04/02/2026
Rather than post yet another picture of my cat I searched on Canva under 'warmth'...
These thoughts are from an online circle I held as part of a community run by the amazing .while.
What does the word 'Comfort' mean to you? Warmth, food, softness, being cared for, certain people, safety, security, connection, ritual, stories...
Since we first harnessed fire we have gathered around it, sharing warmth, cooking food, sharing stories. These are fundamental - right place, right food, right people.
The original meaning of the word itself is to strengthen; both as a noun - something your can have, and a verb - something that you practice or offer to others.
Historically comfort was a privilege - to be warm, to have enough food, to have security. In modern times it has become more synonymous with luxury and indulgence.
So how does comfort differ from indulgence? In the way that too much of anything can be unhelpful and weaken instead of strengthening us. Our culture often disapproves of comfort as if it is synonymous with indulgence – don’t get too comfortable! You need to get out of your comfort zone!
As if nothing good can happen while you are comfortable? I call bulls**t. I would say that in order to be able to go outside your comfort zone you need to be inside it to start with, which for many of us (especially if you are neurodiverse) is not the norm.
From a place of comfort we quietly build up our strength, our resources, our connections. Maintaining the scaffolding that supports us as we move through a world that is often too loud, too busy, too bright, too chaotic, too stressful.
If we recognise the importance of comfort rather than treating is as a luxury we have to earn, then we may be able to gradually expand our comfort zone, so that the place we would like to go is no longer so far from the edge.
How often do you step outside of your comfort zone every day? It may seem like nothing to other people – to make a phone call, fill out a form, endure a crowded space. Can you find ways to value these efforts, respecting where you choose discomfort in order to move towards something, and balance the scales by increasing your comfort elsewhere?
