Life in the “comfort” zone sounds like great self-care, doesn’t it? You’ve earned it,
right? Well, it can also be your worst enemy—and it often brings along its friends
complacency and contentment. Collectively, I call them the terrible C’s.
These words are so easily misused and abused as we age because they come
equipped with just add water justifications and excuses.
Your “comfort” zone is a space that can steal your joy, motivation, and focus. It
allows you to easily validate why it’s there and subliminally suggests that your
peace of mind, self-care, even happiness depend on it. Does this sound familiar?
All those validations, while true, often infiltrate and shift your mindset each time
you conform to them. The “comfort” zone is not the place to get comfortable,
complacent, or content.
I hear you saying: but isn’t it good to have comfort and to be content? Yes, it is!
It’s when their friend complacency comes to the party that your positive aging
mindset shifts. And that’s when some tough “self” conversations are needed.
Positive Aging requires you to face and eliminate your terrible C’s. It requires you
to make mindful decisions, not comfortable ones. It requires you to make mindful
choices, not complacent ones. And it requires that you give yourself mindful
options, not contentment-driven ones.
Shifts require “self” conversations. Honesty will be key and self-acceptance will
be necessary. You may come to the conclusion that you love things just the way
they are. However, it’s more likely you’ll unveil some shifts you’d like to make.
Sometimes, simple direction helps. Make a list of what you’d like to be doing and
why you feel you can’t do it. Then, figure out how to get there in your own way
and at your own pace. You can live life to the fullest when get out of your
“comfort” zone and make the terrible C’s work for you, not against you!
Pat Landaker is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of Living La Vida Senior.
She serves on the ASA’s Innovation and Social Impact Council, the CSA’s Certification
Council, the City of Henderson’s Senior Citizens Advisory Commission and she teaches
Positive Aging at UNLV/OLLI. Contact her at positiveaging54@gmail.com.