We, as humans, crave stimulation and challenge. However, we also crave comfort and familiarity. Quite the conundrum, no?

I think the balance lies in where we place our comfort and where we place our challenges. Perhaps in areas of great importance, we should strive for stability…such as our relationships, source of income (stable vs unstable), health/fitness (developing a routine)

Then we can place our challenges on things of less importance such as our hobbies or social activities. That way we get a balance of the two. It does not have to be all or nothing. We can have different areas of our lives devoted to different endeavors.

For me, I enjoy cooking and I get satisfaction challenging myself in trying new dishes. Stakes are relatively low. If I mess up a dish, it is one off or I can eat something.

Part of the disconnect could be from seeing people acting in their field. Landing a plane would appear very challenging, however a pilot has done it so often he could do it with minimal brain power. We don’t see the practice behind it all so that when the pilot lands the plane it is in the area of comfort/familiarity.

Just food for thought