COMPLACENT

Complacent (adjective) pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: (dictionary.com)

Are you growing or are you trapped?

Complacency hinders growth. So many times, we fall into the trap of complacency. We fail in one area and then call ourselves a failure and decide not to try again. Then, we attempt to glorify another area to dismiss the area of failure. We become satisfied with where we are.

The Problem with Complacency

The problem with complacency is that it forms patterns that causes us to miss out on greater opportunities that life can afford us. Complacency feels comfortable. It doesn’t have many demands or expectations. For example, denial of our dream job can stop the drive to keep searching. A health challenge can paralyze us from believing it has an expiration date. Being told no over and over can cause us to stop believing for a “yes”. Experiences can cause us all to experience a downward spiral. Once we drop to the bottom, we dare not climb back up to the top.

But… What if that destructive pattern could stop today? What if we could change the course of our destiny by just committing to do something differently, even if it’s one thing? What if? Seriously, what if?

Complacency Produces Patterns

Complacency can produce negative patterns in our lives. So many times we become complacent with the patterns in our lives that we dare not think that things can be better. We feel stuck. It is as though our life becomes a routine. One season there is happiness and then the next is depression and loneliness. Life seems to hand us the same script but with different characters. It has the same theme, like betrayal, rejection, fear, even comparisons. We must choose whether or not we stay at this level or soar to the next level.

If you want to get to the next level, you must contend to always look for ways to grow. Just like a plant, it weathers every season and still grows and bares fruit. You can also produce fruit no matter the season if you challenge yourself to combat complacency.

Here are some steps into consideration to avoid complacency.

1. Start every day from scratch. Sustainable excellence is about getting better every day.

2. Surround yourself with people who will tell you like it is.

3. Focus on process instead of outcome.

4. Continuously learn and adapt.

5. Build in time to Recharge

A New Day

Today, is the day, to welcome something new, something positive, something refreshing. Say goodbye to complacency and hello to going after the impossible. Your life doesn’t have to be defined by your failures but the lessons that you learned along the way.