“The Sweet Spot” - aka - “The Scary Spot”
Updated: Apr 23, 2024
“The Sweet Spot” - AKA - “The Scary Spot”
Change is scary.
The unknown is scary.
There always seems to be a myriad of reasons to stay in the comfort zone.
It is safer…right?
Is anything in life truly safe, or are we just fooling ourselves?
Should safety be the ultimate goal?
I’m a learner; I love learning - and one thing I have learned in recent years is that growth doesn’t happen inside our comfort zone. We must be uncomfortable. It doesn’t feel very good, often scary, but that is what pushes us to grow.
However, if it’s too far outside our comfort zone, we become terrified, our learning ability shuts down, and we can only think about how to survive. You have to be in sort of a “sweet spot” of the in-between - enough to make us scared but not actually scared to death. ;)
This year our family is undergoing quite a few huge changes. We aren’t talking about small changes. We are talking about moving near a big city - new schools, new jobs, new community, new house, new, new, new. But the new can feel good, and letting go of the old can feel really good. However, it’s still hard. Even when the old no longer serves us, it is tempting to stay stuck in it because it’s familiar. The unknown is… well unknown - and leaves space for a whole lot of “what ifs”.
On the one hand, I am excited about our move and the new possibilities it may open up. On the other hand, I am somewhat terrified and often wonder if we are just absolutely out of our minds. It’s a difficult place to be in and I can confidently say that we are all currently NOT in our comfort zones.
Strangely, this gives me comfort. Though it feels nerve-wracking and unpredictable, I do not want to spend any more of my life stuck in what feels comfortable. I want to grow. I want to challenge myself to continue evolving instead of settling for the “status quo”. I have seen too many people who choose comfort over growth and end up living “so-so” lives. I notice physical resignation in their bodies. It’s as if the “spark” has left their eyes. I feel so sad that they are settling for less than true happiness.
Everyone gets to choose. As for me, I would rather live a bit scared, than live a bit bored. Eleanor Roosevelt set a wonderful example that I plan to follow: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Next time you are tempted to pull back and “play it safe” try remembering what makes adventures so great. It’s the wild, unpredictable, “We didn’t know if we were going to make it”, stories that capture our hearts and thrill our souls. It’s those stories that inspire us to be brave and reach for our dreams.
We were not meant to live inside “safety glass”. We were meant to live wild and free. Dangerous? Yes. But that’s where the growth happens AND let’s not forget the fun!
Kudos to all my wild friends out there, daring to actually “live” their lives! Keep it up!
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