When Life Hacks No Longer Cut It—The Key to Lasting Fulfillment
The most common thing I hear from potential clients is some version of, “Do you have a hack for this situation I’m in?” or “I just need something quick to get past this issue.”
I get it. We all crave quick fixes to eliminate whatever crisis we’re facing and bring us back to a sense of comfort.
There’s no shortage of life hacks, productivity tips, and motivational tricks out there that promise to do exactly that. One scroll through Instagram reveals an endless stream of suggestions.
But as a coach, my work isn’t about offering surface-level hacks. It’s about guiding clients to dig deeper and uncover insights that lead to lasting, transformational change instead of temporary relief.
So I invite you to consider this powerful question:
Do you want comfort, or do you want pleasure?
We often think comfort and pleasure are the same—or use the words interchangeably. But in a coaching conversation, the distinction is profound. It sets the tone for whether a client is truly ready to transform their life.
Let’s take a closer look to see what distinguishes comfort and pleasure.
What is comfort and why do we crave it?
Comfort is what we’re constantly being sold through advertisements and social media hacks. It’s the promise that life will become easy if we follow the proposed checklist: the 7-minute workout, the 3-day diet, the top 10 hacks to reset your mindset…
The options for perfect checklists and shortcuts are endless.
The appeal behind the drive toward comfort is that it offers quick relief with the least amount of effort. It offers minimal disruption to our current state, i.e., keeping us in our default comfort zone where we don’t have to stretch, grow, or take real risks.
And if you’re part of my community, you know that nothing fulfilling or long-lasting occurs in the comfort zone!
Pleasure is worth the effort.
Pleasure is what we actually want. It’s not about the instant gratification or momentary easy-ness, but rather sustained, meaningful satisfaction—true and lasting contentment.
Real pleasure is not about escaping discomfort, it’s about doing what’s meaningful. And because it involves meaningful action, there are some requirements:
Alignment with your values
Fierce commitment
Consistency
The combination of these qualities leads to purposeful and fulfilling actions, and lasting results. Isn’t that the promise we’re chasing through shortcuts and quick-fixes?
As I’m writing this I can’t help but reflect on all the shortcuts I’ve tried over the years, varying from fad diets and workouts, to self-help and motivation tricks. Almost every time those shortcuts led to half-hearted results and temporary relief at best.
It was only when I committed to the unexciting, unglamorous, and consistent habits that I began to experience the real pleasure of living a life aligned with purpose, integrity, and the deep contentment I was seeking.
I’ve learned to be wary of the allure and sparkle of promised comfort. These days, I know that real transformation to a fulfilling life of pleasure and contentment comes at the cost of effort, consistency, and the willingness to step outside of my comfort zone. And that’s a price I’m more than willing to pay.
So I leave you with our original question:
Do you want comfort, or do you want pleasure?
Because the answer to that question will shape the life you create.
