You’ve probably heard the term “be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it.”

Frankly, it’s been overused. Overdone. If it were a turkey in the oven, it’d be dry as sand by now. 

So let’s change it up a bit. How about: “you get what you want most.” 

We all have comfort zones, and sometimes what we want most is to stay inside them.

But when we do that…is comfort really what we’re getting?

What is it we’re really wanting, here?

You get what you want. 

In his book “Hosting the Presence,” Bill Johnson uses the phrase “we always have what we earnestly want.” 

Woah. Pause.

Isn’t that so true?

Obviously it’s true in a motivational sense. Most people go after what they want—promotions, Dodger’s tickets, LEGO sets (I’m projecting, there)… if you want it, you try and get it, and if you work hard you’ll likely to succeed.

But that got me thinking…What about all the bad stuff?

What bad things am I clinging to because I secretly want them? Certain anxieties, bad habits, habitual patterns with a certain downwards spiral… Am I holding onto those, somehow?

I know, I know. “Why would you want bad things, Lucy?” you ask. “You don’t like bad things!”

You’re right! I don’t want bad things! Then again, maybe I do without realizing it.

I’ve wanted to catch a cold, just so I could stay home and get some sleep. I’ve wanted to be diagnosed with something—anything—to justify how exhausted I felt all the time. When I was about ten, I wanted to have glasses so that I could look smarter (I’m blind now, so I guess that partially worked out).

Not all wants are bad, by any means. But sometimes they are. Sometimes, they trick us.

Your comfort zone is lying to you.

Sometimes, the bad things masquerade as not-so-bad. They’re sneaky like that.

Take my anxiety, for example. He’s the sneakiest of the bunch.

He says things like:

“You can’t go hang out with those people! There are too many variables! What if you don’t know where to park? What if you get tired after ten minutes and want to leave—that’ll be so bad! They’ll never want to hang out with you again! You’re an introvert—better for you stay home and watch TV alone. Relax. Recharge… Being at home is your comfort zone.”

Do you see the problem?

That’s not a comfort zone at all! That’s a prison! That’s being trapped in one of those giant, inflatable hamster balls and getting stranded in the middle of the swimming pool!

How on earth can a “comfort zone” be fear-based? That doesn’t make any sense.

You should be able to rest in your comfort zone. You can’t rest in fear and stress.

Mindset matters.

Ironically, our brains have a lot more power than we think.

I’m aware that some people find the term “mindset matters” pretty annoying. I used to agree with them.

But it’s like how people are always saying that if you don’t feel great, you should drink more water and get more exercise.

It sucks, but it’s true…and the more you do it, the less it will suck.

Believe it or not, you’re in control of your attitude. It might not always seem that way, and some days it’s so insanely hard, but you can choose what mindset to walk in.

I have to constantly remind myself in the mornings that if I focus on how tired I am, I’m never going to wake up.

It’s hard. Trust me, I know.

But I believe in you. You deserve to want good things.

You’re allowed to want something better than anxiety, depression, and pain.

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