Thank you so much, Nelly! 💕🤗 My commitment to comfort this year has been so profoundly transformative. I think I might've said this already in my post, but I'd thought going into this that it would be a time of restoration (which is totally valuable in its own right), but I hadn't realized how much expansion and integration, and returning to wholeness, was going to come with it. It's been amazing! Thanks again for reading and commenting! I'd love to know how your journey of comfort goes!
Love this exploration. I liken "comfort" to taking care of the animal body. Would we ever judge a cat's need for a warm blanket or lap? Or a child, her desire to be hugged? I, too, had been overly critical of my more "earthly needs" because of early spiritual/self-improvement/self-actualization conditioning. Comfort was bad and not part of the road to enlightenment. Good riddance! Now, whatever road I'm on and wherever it's going, I'm taking my body with me. (And in truth, I don't think any spiritual "revelation" is complete without her.)
This is SO good I am speechless! Mind officially blown.
I appreciate you calling me out on this Jenna. (I know you didn't really call me out but my inner views have been questioned in the best possible way, I love it when that happens❤).
I deeply value the concept of an individual living to their greatest potential but I also understand this threshold varies from day to day, season to season. and individual to individual.
However, your essay made me see that I have maintained a narrow perspective about 'comfort zone'. Sure, if I were in conversation with someone I would be able to see that we all come at it from different places and articulate that idea but I think my over-riding mindset would be stuck in the need to step OUT of our C-zone to reach our greatest potential. Your article made me look at myself and say, "what the heck is up with that?!" (To that I say job well done as a writer!)
Does expansion really require discomfort? Of course not. Will we feel better if we approach our days from a place of feeling good, whatever that is? Highly likely. Does this include pushing into discomfort? Not always.
I am pivoting my opinion on this! I have so much more to chat about, but a ton of other work to do, so will touch base later! Thanks for this.
Oh Donna, you just made my day and it's only 9am! ♥️🤗♥️🤗 I am so grateful and honored that you read my work. I can't wait to discuss all these things in greater depth. I really love being alive in a time when we can share these ideas and talk about these things, holding one another in deep respect. So glad to connect with you!
I relate to this post so much, thank you so much for calling out all the ‘comfort-criticism’ that exists out there. Why on earth should a desire for comfort be somehow equated with a lack of drive? It is precisely the opposite! I’ve just taken the enormous decision to leave my 25 year long day job and just....be for a while. I fully intend to make 2023/2024 be about me, my comfort and what’s important to me. I refuse to feel guilty about that. Thank you so much for this early morning pick me up as I drink my tea.
Hi Rachel! Congratulations on your decision to just BE! 🥳 I really love that. I especially love that it was your choice to do so. That's the most empowered thing I can think of and definitely don't ever feel guilty about that. I love that we're on this journey of comfort together. ♥️♥️ Thank you so much for reaching out!
This is so beautiful, Jenna. I love how clearly your guides speak to you. I've felt similarly as you do about comfort around slow living. When I first started embracing that lifestyle as my own, a few people close to me said, "isn't that just an excuse for being lazy and not trying?" It really hurt me that they felt that way, and then I realized that maybe it's because they can't give themselves permission to rest. I'm not sure, but it sounds to me like comfort has gotten you farther than you've been before. I can't wait to follow along this Substack (you came up on my suggestions section)!
Yay! I'm SO glad you're here, Hunter! 🤗🤗🤗 You're exactly right that focusing on comfort has gotten me much further than I've been before. I've really realized that seeking comfort does not make me lazy, it makes me strong. I'm sorry you had people judge you for your decision to focus on slow living. That's so painful. What I'm learning is that those of us who choose comfort/slow living fundamentally trust ourselves. I think that's the big difference. I'm so happy to be walking this substack world with you! 💖
I love the honesty of this post Jenna. It’s so true that our guides are often the ones that point us in the right direction even when we’re not sure. It’s normal to question it all, it’s normal for it to feel difficult and for everything we thought we valued to fall away. I really appreciate the idea of comfort as sometimes on the path that and to feel safe is exactly what you need. 💫🙏
Jenna, wow, what a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you for taking me on a journey with comfort. It is an interesting idea to explore, to have our feet rooted in our comfort zone before venturing further out. It makes me think about all the self-expliratiin I've done in the last few years and how I needed that safe foundation before I could start slowly stretching myself in the direction I want to go. Funny how life gives us the experiences we need, right? Feeling excited for your year of comfort. What a necessary part of the journey to our wildest dreams. ❤️❤️❤️
This is so great!! I deeply relate to desiring a breather from the growth that comes through chaos and tension. I am ready to grow WITH resourced responsibility and harmonious synchronicities. Is that too much to ask??! In my journey I have found that the gentle rhythm of growth I seek IS a real pathway, and requires a devotion to actually INTEGRATING with all that I am learning. For that integration I do NEED comfort. All animals here on this Earth cultivate comfort in their landscape. They create safe spaces and sanctuary spots and stash resources to ensure their needs are being met. And NATURE provides all that they need to do this! What a concept! Haha. Im all for your devotion comfort. Sign me up!
I LOVE that all animals cultivate comfort! I hadn't seen it in that way before, but of course they do. How funny that I'm always having to figure out what I actually already innately knew. The human super power of running in circles! Lol! And triple YES to your path of integration. That's what I'm talking about! 💖💖💖
Ohmygosh, yes! You and I seem to be on exactly the same wavelength. I have often thought that the archetypal spiritual pattern is what I've been calling "sweet remembrance".
I love that you've added sweet to it! As truly attuning and intense as restoring our primal Wholeness is, there is also a sweet relief in realizing our Human Nature.
Thank you. I will never think of “comfort zones” in the same way after reading this, what a beautifully fresh thought
Thank you so much, Nelly! 💕🤗 My commitment to comfort this year has been so profoundly transformative. I think I might've said this already in my post, but I'd thought going into this that it would be a time of restoration (which is totally valuable in its own right), but I hadn't realized how much expansion and integration, and returning to wholeness, was going to come with it. It's been amazing! Thanks again for reading and commenting! I'd love to know how your journey of comfort goes!
Love this exploration. I liken "comfort" to taking care of the animal body. Would we ever judge a cat's need for a warm blanket or lap? Or a child, her desire to be hugged? I, too, had been overly critical of my more "earthly needs" because of early spiritual/self-improvement/self-actualization conditioning. Comfort was bad and not part of the road to enlightenment. Good riddance! Now, whatever road I'm on and wherever it's going, I'm taking my body with me. (And in truth, I don't think any spiritual "revelation" is complete without her.)
Yes, Kimberly! Exactly this! I'm taking my body on every path from now on too. ♥️♥️♥️♥️
This is SO good I am speechless! Mind officially blown.
I appreciate you calling me out on this Jenna. (I know you didn't really call me out but my inner views have been questioned in the best possible way, I love it when that happens❤).
I deeply value the concept of an individual living to their greatest potential but I also understand this threshold varies from day to day, season to season. and individual to individual.
However, your essay made me see that I have maintained a narrow perspective about 'comfort zone'. Sure, if I were in conversation with someone I would be able to see that we all come at it from different places and articulate that idea but I think my over-riding mindset would be stuck in the need to step OUT of our C-zone to reach our greatest potential. Your article made me look at myself and say, "what the heck is up with that?!" (To that I say job well done as a writer!)
Does expansion really require discomfort? Of course not. Will we feel better if we approach our days from a place of feeling good, whatever that is? Highly likely. Does this include pushing into discomfort? Not always.
I am pivoting my opinion on this! I have so much more to chat about, but a ton of other work to do, so will touch base later! Thanks for this.
Oh Donna, you just made my day and it's only 9am! ♥️🤗♥️🤗 I am so grateful and honored that you read my work. I can't wait to discuss all these things in greater depth. I really love being alive in a time when we can share these ideas and talk about these things, holding one another in deep respect. So glad to connect with you!
I relate to this post so much, thank you so much for calling out all the ‘comfort-criticism’ that exists out there. Why on earth should a desire for comfort be somehow equated with a lack of drive? It is precisely the opposite! I’ve just taken the enormous decision to leave my 25 year long day job and just....be for a while. I fully intend to make 2023/2024 be about me, my comfort and what’s important to me. I refuse to feel guilty about that. Thank you so much for this early morning pick me up as I drink my tea.
Hi Rachel! Congratulations on your decision to just BE! 🥳 I really love that. I especially love that it was your choice to do so. That's the most empowered thing I can think of and definitely don't ever feel guilty about that. I love that we're on this journey of comfort together. ♥️♥️ Thank you so much for reaching out!
This is so beautiful, Jenna. I love how clearly your guides speak to you. I've felt similarly as you do about comfort around slow living. When I first started embracing that lifestyle as my own, a few people close to me said, "isn't that just an excuse for being lazy and not trying?" It really hurt me that they felt that way, and then I realized that maybe it's because they can't give themselves permission to rest. I'm not sure, but it sounds to me like comfort has gotten you farther than you've been before. I can't wait to follow along this Substack (you came up on my suggestions section)!
Yay! I'm SO glad you're here, Hunter! 🤗🤗🤗 You're exactly right that focusing on comfort has gotten me much further than I've been before. I've really realized that seeking comfort does not make me lazy, it makes me strong. I'm sorry you had people judge you for your decision to focus on slow living. That's so painful. What I'm learning is that those of us who choose comfort/slow living fundamentally trust ourselves. I think that's the big difference. I'm so happy to be walking this substack world with you! 💖
I think a Hobbit would make a good archetypal representation of comfort.
I love the honesty of this post Jenna. It’s so true that our guides are often the ones that point us in the right direction even when we’re not sure. It’s normal to question it all, it’s normal for it to feel difficult and for everything we thought we valued to fall away. I really appreciate the idea of comfort as sometimes on the path that and to feel safe is exactly what you need. 💫🙏
Thank you so much, Louise! 💖💖💖 And thank goodness for our guides, right? I'd be lost without them!
Me too Jenna! ❤️
Jenna, wow, what a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you for taking me on a journey with comfort. It is an interesting idea to explore, to have our feet rooted in our comfort zone before venturing further out. It makes me think about all the self-expliratiin I've done in the last few years and how I needed that safe foundation before I could start slowly stretching myself in the direction I want to go. Funny how life gives us the experiences we need, right? Feeling excited for your year of comfort. What a necessary part of the journey to our wildest dreams. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Silvia! 🤗 I love your reminder that life gives us the experiences we need. Now THAT feels like comfort to me. ♥️♥️♥️
This is so great!! I deeply relate to desiring a breather from the growth that comes through chaos and tension. I am ready to grow WITH resourced responsibility and harmonious synchronicities. Is that too much to ask??! In my journey I have found that the gentle rhythm of growth I seek IS a real pathway, and requires a devotion to actually INTEGRATING with all that I am learning. For that integration I do NEED comfort. All animals here on this Earth cultivate comfort in their landscape. They create safe spaces and sanctuary spots and stash resources to ensure their needs are being met. And NATURE provides all that they need to do this! What a concept! Haha. Im all for your devotion comfort. Sign me up!
I LOVE that all animals cultivate comfort! I hadn't seen it in that way before, but of course they do. How funny that I'm always having to figure out what I actually already innately knew. The human super power of running in circles! Lol! And triple YES to your path of integration. That's what I'm talking about! 💖💖💖
It seems this moment in our collective human journey is one of remembering!!!
Ohmygosh, yes! You and I seem to be on exactly the same wavelength. I have often thought that the archetypal spiritual pattern is what I've been calling "sweet remembrance".
I love that you've added sweet to it! As truly attuning and intense as restoring our primal Wholeness is, there is also a sweet relief in realizing our Human Nature.
Thank you so much, Luisa! 💖💖💖