Your best life will cost you your comfortable life

When I first started out as a solo entrepreneur 9 years ago I spoke openly and enthusiastically about how much I loved my life; setting my own schedule, working for the Woman (being my own boss), taking time off when I wanted, helping people heal, fulfilling my purpose and doing what I loved, all in an attempt to inspire others to follow their own pursuit of happiness.  But, I noticed a different response than I had anticipated.  I was frequently met with, “Must be nice!” like I had won my new lifestyle on a game show, or something.  The first time I got this response I was utterly confused, and a little offended.

 
“Must be nice?!”  No, it’s actually been quite difficult and cost me a great deal.  The three years prior to launching out on my own, I worked 2 jobs and was in Massage Therapy school.  I woke up at 3:45 in the morning to get across town to open the fitness center where I worked as a personal trainer.  Around noon I changed from one uniform into another and went to my second job at a health food grocery store.  While there, I wanted to wear a sign that said, “I’m working here while I pursue my dream!” because I learned quickly that our society treats you like an imbecile if you wear a uniform and a name tag.  I’d then run off to class until 10pm most days and crash into bed to do it all over again a few short hours later.  I worked 7 days a week for over a year and a half, all while managing a very challenging neuro-immune health condition.

 
Pervasive in our culture is the notion that we want to live a full life, to realize our dreams and completely max out our potential…as long as it’s comfortable.  But, here’s the deal, living your best life will cost you your comfortable life.  And the truth is our comfortable life is more ill-fitting than the sacrifice it requires to break through the threshold into something more.  This is where most of us get stuck.

 
Staying in your comfort zone is more uncomfortable than venturing out to experience the fullness of your life.  I’ll whole-heartedly agree that breaking through the threshold into something more is very challenging.  But, it doesn’t stay that way forever.  To get where you want to go, you have to leave the comfort of where you are.

 
So, what’s holding you back from making the choice to move toward your dream?

 
What will it cost you?  And, why is it worth it?