Most of us are inmates in a prison, and we don’t even know it. We wake up and move through our day without realizing or seeing the prison walls around us. We don’t see the handcuffs on our wrists or the bars on our prison cells. We have freedom of movement within this prison, so we think we are alive and making our own choices. But we are not.
The name of this prison is Comfort Zone. Stepping out of our comfort zone causes anxiety because the unknown is fearful. We become indifferent and say whatever will be will be. It sounds brave, but in reality, it is cowardice. We willingly lock ourselves into our cells every night, thinking we have no choice.
Our comfort zone may be anything but comfortable, but it’s what we’ve grown accustomed to, and we know how to handle it. We may not like it, but we at least know what to deal with daily. If someone asked us if we were happy, we would probably say yeah, but are you really happy? Probably not. You may not necessarily be depressed or suicidal, but you’re not overflowing with joy either.
Progress equals happiness; humans feel more alive and fulfilled if they’re growing and reaching their goals. Unfortunately, we grow stale as life progresses without us. We’re supposed to continue growing until the day we die. As long as there is breath within us, we’re supposed to continue. It’s not over until our last breath escapes our lips.
“Ambition unused declines. Strong feelings unused diminished. Faith unused decreases. It is a law” – Jim Rohn.
JCPenney said this at 92 when someone asked him how he was doing.
“Well, my eyesight is failing but my vision has never been better.”
Do you have a vision for your life? Do you have a purpose? You do have a purpose, but do you know what it is?
See, water is life-giving, but it also stagnates when it sits still too long. There’s an old proverb that says the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance. The problem is that most people aren’t diligent with their plans. Or they might plan diligently but never follow through with those plans. See, there’s a universal law called you create or disintegrate.
You take an acorn and put it on a shelf. It will disintegrate and die, and the cycle of life is over. You take that same acorn, put it in good soil, water it, and let the sun shine on it, and the cycle of life will continue, and it will grow and become a tree. It will shade all sorts of animals and become a home for all kinds of species. It will also generate thousands of acorns. You see, nature will compound your efforts, but you’ve got to try. You’ve got to plant that acorn, and it will grow. But it does take some effort on your part.
“Life doesn’t get better by chance it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn.
It’s time to break out of that prison. Step out of that comfort zone. And become what you’re supposed to be.