Tradition vs Comfort Zone

“Our purpose in life isn’t to arrive at a destination where we find inspiration, just as the purpose of dancing isn’t to end up at a particular spot on the floor. The purpose of dancing – and of life – is to enjoy every moment and every step, regardless of where we are when the music ends.” – Wayne Dyer

I am a Capricorn. As a Cap, I identify mostly with what a Capricorn represents. I love tradition, routine, I can be incredibly stubborn, persistent, ambitious, practical, and sensitive. And yes, a workaholic. While I am all these things I am also more. I love life, I love to have fun, I love to laugh. I get scared, I get silly, I get confused, and I get to experience moments of joy. Each of us has a story. We get to decide how or if we want to share certain parts of our story with the world.

Being a Capricorn is only a part of who I am. While I identify with many things that a Capricorn symbolizes, I am careful to not allow this to be the only thing that I identify with. For example, my number one Love Language is words of appreciation. It is important for me to hear what others think of me. I am not looking for a constant stream of compliments, in fact I become incredibly uncomfortable with compliments and struggle to accept them with grace. Rather, I am hoping for honest, authentic feedback and how I am doing in relation to the type of relationship I have with the various people in my life.

Each of us is unique. We have our own personalities, dreams, goals, interests, life histories. While I acknowledge this uniqueness in all people, I do believe that there are similarities that we can pay attention to as well. This is where the topic of comfort zone comes in for me.

While I crave tradition and routine, I can also find myself in my comfort zone. When I am in my comfort zone, I am stuck. I may not realize I am stuck because I feel safe and secure. While it is important to feel safe and secure it is just as important to stretch our wings, try something new, grow and evolve. Staying within my comfort zone will keep the illusion alive that I am safe and secure, but am I? Am I living or am I just surviving, keeping the status quo going? Only I can answer this question for myself just like only you can answer this question for yourself.

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” - Roy T. Bennett

When I am feeling out of sorts of that I am being pushed from within to make a change I ask myself if staying within my comfort zone is helping or hindering me in reaching my goals and dreams. Being stubborn can be a detriment and cause me to struggle with the concept of change. For something to grow, change must happen. The seed must be planted in the dirt, watered, given adequate amounts of sunlight, fertilizer, food, love, and care. Then the seed must break open and allow the contents of the seed to enter the dirt and begin the growing process. If the seed is unwilling to be broken open, then the plant never grows. Sometimes we need to be willing to be broken open so we can grow. In order to be broken open, we must step outside of our comfort zone. When we do this, we are trusting ourselves and something greater than ourselves that we will be taken care of no matter what unfolds. Please know that I am not saying or even suggesting that we can never be in our comfort zone. What I am suggesting is a balance between tradition and our comfort zone. When we spend more time in one than the other, I believe there is a sense of imbalance which can cause us to struggle with life, with decision making, with understanding who and what we want to accomplish. It is important that each of us make the decision that is the best for each of us rather than what we think others think we should do. I am really good at this and it is my goal this year to step back into my power when I find myself not listening to what I know to be my highest and best good.

If you are feeling stuck I invite you to ask yourself this question, “Am I stuck in my comfort zone, the familiar or am I feeling the Divine Urge to step into something greater?” In my very first Science of Mind class at church, I had to create a project for my final assignment. I remember talking to my teacher, scared and nervous because I had done 2 projects. One was within my comfort zone and one was way out of my comfort zone. When I asked her which project, I should present she smiled and said “Which ever one you choose will be the right one. However, stepping out of your comfort zone is a powerful place to be…”

Life is meant to be enjoyed and there is no promise of a tomorrow. I invite you to enjoy life, find the beauty, love, and joy or whatever is important to your soul and step into it…