Complacency vs. Comfort: What's the Difference?

Complacent' is defined (courtesy of dictionary.com) as 'self-satisfaction, often without the awareness of potential danger or defect.' 'Comfort,' simply defined, means 'solace or ease or pain-free.' Still don't see the difference? Comfort is like a pair of shoes (don't act like you don't have a fav pair of slide-ons ! )...they get worn down with use but are still comfortable (for whatever reason, it's like you have clouds on your feet" ). No complaints there, huh? BUT, what starts out as comfort can quickly turn into complacency if we aren't cautious. Those comfortable shoes just got a hole in the sole # but you just can't part with those defected

shoes. Complacency, much? Let's use this in the context of any relationship (employer- employee, husband-wife, partner-partner, etc.). Relationships are like those shoes...in the

beginning, everything feels perfect, comfortable even. You notice, though, that with time that something is off. Before you know it, you realize that you are a stranger in your relationship. What happened? Like any relationship, it has to be nurtured and nourished in order to flourish. What are some ways that you may nurture or foster a comfortable, healthy relationship?