OPINION: HAPPINESS VS FULFILLMENT- HOMEBODY EDITION

THIS IS FOR THE HOMEBODIES!!!!

No better feeling than taking off the shoes you’ve worn all day. Pulling the hair band out of your hair and letting it down. Changing into your comfy lounge-wear. Jumping into bed and catching up on your favorite shows or reading a delightful book. What can beat this?????
You can be yourself. It’s calm, comfortable, and so convenient. I mean I do not see why anyone wouldn’t want this life? It’s easy. It’s pleasant. It’s bliss.
But, I’d like to ask, can it also be an idol???? Can it potentially block blessings???
Let’s get real.
Do you go to work, excited to come back home??? Do you go out, specifically to a place you’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable with, and your mind is already set on leaving??? Is home almost always your first resort? GUILTY AS CHARGED LOL

Those are just a few examples, but here is the point I am trying to make. Have we(homebodies) allowed our obsession with comfort, stop us from really experiencing and enjoying life? Have we made comfort so big an idol that we’ve potentially missed opportunities of growth, promotion, or enjoyment???

During college, God really began to speak to my spirit. As I sought Him deeper, He began to change my desires. I remember I used to intentionally try to not to have any gaps in my class schedule, so that I could go straight home in the beginning of my college career. I would go to my classes, then come straight home. I did not have much desire to stay on campus or do anything that would require me to face discomfort. Looking back, maybe I wasn’t ready, or my eyes were still being opened, but I was okay with it………….until I wasn’t okay with it.

Being in the comfort of my home brought me so much happiness. No pressure, judgement or heart-racing, just the stillness of being in my room by myself. I am in control, and everything is predictable. Never cared to be around large groups of people or reside in unfamiliar settings, so of course I’d run back to my safe haven. I’d get home, put on my shows, and life was good. The only problem is my spirit was not cosigning with my feelings.

I really remember leaving campus one day, convicted. As I was walking to the bus stop, something in me was unsatisfied or unfulfilled. I could physically and spiritually feel that my inner desire was not to just go home, but to search for MORE. When I tell you, I almost cried, that is how deep the conviction was. My desire was to approach my college experience differently, to explore more, to really make the most of my situation.

Was I perfect? Far from it. But I am grateful for some of the strides I made.

I went to a few meetings on campus concerning writing interests/opportunities. I ended up writing a few opinion articles for the school newspaper, which proved to be fun and eye-opening. I eventually allowed for longer gaps in my schedule in order to stay on campus longer. God blessed me with like-minded individuals who I was able to eat/hang out with on/off campus. I ate out alone(BIG DEAL FOR ME) at different food places. I remember walking into a crowd for our school showcase of different organizations, and I was very anxious because of the amount of students, but still made sure to walk through and discover what was on campus. I explored the area around my university more, and overall changed my outlook.
Could I have done more? ABSOLUTELY.
But these seemingly small efforts that forced me to get out of my comfort zone, proved to be more FULFILLING for me. I was glad I did it. Nothing easy will ever bring fulfillment. Fulfillment only comes when you make the choice to not always choose comfort or familiarity. If I had continued to go straight home and not try to make something of my college experience, I would have been left feeling much more unfulfilled.

You see, happiness is short term. It feels good, and it can be controlled by you. It’s pleasurable and safe. Being home all of the time is the perfect example of that. However, fulfillment, is long-term, worthwhile, and rewarding. Fulfillment will require risk, difficulty, discomfort, adversity, etc, (things we tend to run away from) but it is the true path of a successful life. I can’t think of anything risky or difficult I’ve done, that I don’t feel super proud I did. Challenges make you stronger, wiser, and better than before. Living an easy, comfortable life does absolutely nothing for you.

This message is still for me. I am still trying to find ways to get out of the four walls I’ve grown so attached to. I’m still trying to find comfort in places I consider uncomfortable. I’m still trying to think and look at life differently. I may not be where I want to be, but I’m just happy I’ve made it here. Some suggestions for home-bodies like myself: discover new food or juice spots by yourself or with someone, find a new hobby or activity to partake in, be open to meeting new people anywhere, join a group, create your own masterpieces, and just widen your lens.

This does not just apply to making home an idol. Think of some areas you maybe have allowed comfort to rob you of opportunities with your career, relationships, ambitions, personal goals, etc. What could you do differently in the future???? Don’t be afraid to make some changes, big or small. Just don’t settle with a life you know you’re unfulfilled with.

Just to be clear, I will always be a home-body at heart: nothing is changing that. There is still no place like home. Nothing is wrong with preferring to be home or enjoying the comfort of your home, in fact, it is totally necessary to find contentment at home. What I won’t do anymore is make my home an idol. I will be open to trying new things and not choosing comfort every-time. Home ain’t going nowhere, it will be waiting for me when I get back!
Increase your capacity, friends! We live in a big world and serve a BIG GOD. There is so much for us beyond the four walls we’ve clung so hard to. CHOOSE FULFILLMENT. ❤