AWAKENING FROM COMFORT w/Paul Rogers

Release The Genie Fact: The only thing written on the Genie’s passport is. ‘It’s me.’

Comfort zones are alluring. They provide a sense of safety, predictability, and ease. It’s where routines are established, where we feel in control, and where risks are minimal. Yet, while comfort zones may offer temporary peace, they can quietly confine us, limiting our potential for growth and fulfillment.

At first glance, a comfortable life seems ideal. It promises security and shields us from failure. But beneath that surface lies an often-overlooked truth: prolonged comfort can lead to stagnation. When we settle for what’s easy, we stop challenging ourselves. Creativity diminishes, ambitions fade, and life becomes a series of repetitive days.

We view the world through the lens of our respective comfort zones. Sounds perfect except there is an obvious problem: the sea of life is anything but predictable. We are all one telephone call, missed payment, choice and/or heartbreak away from chaos. In this flash zone of turmoil is where we live our lives. Have you heard of “Life happens when we are busy making plans” or “No plan survives first contact with the enemy”?

Awakening from comfort is not about abandoning the joys of stability but about recognizing when comfort becomes a cage. Awakening is realising that somewhere along the line, you fell asleep at the wheel of life. What follows is a realisation that something in our lives has to change.

Those are the times when you experience the most excitement and growth. Chances are, those moments weren’t when everything was easy. It could be the first time when you finally stepped out of your safe zone and plucked up enough courage to ask out that person who is now your life partner.

Comfort zones may feel safe, but they rarely nurture our full potential; they lead us to deny ourselves the opportunity to discover new passions, talents, and dimensions of who we are. Growth is often uncomfortable, but that discomfort is a sign that we’re expanding into a better version of ourselves.

I will share with you a real life example. I have recently started running, having been inspired by our fearless editor in chief Allié McGuire. Listening to Allie’s journey, she was truthful in that it is difficult and comes at a price.  This has particular relevance as I have been through a very bad patch of health. I realised that I had spent a lot of time building a comfort zone that was purposely fortified against additional pain and risk. By starting something new I stepped out of my own shadow. And I can now run 10k.

Every new beginning whether, it’s starting a new job, moving to a new city, or opening our heart to love carries uncertainty. But within that uncertainty lies a more meaningful life. When we allow ourselves to face the unfamiliar, we open ourselves to new experiences that shape us in ways comfort never could.

When faced with a choice between staying safe or stepping into the unknown, choose curiosity. Curiosity fuels exploration and keeps us open to possibilities we can’t yet see.

​Awakening from comfort looks different for everyone. It doesn’t always mean making drastic changes overnight. Small, intentional steps outside your comfort zone build momentum. Each small risk taken strengthens your courage.
The people around us shape our reality. Seek out individuals who challenge you, inspire you, and encourage you to grow. Their perspectives and experiences will expand your own, making it easier to push past your own doubts and perceived limits. Growth is not linear, and it’s rarely perfect. Celebrate the courage it takes to try, even when things don’t go as planned. Every step outside your comfort zone is a victory worth acknowledging.

Life’s most beautiful experiences - deep love, creative breakthroughs, and personal triumphs - rarely happen within the confines of comfort. They emerge when we dare to embrace the unknown. By choosing growth over ease, we invite a richer, more vibrant life filled with purpose and possibility.

You were made for more and it’s time to awaken to all that’s possible.

To me, awakening is about about realizing that the best things in life such as meaningful relationships, profound experiences, and personal breakthroughs often lie just beyond the borders of what feels easy.

A final word of encouragement; take heart and have HOPE (Hold On Pain Ends). We will then meet the real you: awake, bold and fully alive. ∎