Fear and Comfort

Two very bad reasons not to act.

The two main causes of our inaction.

So much so that now, when I feel I'm about to give up on a project, big or small, I ask myself: "Am I giving up out of fear?" If I realize fear is the only (or the main) reason, I push myself. Or at least, I try to examine that fear, to bring it into the light so it doesn't steer my choices from the shadows.

If it isn't fear, I ask myself: "Am I giving up out of comfort?" Is the warmth of my cozy nest keeping me from setting off on an adventure? The nest in question isn't necessarily material: it can be comfortable thinking, attachment to habits, too much satisfaction with what I already have. Same thing there: I try to shake myself up or, at least, to be aware of it. You fall into fewer holes once you've spotted them.

Fear turns us away from the new. Comfort ties us to the status quo.

Don't get me wrong: there are a thousand good reasons not to take the plunge. Sometimes, real courage means not acting. But if those reasons come down to fear or comfort, it may be worth looking further.