Are you Comfortably Miserable? Three Action Steps to Get You Going!

We all know people that are very resistant to change. For some, everyday is like the movie “Groudhog Day”, it’s the same day that just keeps repeating itself.

Don’t get me wrong, having some routine can definately serve you, but when that “routine” gets in the way of your happiness….it’s time to change.

A few years ago I received a desperate phone call from a former boss.  She told me that her staff were at an all time low in morale and productivitity, and she didn’t know what to do.  She thought that I could help.

A week later I found myself in a room with all her staff, about 30 in total.  Many of the staff had worked there for a least 10 years and I had worked with most of them when I had worked there.

After listening to them complain for the better part of an hour (they were experts in complaining), I started to address some of the concerns and offer some alternative solutions.

That’s when one person, that I knew quite well, stood up and said: “Who do you think you are coming in here and trying to change things?”

Interesting.

They just complained about how miserable everything was, but they were not open to changing anything.

The complaints they had were the same that I had heard 5 years ago! You can likely guess the “warm” reception I received when I asked them, what they had done to change the situation, and if they thought that they might have played a part in the problems.

That’s when I came up with the term “Comfortable Misery”, you are miserable, but comfortable, so don’t try and change me!

If you, are someone you know suffers from “Comfortable Misery”, here are 3 things to do to get you going in the direction of happiness:

1) Challenge Your Beliefs - Beliefs are simply thoughts that we keep thinking.  Do your beliefs serve you?  Some of the beliefs I have heard from people living with “Comortable Misery” are:

• Work is not to be enjoyed
• Bosses are all (fill in the blanks)
• I will never get ahead
• People are selfish

Take 2 minutes and list as many of the beliefs that you have that don’t serve you.

For each one find at least 3 examples to challenge that belief.

2) Spend time with different people - If you hang out with the “Everything is Awful” crowd, get away from them as fast as you can!  The negative energy is contagious.

There is a saying that you are the average for the five people you spend the most time with, choose wisely who you spend time with.

Volunteer with a local charity, join a book club, a running group, there are positive people everyhere, you just have to find them.

3) Take Time Daily to Thank - A great way to “shift” your energy is to take 5 minutes every morning to list all the things in your life that you are grateful for.  Things like health, shelter, food, family, friends, employment…….and spend the day looking for all that is right with the world.

If you commit to these 3 simple steps you can say good bye to “comfortable misery” forever!