Comfort

As humans, we are programmed to dislike change. We get comfortable in our routines, and they are responsible for the daily feeling of security when we get out of bed on the same side every day. We can start the coffee pot even in our morning daze without thinking about the steps. Routine is what keeps us sane when the pace of life speeds up or when the road ahead becomes chaotic. The sense of familiarity we get when we watch the same TV series over and over… We know what we are going to get, we know how the story ends, and that allows us to breathe easier. Following the routines and patterns of others around us gives us a sense of accomplishment that we are doing something right. The game of life has become a routine that we feel we have to follow. Even though we are pressed to follow this routine, we are comforted by the pressing. We are happy that the walls are confining us within a box because, quite frankly, we don’t want to experience outside the box. Staying within the bounds of comfort, we can look around and see a stadium full of people in the same corner with us. All of us never wanting to be the first one to experience what’s outside the box. We all think about trying to escape the societal walls that confine us but never take action. However, deep down, we secretly want to go completely feral, grabbing a sledgehammer and putting a hole through the walls around us. We secretly want to work up the bravery to be the only person who is daring enough to leave the box.

Convenience

Convenience stores are notoriously overpriced, yet people still shop at them. We know that we can get the same food item for half the price at our grocery store, but the convenience of not having to drive as far or being able to stop quickly draws us in. These stores always happen to have everything that we could possibly need too. Wine, a two-pill pack of Tylenol, tampons, hot food. You will go in and look for your one item that you needed but walk out with a soda, a magazine, and even a couple of bags of chips as well. Even if the two-pill pack of Tylenol we originally went in for costs just as much as a 50-tablet bottle at the grocery store, we will still pay the price because of the convenience. We are aware, though, that we can get more for our money and have a longer-lasting purchase if we go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves a bit. Anyway, this long description of saying that what is convenient is not always what is best for us, which can be a hard pill to swallow.

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Looking at these two topics of comfort and convenience has played a major role in my life lately. I have found that I often tend to gravitate towards what is comfortable when it comes to my relationships, work situations, eating habits, etc. It is very evident that we feel resistance towards situations that make us feel uncomfortable. However, sometimes being uncomfortable is the only way to grow If we are constantly seeking “comfort,” we will miss out on opportunities for personal growth. We will lack the necessary motivation to make important changes in our lives.

The biggest area I have seen convenience being an issue for me is falling into or maintaining relationships/friendships for the convenience of them. This is not something I believe that we necessarily do intentionally but rather, we are just focusing on the wrong things. Staying in a relationship or friendship simply because you have had a connection for a long time is not enough reason to continue putting energy into something. Or even staying friends with someone because of proximity to one another. That is simply relying on how much “it just makes sense” to continue a relationship as oppose to focusing on the benefits and energy of your relationships. Stepping outside of fostering convenient relationships allows for the opportunity for true connection.

Rhae 🙂