Why Comfort Is the Enemy of Your Potential

I asked myself this question on a summer night while staring at the ceiling fan blur above me…

Is this it? 

Things were going decently well. 

Still, there’s a part of you that dreams of a sweeter place. 

Dramatic results require dramatic change. 

And that would mean destroying your current life. 

A heavy price to pay for a crown that doesn’t come with a money back guarantee. 

So what do you do? 

Despite feeling the existential dread of monotonous modernity…

You carry on for years. 

Sometimes I would order rigatoni with pesto instead of tomato as an act of rebellion.

But life was otherwise neutralized by my appetite for comfort. 

Conspiring with the winds. 

And it could have ended there. 

Until one day I wandered into the city library on a Friday evening and picked up a random book from the philosophy section. 

To be honest…

I only skimmed through the first few pages while standing in the aisle, because my library card expired the same year “Captain Marvel” came out. 

But an idea struck my cortex. 

If our realities are dictated by our fears rather than our capabilities…

Why not dive into the fears? 

For the next few days, I would close my eyes and imagine the worst case scenario for a decision I was mulling over. 

It was oddly relieving.

I could see that even on the edge of ruin I could probably make it work. 

So after fighting the shakes of impending unknown…

I quit my job and booked a one way flight to Madrid. 

Apparently this was frowned upon by the immigration lords — 

But it was go big or go home. 

Neil deGrasse Tyson.

A lot of doubt comes up when you take risks like this. 

But if the worst case is actually an unactualized existence….

What are you waiting for? 

My time in Spain’s capital taught me a lot — 

I met women that helped me see life different. 

Conversations with strangers on terraces reminded me that we’re all mostly the same. Navigating our way under an identical set of stars. 

I’ll probably remember those nights forever.

Or at least longer than water cooler talk. 

Yet the real change was in my mind. 

You only fear when you’re overly concerned with loss. 

Change is a part of nature.

Why stay in hibernation when the sun comes out?

Sidewalks. 

I’m not saying you should spend your last dime on an Osprey bag and go beg-packing worldwide. 

That’s not actualization. 

But it’s time to ask yourself what turns your face pale. 

Then do it. 

Have an austerity meal.

Start that uncomfortable conversation.

See what’s on the otherwise.

You might uncover something beautiful. 

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