Accountability and a Comfortable Life

By Sean Ogle •  Updated: 06/22/09 •  3 min read

Has your life become too comfortable?It is so easy to get sucked into the daily routine of life, waiting for that yearly raise (which won’t come for many this year), saving up for your two weeks of vacation, and watching TV on the couch most nights of the week.Millions of people live this life, and for millions, it is exactly where they want to be.

However, I want something more, and I bet you do too.

The hardest part about a comfortable life is that it is so difficult to break out of.I mean, who doesn’t like being comfortable?There is very little that is unknown, and thus very little fear or risk.And that terrifies me more than anything.I have a great job.For many, it would be the perfect job.It isn’t that I don’t like what I do, rather it is a concern that I will look back on my life in 10 years and regret not taking more risks and having more adventures.

I constantly find myself telling stories of my travels.They are some of the best memories I have in life, and to be honest, I am not making many unforgettable memories at my current job.However, I have a comfortable life.And turning that upside down is one of the most difficult things I have ever encountered.Some handle the change better than others.Take Colin, atExile Lifestylefor instance.He is in the process of selling ALL of his stuff so that he can move to Argentina at the end of the year.At the moment I can’t handle the thought of selling all of my stuff; it is my fall back.As long as I have a bed, a TV, a guitar etc. I will always feel safe.

That’s just it though, if you want to gain anything in life you have to take risks.You have to feel vulnerable, and make sacrifices.In orderto really break out of your comfortable life you have to take a series of small steps.As an example, this blog is my first step in taking control of my life.I have identified some goals (more adventures, travel to new places, create a business to support myself), and am using the site to hold myself accountable.

Accountability can be one of your most beneficial assets when you are making significant life changes.Whether it is a family member, significant other, close friend, or even an online community,

If there is someone to hold you accountable for the things you talk about doing, you are much more likely to follow through.

I want to be traveling next year.I want to break out of my comfortable life.I want to take this site to the next level and make it a great resource for everyone out there who is trying to create a lifestyle for themselves, wants to start a business, or just wants to hear some more awesome travel stories!

The point of this article is to show that things aren’t always easy.  Creating anunconventional lifefor yourself is one of the hardest things you will ever do. Whether your goal is travel, self-employment or both, it will take a lot of perseverance to get there.  But I have a firm belief that in the end, it will all be worth it.  Do you agree?

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Photo by Imapix

Sean Ogle

Sean Ogle is the Founder of Location Rebel where he has spent the last 12+ years teaching people how to build online businesses that give them the freedom to do more of the things they like to do in life. When he's not in the coffee shops of Portland, or the beaches of Bali, he's probably sneaking into some other high-class establishment where he most certainly doesn't belong.
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11 comments on "Accountability and a Comfortable Life"

  1. Ryan Martin says:

    Yes and I am now holding you accountable for that email you owe me! What r ur travels goals and itinerary for next year!?!?

  2. That makes two of us holding you accountable, Sean.

    Where do you plan to go? For how long?

    You have a Guitar? Dude, you could be playing on the street corners and in the subways. Imagine your Guitar case filled with $5 and $10 bills, with $1 coins to keep them from flying away.

    Let’s go! What are we waiting for? Oh, BTW
    “Life is meant to be easy. If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong.”

    Rasheed

    1. Sean says:

      @Ryan, CHECK YOUR EMAIL!

      @Rasheed, Thank you for this comment! This is actually one of the best ones I have on the blog, as I all of a sudden just imagined myself playing guitar on a street corner in Nice haha. Not a bad visual!

      Ideally I would go sail in the Caribbean for a few months before heading through Central and South America, and then heading over to South Africa for the world cup. And then from there, who knows, maybe hang out in Thailand for a longer period of time. It mostly comes down to finances and figuring out how to pay for it. But as I have always said “Where there is a will, there is a way!”

      Thanks again Rasheed!

  3. Karen says:

    It is scary… trying to follow your dreams. I want that lifestyle you are talking about, self employed, location independent. I read a post by Amber over at epicself.com, and she spoke of turning in her iphone (as well as selling all her possesions) before going to travel for an exptended period of time, and I thought “God, I would love her life”, but give up my Blackberry? Sometimes life is just too comfortable, so comfortable that you don’t want to sacrifice or give things up!

  4. Rasheed says:

    Sean,

    Thank you for the kind words, and I am glad my comments were useful. However, I would disagree with you on the point that it boils down to finances. I have learned that finances are NEVER an issue. Twice I have started businesses not knowing where the money will come from. All I did was believe that I will be able to start it, and went about starting it. Both times the money just showed up. (now if had I believed that I would be successful….) Just accept your dream as a reality in your mind. Visualize sailing the Caribbeans, and participating (or winning) the world cup and go about preparing for it.

    Karen,
    “God, I would love her life”

    Do you really want to live someone else’s life? or do you want to have the same freedoms in your life? Choose your words carefully, specially when you’re using emotions. They become the blueprint of your manifestations.

    Let me ask you, what is more important, being comfortable and not happy or being happy? Who says you can’t be LI and have your BB too?

  5. Lacy says:

    Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say
    that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Any way
    I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!

Comments are closed.