Living beyond comfort’s edge

There’s a YouTube channel titled Yes Theory that has a beautiful and compelling tagline: “We believe life’s greatest moments and deepest connections exist outside of your comfort zone.”

If you reflect on some of the most meaningful moments of your life, I think you’ll probably find this to be true in many cases.

Nevertheless, the pursuit of comfort is the default for many — that is to say we tend to gravitate toward things that are familiar, seemingly doable, and overall quite safe.

If you have a bias towards comfort like many people and there’s truth to the idea that some of life’s best moments exist outside of your comfort zone, then the only way to come into contact with some of life’s most meaningful moments is to do something distinctly counterintuitive: you have to pursue things that are novel and challenging in some way.

This also means that comfort isn’t always a good thing — if anything, it can hold you back.

The next time you flinch at the prospect of doing something outside of your comfort zone, try leaning in instead of stepping back.

To only spend your time and energy within your comfort zone is to permanently turn your back on a vast array of experiences, meaning, and growth opportunities that life can offer.