I used to think I was always moving forward.
In many ways, I still am.
I’ve moved countries, switched paths, tried new things, shared openly, failed publicly.
I practice kriyas every day. I write. I film. I learn. I build. I create. I stretch.
So yes—technically, I’m growing.
But if I’m being honest… lately, something feels off.
Like I’m moving—but maybe not far.
Like I’m busy—but not bold.
Like I’m pretending I’m on the edge—while actually keeping it safe and manageable.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth I’ve had to sit with:
I’ve built a new comfort zone. And it wears a very convincing mask. It looks like growth.
Growth, But Make It Predictable
I used to fear being seen. Now I vlog.
I used to feel self-conscious in FPV. Now I post my crashes and mistakes with pride.
I used to keep ideas in my head. Now I blog every day.
But you know what else I do?
I stay in the patterns that I’m already good at.
I keep doing the things I know I can handle.
I say I want to improve storytelling… but I still shy away from the vulnerable parts.
I say I want to launch digital products… but I hesitate to say “Hey, would you like to buy this?”
I call these things “works in progress.”
But if I look closely… they’re actually comfort zones I’ve redecorated with the label “coming soon.”
That’s not growth. That’s maintenance.
Discipline Can Be a Hiding Place Too
I’ve learned that even discipline can become a shelter.
Waking up early. Meditating. Writing. Practicing.
It’s all good. It grounds me. It helps me.
But it also gives me a sense of progress.
Even when I’m avoiding the real work:
- Speaking more boldly
- Asking for support
- Pitching
- Creating for connection, not just output
- Taking creative risks where failure feels possible, not just visible
I’ve gotten really good at sharing the “figured-out” parts.
But what about the raw, in-between moments where I’m still messy, unsure, or afraid?
That’s the actual edge.
That’s where the next version of me is waiting.
It’s Not Just Me. It’s Science.
I learned later that this isn’t just a feeling—it’s how our brains work.
We automate. We seek efficiency. Once something becomes familiar, it becomes safe—even if it looks like growth from the outside.
Psychologists call this the comfort zone model.
Beyond that zone is the stretch zone—the space where growth happens. But it’s also where resistance shows up.
Even more interesting? Neuroscience shows that the brain rewards us for being productive, not necessarily for being honest with ourselves. It likes repetition, familiarity, and energy conservation.
So we build routines, we master tasks, we stay busy—and we call it growth.
Because on paper, it looks like progress.
But deep down, we know: it’s getting too easy.
Yeah, I’ve set up camp there more than once—called it “progress,” hung up curtains, made it feel like home.
But I knew. I wasn’t stretching anymore. Just circling.
The Question I’m Sitting With
So here it is—no bow, no final insight, just what I’m sitting with lately:
What have I been calling growth… that’s really just safety in disguise?
That question has been echoing in my head all week.
It doesn’t feel like guilt. It feels like a mirror.
A reminder that comfort zones aren’t bad.
But staying in them while calling it expansion? That’s a kind of self-abandonment.
I’m not writing this because I’ve figured it out.
I’m writing it because I haven’t.
Because this—this post right here—is me stepping out.
Let Me Ask You Too
If you’re still here, reading this far: thank you.
Can I ask you something?
What’s the comfort zone you’ve been hiding in, even if it looks like growth from the outside?
You don’t have to answer out loud. But if you do—I’d love to hear it.
This isn’t a motivational post. It’s a wake-up tap on the shoulder.
For me. For you. For anyone doing the work but maybe dodging the real edge.
Let’s not get so good at evolving that we forget how to change.
Not just improve—transform.
Even if it’s uncomfortable.
Especially if it is.
Experiences - Life - Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵 
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