Why the Comfortable Life Isn’t Always the Joyful One
Why the Comfortable Life Isn’t Always the Joyful One
Table of Contents
The “I Just Want to Enjoy Life” Argument
What That Phrase Usually Means
The Story of the Dog on the Nail
Why People Stay Stuck
The Problem With Familiar Comfort
Reframing What Health Can Look Like
Why Change Feels Overwhelming
Simplifying the Process
Small Changes That Build Momentum
A New Seat on the Porch
The “I Just Want to Enjoy Life” Argument
I have had countless conversations with people around food. I don’t mean literally as we stand around a buffet or dinner table, although that has happened too. I mean the talks where they get into the foods they love to eat versus the foods they think they should be eating. For those who think they know what they should be eating or doing, but aren’t making it happen, there is a default excuse:
“But I just want to enjoy life.”
Not unlike my suitcase after a week-long girl’s trip, there’s a lot to unpack here.
What That Phrase Usually Means
When I hear this phrase I think of three things:
They don’t know how to balance the healthy foods with the ones they know cause issues.
They haven’t learned how to create enough healthy meals and snacks that are also wildly delicious.
They’re denying themselves a truly enjoyable life by staying stuck in a sick, painful, or an overweight body they carry shame around.
It can be very hard to shift people away from this viewpoint that essentially making healthier choices will create more pain than what they’re currently doing. That joy will be gone if you took away this thing from their life.
The Story of the Dog on the Nail
This reminds me of a story:
Every morning, a man walked past his neighbor’s house and saw a dog lying on the porch, whining softly. Days passed, but the scene remained the same. The dog kept whining. Curious, he finally asked the old man rocking beside the dog why the dog was always whining.
The old man replied, “He’s lying on a nail.”
“Then why doesn’t he move?”
The old man shrugged, “I guess it hurts just enough to complain but not enough to get up and move.”
Why People Stay Stuck
To revisit the beginning, I’ll say that when I talk to people who tell me they just want to enjoy their life, there is usually some preface around some sort of suffering: mentally, physically, or both.
I’d like to lose some weight, but I don’t want to give up wine and pasta.
At the end of the day I don’t have energy to workout, I’d rather sit and watch my favorite shows.
I know these cigarettes are bad for me, but I really enjoy them. Life is going to end anyway cough cough hack cough.
I used to workout, but my knees are bum now and so it is what it is.
The Problem With Familiar Comfort
The nail continues to dig in, but changing the situation feels like more effort than it’s worth. We’re psychologically wired to remain with the familiar because the unfamiliar feels more uncomfortable:
What will my evenings look like without creamy noodles and a bold red?
Will working out require even more of the energy I already don’t have?
I don’t think I could actually quit if I tried.
What if exercise makes my knees worse?
Expanding what's possible
The issue here, as I see it, is limited thinking when we really peel back the layers. We can find other delicious recipes, yet still have the foods we like from time to time. Working out is proven to increase your daily energy so you have more room in your life to do things you love. Quitting cigarettes gives back your health and puts a ton of money back in your account so you can travel or do other things you enjoy. Joints get worse when you limit mobility by not exercising them with appropriate strength training.
Simplifying the Process
That said, I believe the other issue is how much this all can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to conquer multiple things at once. Instead, simplify the effort by taking on one thing at a time. Stack the changes day by day, week by week.
Small Changes That Build Momentum
Pick one night a week you don’t have wine and instead drink a flavored sparkling water in a wine glass with a chicken dinner covered in a beautiful sauce.
Go for a 10-minute walk on your lunch break, or do 20 squats and 10 push-ups against the counter when you get home.
The smoking one can be tricky, but not impossible. But you can begin by replacing, “I’m trying to quit” with “I am a non-smoker.”
Find some knee mobility exercises to practice daily and see how they begin to feel.
A New Seat on the Porch
Becoming the healthier version of yourself does not take away joy, it brings more enjoyment and abundance to your life. Just because you enjoy the view from your spot on the porch, doesn’t mean you can’t find a new place to sit that’s free of nails..
Go move.
Simple Action Steps (Today!)
Identify the “nail.” What habit or situation keeps causing discomfort in your life?
Choose one small change. Replace one habit this week with a healthier alternative.
Repeat it daily. Consistency builds momentum faster than drastic change.
FAQ
Why do people resist healthy changes even when they know better?
Humans tend to prefer familiar habits, even when those habits cause discomfort.
Do you have to give up foods you enjoy to be healthy?
No. The goal is balance. Enjoy favorite foods occasionally while building meals that support your health.
Why start with small changes?
Small changes are easier to sustain and build momentum toward larger lifestyle improvements.
Can exercise actually increase energy levels?
Yes. Regular movement improves circulation, metabolism, and overall energy throughout the day.
What is the biggest mindset shift for improving health?
Recognizing that healthier choices often increase joy and freedom rather than restricting it.
What's Next
If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed by health advice, fitness programs, and lifestyle content, start with simplicity.
Choose one small habit today. Commit to it for a week.
If you want help building a system that supports consistency without burnout, join me inside M.O.V.E. Studio. It’s designed to feel calm, grounded, and actionable so you can build health that actually fits your life.
Simple. Sustainable. Repeatable.
That’s where real change begins.
