We have all heard at one time or another the frog theory. This is the theory that says we are comfortable in our mess. A frog put in cold water will not jump out even when the heat is turned up slowly. Instead, they slowly adjust and get comfortable – never realizing the danger they are in. So it is often with our lives. We grow comfortable with our mess and see it as “normal” over time, when in fact it is anything but normal.
The frog could jump out of the water if he wanted to. He could easily escape to freedom and live another day, but he doesn’t. He chooses to stay in the water where it feels safe, where he has gotten comfortable and content. He never notices that the water is heating up and the environment is no longer safe.
We as people are no different from the frog. We love to be comfortable. We often dislike (should I say hate?) change, conflict, and hard decisions. We stay in unsafe environments and claim they are safe. We justify why we are there and why we stay. To most it FEELS comfortable, normal, and we have grown content even if we don’t like it all the time. What we don’t often see is how the environment is slowly killing us, it has become toxic to our souls, our attitudes, and to our very being.
It might be the long hours at work
It might be us avoiding things we know we should deal with
It might be a toxic relationship that we have allowed
We are no longer being our best self, but rather simply surviving. We get up and live the “groundhog day” over and over again and have convinced ourselves this is a good life or at least an OK life. In reality, we are dying on the inside and don’t know it or won’t acknowledge it.
These toxins in our lives have creeped up like the temperature of the water and made us feel safe because we have lived in the situation for so long. It feels comfortable, it feels normal.
The frog didn’t have enough sense to jump out.
DON’T BE A FROG!
Be intentional of the environment you are in and how you spend your time. Take time to evaluate the relationships you have and make sure they are healthy and not toxic to you. Be intentional to choose good friends and mentors to help you see clearly and point out the red flags of danger. LISTEN TO THEM! Know that they are there for your protection and best interest. Listen when they say there is danger up ahead or speak truth into your life about something you have said or done. Accountability from those we trust is a priceless gift.
Every day leaders choose to not remain comfortable; but wisely evaluate where they are at and their environment. They do it to be their best selves. It is then that they thrive and have the most influence on those around them.
Have you settled into simply being comfortable? Is your environment affecting you but you have not taken the time to even see it happening? Are you allowing toxic relationships into your life?
Every day leaders don’t settle, they seek to thrive to make the most difference with each day they have been given.
Every Day leaders evaluate their environment and relationships often, taking a check of what is healthy and what is not; they remove the toxins. They let trusted mentors and friends speak truth into their life and they LISTEN.
This pure bundle of joy would go on to help disadvantage kids at school and later become one of the top nonprofit Executive Directors in south Atlanta.
Thank you Cathy for all you do and for all you have done to make this world a better place. We are so proud of you. We are proud to call you friend. Thank you for your heart of gold, your smile and laughter that lights up every room, and for being there to help so many through such hard times. Thank you for having such a huge heart of compassion. 
The Every Day Leader 