Seeking Better when Things are Good

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards

Comfort is the enemy of progress

I know it’s a mess, but at least I know this mess

I love these sayings and have used all of them. These statements are on opposite ends of the “progressing forward” spectrum. At times things are working and you just leave it alone, at other times things are working but you have to pursue something more.

I was on the call with my health coach, and she asked if I had any new goals. I dislike this question, because it seems like I’m not already doing enough. I’ve had a health coach for three years, and for the most part, I’m in a really good routine. Could I do more? Of course, I did have a chocolate bar on Sunday night, when I could have chosen a bowl of strawberries instead- there’s always something more. But am I in a good place? Yes. Now I just need to sustain these healthy habits. If I sustained these habits for the rest of my life I’d be happy… we’ll see how that plays out :).

Sometimes though maintenance isn’t sufficient and we need to move forward, we need to try something new, we need to move on to the next thing. “Here” isn’t bad or wrong, but we’ve grown stagnant and it’s time to get on to something new. I love my former workplace. It was great, comfortable, we had an amazing team, I was known, trusted and it was meaningful work. I spent 17 years there, and could have stayed there for the remainder of my career and felt great about it. BUT… though it was good, really good, it was time to move forward and move on. It wasn’t a statement about where I was, it was a statement about where I wanted to go. Nothing was broken, but I was comfortable and I needed to mix it up a little.

I’m three months into a new position, and I am being stretched, challenged and digging into a new industry, workplace, work environment, and team. I’m not comfortable yet, I’m still asking questions and learning. In the middle of the newness and challenge it fits perfectly. I loved where I was, but moving to the new, getting out of my comfort zone has been rewarding and charges me. Last week I told somebody, I am physically tired but I’m full of energy because of the work I get to do.

Sometimes if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… but there are times where it ain’t broke and it’s time to set it aside and find something new. What new thing do you need to pursue? What great thing are you being drawn into?