balance

In and Out of the Comfort Zone  

Once there was a man who was never satisfied, who always wanted more. He always needed to get to the next level. He had a goal of making a million dollars a year, then he wanted two million, and then a million a month, then two million a month. And that was not enough, either. He had wealth, he had fame, he had all the stuff money can buy, but he never had enough. 

Some preach that this striving is a virtue. “You can’t make progress unless you are willing to get out of your comfort zone.” Carried to the extreme, the mindset seems like a treadmill—or a trap, even. Always pushing, never satisfied? Sounds like it could be a sad way to spend one’s life. 

On the other hand, a friend told us a while back about her grandmother, who always said, “I have enough, and enough is as good as a feast.” One imagines that Granny was as content with life as a person could be. 

But taking that to the extreme, where would progress or innovation happen if everyone resigned themselves to living with things just as they were? Would anything change in a world where everything was perfectly comfortable and everyone had what they needed already? 

It is for each of us to sort out what we want out of life, how to get it, and the meaning of happiness. And that might mean figuring out what we need to do differently to get there, and then recognizing it once we have gotten what we need in terms of money and stuff. 

Then, once we’re comfortable in one area, we might turn our aspirations to more elevating topics—maybe helping family, developing new skills, or improving the community.  

For instance, can you imagine a community rec center in our little town? Or a scholarship endowment whose income would help any graduating seniors on their way to a trade or to higher education? More vibrant community organizations? These are some of the next-level things I’m dreaming about. 

We can be comfortable with what we have, and we can exercise our ambition to make the world better. We enjoy the satisfaction of our comfort zone in some ways and move ourselves out of it to dream big in other ways. 

Clients, if you would like to explore the ins and outs of your comfort zone, email us or call. 

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A COHERENT COMPOSITION
A sunset over a body of water Description automatically generated

On my morning walk recently, I captured a sunrise scene. Colorful clouds with interesting texture reflected perfectly in one of the Louisville lakes. I am strictly an amateur, but a good picture jumps in front of me once in a while.

Pondering later what goes into a successful photo, I came up with this list:

  • Choose a pertinent subject.
  • Frame the key elements, focusing on the important stuff.
  • Keep it centered and level.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this same formula is what goes into writing a blog post or telling a story. And it’s what we strive for in our work with you.

There are a thousand things we could talk about or think about, but you and I work on your highest priorities—the most pertinent subjects. Our goal is to frame them so you can make effective decisions. By keeping it level, we can use a balanced approach.

Clients, if you would like to work on your story, email us or call.