Zone Once you escape into the "zone," you may become lost there forever. What is the "zone"? It is a state of mind, body, and soul that we all run to when we find ourselves unable to deal properly with the pressures of the world. The doorway into the "zone" is a false need for comfort: when fulfilled, it causes more hunger. In moments of confusion, anger, and fear, everyone experiences this primal need to "escape. " The comfort we seek seems like an oasis in the desert, the answer to our anguish. But by escaping into a comfort zone, we actually make ourselves vulnerable to all kinds of misery, suffering, and addiction. Almost everyone is addicted to something. To the alcoholic its liquor; to the drug adddict its some mind-altering substance; to the people pleaser it may simply be a kind word or a pat on the back. Even such simple acts as knitting, stamp collecting, or goal-forming can serve essentially the same purpose as a drink to the alcoholic. The first step in breaking free lies in becoming aware of how our "escape routes" have transformed into prison chains which dominate our lives. Only then will we be in a position to choose between our old enslavements and a new opportunity for freedom.