“The release [from sin and evil] does not come by a sudden miracle, it comes by a process of purification and these things are a part of the process. They are like the dust that rises in the clouds when a room long uncleaned is at last swept. Though the dust seems to choke you, yet persevere, mā śucah.” — Sri Aurobindo
You’re in your twenties or thirties. Life feels stuck. You know you want more, but something holds you back.
That something is fear. Fear disguised as comfort.
Think about how children resist growing up. They cry when parents suggest independence. But years later, they love their freedom. We’re the same way with our own lives.
Career growth looks scary. Learning new skills seems hard. Taking additional responsibility sounds frightening. Spirituality sounds like giving up fun. Personal growth looks like hard work. We imagine losing everything we enjoy—Instagram, movies, and food.
So we stay put. We choose unhappiness over uncertainty, the status quo over growth.
But what if growth isn’t loss, but gaining something better?
Your comfort zone is a small room. Staying inside means collecting dust. Stepping out means cleaning that room. Yes, dust will fly. Yes, it will feel uncomfortable. Growth is messy; your old habits will keep resurfacing, as will new challenges.
But on the other side? A clearer, brighter space. A better version of yourself.
Mā śucah, the Gita teaches us: don’t fear, don’t hesitate, don’t worry. Take one small step. Then another. Persist through the initial mess. One day, what seems impossible now won’t just become normal, but also deeply satisfying.
Your future self is waiting. And it’s proud of the courage you’re building right now.