The thing with the comfort zone

You all know these oh so inspiring quotes and memes, hurrying through the internet and promising you, that your life will be oh so great as soon as you get up off your butt. That there’s no life as long as you’re staying in your comfort zone. Or maybe your friends, parents, whoever, tell you all the time what you have to change in your life to make it like this or like that.

And yes, every now and then leaving your comfort zone doesn’t hurt you (well, okay, sometimes it does and well, sometimes I guess it was the wrong thing to do, but well, you get what I mean). I know that it’s good for me to leave my comfort zone every now and then, do things I’ve never done before and sometimes even screw things up. I need this. As otherwise I get bored with life sooner or later.

Me in Bagan, Myanmar, totally happy about our room. With electricity. Sometimes.

But I also need home, time on my own. Time on my sofa, with good friends, going out for breakfast always in the same café, routine, everyday life. And I need days in my pyjamas. Comfort zone.

And I need travelling, as otherwise I get grumpy. I feel happy when travelling, especially when I get this “walking on clouds” feeling after a while on the road. But I get the same back home on my sofa. Comfort zone.

So, what I need is: being home, being on the road and doing new stuff every now and then. Then I feel good and I’m happy. And as long as I’m happy everything’s fine. Because that’s all that matters. Being happy.

I could say: I’ve found the magic key for how to live a happy life. But the thing is, yes, I’ve found it, but only for me. Just because it’s working for me doesn’t mean it would work for you too.

Mongolia was outside my comfort zone in the beginning. And then after a few days it was right inside.

Maybe you feel uncomfortable when leaving your comfort zone and doing exciting things doesn’t make you feel happier. Then don’t do it. Just because others are doing stuff like this you don’t have to do it. Maybe you think staying the whole day in my pyjamas and doing nothing is the most stupid thing ever. I really like it. I could say: IT’S THE BEST THING EVER. It is, but maybe just for me (I love btw doing this while I’m travelling too).

Sometimes it’s stressing me out when I see these oh so inspiring quotes and pics or when other people think they need to tell me how I should live my life, especially when I just made myself comfortable in my comfort zone (I’m guilty on all counts as well (especially on my Facebook page), but probably it just felt good for me in that very moment, and if you don’t like this, just tell me).

I don’t care at all how other people are living their lives. And if I feel like sleeping for a few hours in my hotel room, right after arriving in a new country, instead of jumping into the unknown, then I will do this. And when I don’t feel like adventures and new worlds and prefer to sit on my sofa in Berlin and watch TV shows, then I will do this. And that’s exactly how it should be. I love my comfort zone. As long as I don’t get bored with it, until my inner voice is shouting and then I have to leave again and see the world and who knows maybe I will even ride a camel again, just to see if I won’t fall off this time. Maybe not.

Camels make me happy. Well, kind of, as long as I don’t have to ride them.

The thing is that, and unfortunately it’s not always easy, and yes, eventually you have to leave your comfort zone for this: you have to find out what makes you happy on your own. Others can inspire you or kick your ass, if you need it. But if the thought of changing everything stresses you out, and you’re happy with your life just like it is… then it’s good like this. And if the thought of leaving everything like it is stresses you out, and you’re unhappy with your life just like it is… then that’s ok too, you can change it. In the end it’s your life.

You have to decide if you want your life to be an adventure, unbridled fun or a comfortable boat ride. And whatever you choose, it’s gonna be fine. Really. You don’t have to feel guilty if you don’t want a 9 to 5 job and you also don’t have to feel guilty if you do want to have such a job. Just because someone else is living another life and tells you that his life is the best ever, you don’t have to do the same. Let them life their lives and you, you should just live your own life.

Just be yourself and be happy. And if you’re not happy with something, change it. Easy as this.

Credit: Blog.H34

Joss Whedon would say:

“Absolutely eat dessert first. The thing that you want to do the most, do that.”

On that note: Cheers to life from my favourite comfort zone. My sofa.