Comfort Zone
According to Webster's New Millennium Dictionary, the term Comfort Zone is defined as: an established lifestyle in which a person feels comfortable as long as there is no drastic change.
I think the term should be re-named for what it really is: the "Status-Quo Zone" or "Familiar Zone" or "Safe Zone", but not Comfort Zone. Why? Because it may seem comfortable, but in fact it's only an illusion and as we outgrow it, it actually takes more energy to hold on to the status quo than it does to move with the rhythm and energy of change. And yet we do it because our current situation is predictable, self-perpetuating and familiar. Instead of taking steps that bring us somewhere less familiar, we burn more energy to keep ourselves in the same spot.
Think of it this way - you have a closet full of coats and every morning, you grab the same old familiar one. You don't look at it closely because in your mind, it looks and fits like it did when you bought it ages ago. It's only when you stop to pay attention that you realize you've gotten so used to having a hole in the pocket, you've stopped using it for coins. And it's a little tight under the arms, so you never wear it with a sweater. And yes, the cuffs are a bit frayed so you just remember to not to wear it anywhere fancy.
Instead of changing situations to meet our needs, we accommodate the discomfort, often without realizing it. We accept mediocrity because it's familiar to us and change, no matter how small, requires action, which sometimes feels uncomfortable. But remember discomfort is simply discomfort, nothing more. And not only are you capable of handling it, but when it passes, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you've created something more satisfying for yourself.
Teleclass: 2006, A Year Well Lived