Your Comfort Zone

I remember going to a doctor with one of my many knee ailments and he had to drain fluid from around my knee. The only way he knew he was in the wrong place was when I jumped in pain. Then he withdrew the needle a bit and drew out the fluid from whatever I had torn that particular time. Once there was pain then he knew he went too far.

I am trying to maintain a pretty strict walking regimen right now and even enter some “running” competitions. Throughout the race and the pre-race material or website I will find many platitudes about running. Things like “no pain, no gain” and “pain is just your body telling you that you’re getting closer to your goal!”

Which is true? It is what the Dr. said? That pain means it is time to pull back and withdraw? Or is it the running platitudes? That pain is good, more pain is better and that pain will help you achieve your goals? Is pain good for you or bad for you?

Now obviously if there is something wrong and pain is telling you that something is broken or torn, you must pull back. But what if pain is your laziness yelling at you? I find it is more my lazy body that tells me it is too painful to go on. JUST as I find it is my lazy spirit that tells me it is too painful to go on. 

My spirit tells me that this is simply not worth it. My spirit tells me to stay in my comfort zone, don’t venture out of what you are good at, or known for. My spirit tells me that it is better that other people do this and not me. My spirit LOVES the comfort zone, just as my body LOVES my lazy-boy chair.

The problem is pain. It is painful and scary to get out of your comfort zone. It is painful and scary to love someone new. It is painful and scary to give yourself to your God and to your church because that is NOT comfortable. Neale Donald Walsh says “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I believe that he means a REAL LIFE is all about stepping out of what you are comfortable with. A REAL LIFE is about trying things new, traveling to different places, and loving more people. The REAL LIFE is outside of your comfort zone.

Will YOU dare venture out? Will YOU dare step out of your comfort zone? Are you willing to take a chance on pain and love in order to really life? Let’s take a leap together!