[3] ~Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
[4] ~ Pueblo Verse
[5] ~Jewel
[6] ~ Klaas Tuinman
Music: Four Strong Winds
a Dawn Cove Abbey presentation
Layout Design and Presentation by KT+
[1] ~Unknown
[2] -Allowance for change ~anon
[3] ~Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
[4] ~ Pueblo Verse
[5] ~Jewel
[6] ~ Klaas Tuinman
Music: Four Strong Winds
a Dawn Cove Abbey presentation
Layout Design and Presentation by KT+
For prayer requests and more, visit our sister site Stella Maris,
- a place where truth and beauty dwells: or write for information.
- a place where truth and beauty dwells: or write for information.
To submit comments, requests or materials,
contact me at: outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
contact me at: outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
I gladly welcome all article, haiku, humour and poem contributions
For empowerment workshops and seminars see: http://www.dawncoveabbey.org/healing-circle
For empowerment workshops and seminars see: http://www.dawncoveabbey.org/healing-circle
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