Complacency Kills
Complacency kills. Silently. It often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. It's the feeling of contentment with the status quo, the lack of motivation to improve or change. And while it may seem harmless at first, complacency can have severe consequences in both our personal and professional lives. If you stay complacent long enough in certain environments, it could kill you.
After leaving the military, I spent years chasing comfort, only to realize that my physical and mental health were deteriorating.
I first heard the saying "complacency kills" while I was in the Marine Corps. In the military, especially a combat scenario, complacency can be fatal, as it erodes vigilance and readiness. If we would become too comfortable or overconfident in ourselves, we would start to neglect crucial measures or fail to adapt to evolving threats. Complacency can undermine this essential readiness, significantly increasing the risk of catastrophic outcomes.
Many veterans I know face declines in their physical and mental well-being. We tend to forget this saying, "complacency kills," mostly because we are in a place of comfort now. We have to remember that sometimes we have to create our own adversity, if needed, to ensure we aren't caught by life on the back of our heels. As the saying goes, "choose your hard."
The idea of leaving this world with regrets, unfulfilled dreams, and untapped potential haunted me. It still haunts me to this day. As it should haunt you.
Imagine lying on your deathbed, looking back on your life and realizing that you never took a chance, never pursued your passions, and never dared to dream big. The feeling of disappointment and regret would be overwhelming, knowing that you could have achieved so much more if only you had been willing to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. It can even be said that "hell is the regret of having never stepped out of your comfort zone." I fought my way out of my psychological purgatory. I learned to choose my suffering.
Mediocrity is for cowards, never settle.
Living a life of mediocrity, of settling for less than we are capable of, is a tragedy in itself. It's a disservice to ourselves and to the world around us, as we deprive ourselves and others of the unique gifts that we have to offer. Our potential is like a flame waiting to be ignited, a force waiting to be unleashed - and to let it go to waste would be a tremendous loss. The lack of your best, hurts everything.
I learned early on that by not consistently attempting to get out of my comfort zone, I would miss out on potential opportunities, both personal and professional. When we're complacent, we're less likely to take risks. We become stuck in our ways and resistant to change, which can prevent us from seizing new opportunities ranging from promotions to relationships to weight loss.
What I find interesting and worth noting is that complacency can also have a negative impact on our relationships. When we become complacent in our relationships, we stop putting in the effort to nurture and maintain them. This can lead to feelings of neglect and resentment, and ultimately, the breakdown of the relationship. Complacency can most likely be the root cause of many marital problems.
So, after many years, I have learned that complacency is a choice. I was actively killing myself by not resisting it. We have the power to break free from its grip and take control of our lives.
By staying vigilant and continuously seeking ways to improve and grow, we can avoid the pitfalls of complacency and live a more fulfilling and successful life - being the badass version that we all are capable of being.
My friends, Stay Restless…
CF
