Have you ever felt like you’re in a stage where life finally feels comfortable and a little more settled? You still obviously face problems now and then, but they’re manageable. And then your “used to being busy mind”, suddenly wondering—is this a good thing, or am I just getting lazy?

As a quick recap, I am in my late 30s now. I didn’t come from a wealthy family, and I’ve always had to work hard to reach my goals. And now, it feels like life is finally beginning to settle into a calmer place. Of course, the problems, drama, overwhelm, anxiety, and stress still come and go. But I noticed something, I don’t cry nearly as often as I used to. Consequently, these circumstances started to bother my mind. I began questioning myself and reminding myself to be careful not to get trapped in my comfort zone.

But is the comfort zone really dangerous, or is it simply a survival mechanism built over time that now turns into a continuous loop of self doubt, am I lazy? My mind was trying to connect a few dots:

1. As we grow, both in age and in mental maturity, our body and mind go through experiences that shape us. Over time, we learn how to cope with challenges in our lives, and because of that, we become calmer when facing problems. This sense of calm is then recognized by our brain as comfort. But since we once trained our minds to always stay busy, this new comfort can easily be translated as ‘laziness.’ Does that make sense?
2. Another point is as I grow older and step further into adulthood, many of the goals I once chased so aggressively are finally being ticked off one by one. And as those big, urgent goals become fewer, my life naturally feels less intense than it used to. But my brain, so used to constant hustling, translates this less intense pace as a lack of productivity. It’s almost like it panics when things aren’t chaotic, whispering, ‘Are you doing enough?’ even when I actually am.
3. As for my third point… well, my mind is still wandering. This is one of those subjects my brain keeps mumbling about, so I’ll add more when the next thought comes. Until then, feel free to comment if you relate or if you have your own take on it.

Even though my mind has already come up with several sensible reasons why comfort isn’t always dangerous, it still keeps insisting that it is. Hahaha.But then the defensive side of me jumps in and says, ‘Well… it depends.’ How can you be sure this comfort isn’t actually laziness? My mind answers simply: ‘Look around’. Are you still in the exact same place? If yes, then maybe you’re just being lazy, at least that’s what my mind likes to emphasize.

But if you look around and see progress, even small steps, then this comfort isn’t laziness at all. It’s a blessing, one you’re allowed to enjoy without feeling guilty.

As i am, until the next thought.

A mumbler