Energy Leadership Index - Level 3: The Comfort Zone of Coping
- Sophie van het Erve
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 17
"How's work going?"
"Fine. You know, same old, same old."
"How are things with your partner?"
"Fine. We're getting along okay."
"How are you feeling about life in general?"
"Fine. Can't complain, I guess."
If this conversation sounds familiar – whether you're the one giving these responses or hearing them from others – you've just witnessed Level 3 energy in action. It's the energy of "fine." Of coping. Of getting by. Of managing life reasonably well without necessarily thriving.
Level 3 is perhaps the most misunderstood energy level because it doesn't feel problematic. You're not drowning (Level 1) or fighting (Level 2). You're functioning. You're handling your responsibilities. You're keeping all the balls in the air. But are you actually flourishing?
What is the Energy Leadership Index?
The Energy Leadership Index (ELI) is a research-backed assessment that measures how your energy shows up in two key scenarios: when you're under stress versus when you're performing at your best. It reveals your dynamic energy patterns across seven distinct levels, from destructive, draining energy to creative, life-giving energy. The ELI shows you both your stress defaults and your natural strengths, giving you the awareness needed to consciously choose which energy serves you best in any given moment.
The Landscape of Level 3: "I Have To"
Level 3 energy is characterized by coping, rationalization, and a sense of obligation. The core thought pattern here is "I have to." I have to go to work. I have to pay the bills. I have to maintain this relationship. I have to keep everyone happy.
There's a resigned acceptance that this is just how life is.
From Level 3 energy, the world feels manageable but not particularly exciting. You're not fighting against your circumstances (that's Level 2), but you're also not actively creating anything new. You're in maintenance mode, keeping the status quo, meeting expectations, and doing what's required.
The emotional landscape includes feeling neutral, resigned, or mildly content. Energy feels steady but not particularly vibrant. It's like driving on cruise control. You're moving forward, but you're not actively engaged with the journey.
The Workplace Comfort Zone: Doing Your Job but Not Thriving
In professional settings, Level 3 energy looks like competent execution without particular passion or innovation. You show up on time, complete your tasks, meet your deadlines, and participate in meetings. You're a reliable employee who doesn't cause problems or create drama.
You might find yourself thinking, "It's just a job" or "At least it pays the bills." You do what's asked of you but don’t often go above and beyond. You're not particularly excited about projects, but you're not actively resistant either. You attend the company retreat, participate in team-building exercises, and nod along in strategic planning sessions, but you're not deeply invested in the outcomes.
The challenging part is that Level 3 can feel like success. You're not getting in trouble. You're not overwhelmed. You're not in conflict with anyone. But you're also not growing, learning, or contributing at your full potential. You're working within your comfort zone, doing what you know how to do, without stretching into new possibilities.
Career conversations from Level 3 often sound like, "I should probably look for something new, but this is fine for now" or "I'm not sure what I want to do next, so I'll just stay put." There's a sense of being stuck in acceptable mediocrity.
Relationships on Autopilot: Functional but Not Fulfilling
In personal relationships, Level 3 energy manifests as functional but not particularly connected interactions. You and your partner have settled into routines that work well enough. You share household responsibilities, make decisions together, and generally get along, but the spark of excitement or deep intimacy might be missing.
Family relationships from Level 3 feel dutiful. You call your parents because you should. You attend family gatherings because it's expected. You help with the kids' school activities because that's what good parents do. The love is there, but it's expressed through obligation rather than joy.
Friendships can become scheduled rather than spontaneous. You maintain connections because you've always been friends, but you're not necessarily growing together or sharing deeply. Conversations stay surface-level – work updates, kid updates, weather commentary.
The challenging aspect is that Level 3 relationships often look successful from the outside. There's no drama, no conflict, no obvious problems. But there's also no particular aliveness, growth, or excitement. You're maintaining connections rather than deepening them.
Why Energy Leadership Index Level 3 Feels Safe (And Why That Might Be Limiting You)
Level 3 energy feels safe because it's predictable. You know what to expect. You know how to manage your responsibilities. You've figured out how to meet expectations without pushing yourself too hard or taking too many risks.
There's also a rationalization quality to Level 3 that makes it feel reasonable. "This job pays well and has good benefits." "Our relationship is stable and comfortable." "I should be grateful for what I have." All of these things might be true, but they can also be ways of avoiding the question of whether you're actually fulfilled.
Level 3 protects you from the vulnerability of wanting more.
If you don't let yourself dream too big or want too much, you can't be disappointed when things don't work out. If you keep your expectations reasonable, you can avoid the risk of failure or rejection.
The comfort zone of Level 3 also protects you from the energy required for growth. Change is hard work. Creating something new requires effort, risk, and the possibility of failure. Level 3 lets you avoid all of that by staying with what you know works.
The Hidden Costs of Perpetual Coping
While Level 3 energy feels safe, it comes with hidden costs that aren't immediately obvious. The biggest cost is the gradual erosion of your sense of possibility. When you spend extended time in "this is fine" mode, you can lose touch with what actually excites you, what you're passionate about, what you might want to create. This is why we often call this the “auto-pilot” level.
There's also an energy cost. While Level 3 doesn't feel draining in the way that Level 1 or Level 2 do, it doesn't feel energizing either. Over time, this neutral energy can lead to a sense of flatness or mild depression. You're not suffering, but you're not particularly alive either.
Relationships can suffer from extended Level 3 energy because others might feel like they're not really connecting with you. You're present but not fully engaged. You're participating but not contributing your full energy or creativity.
Perhaps most importantly, Level 3 can prevent you from discovering what you're actually capable of. When you're constantly operating within your comfort zone, you never find out what might be possible if you pushed yourself a little harder or took a few more risks.
Recognizing Level 3 Patterns in Your Own Life
Level 3 can be subtle because it doesn't feel problematic. Some signs you might be operating from Level 3:
You frequently describe things as "fine" or "okay"
You're meeting expectations but not necessarily exceeding them
You feel like you're going through the motions rather than actively engaging
You avoid taking risks or trying new things
You rationalize staying in situations that aren't particularly fulfilling
You feel like you "should" be grateful for what you have, but you're not particularly excited about it
You're comfortable but not energized by your daily activities
You find yourself saying "I have to" more than "I want to"
You're maintaining relationships and responsibilities rather than actively building them
The key question is: Are you choosing Level 3 energy consciously because it serves you in this moment, or are you stuck in it because it feels safe?
Permission to Want More
If you recognize yourself in Level 3 energy, the first step isn't to dramatically overhaul your life. It's to give yourself permission to want more. Not because there's anything wrong with where you are, but because you deserve to experience fulfillment, not just functionality.
Start by reconnecting with your actual preferences rather than just your obligations. Instead of "I have to go to this meeting," try "I choose to go to this meeting because it serves my goals." The action might be the same, but the energy is different.
Pay attention to moments when you feel genuinely excited or engaged. What's happening in those moments? What conditions create that energy? How might you create more of those conditions?
Consider where you might be playing it too safe. Are there opportunities you're not pursuing because they feel risky? Conversations you're not having because they might be uncomfortable? Dreams you're not exploring because they seem impractical?
The goal isn't to abandon stability or responsibility. It's to bring more conscious choice and active engagement to your stable, responsible life.
From Coping to Creating
The shift from “I have to” to “ I choose to” or even “I want to” requires you to take more ownership of your life. Instead of being a passive participant in your circumstances, you become an active creator of your experience. Instead of just managing what is, you start building what could be.
Level 3 teaches us that we can handle life's responsibilities, that we can create stability and manage complexity. These are valuable skills. The next step is learning to use those skills not just to cope, but to create. With the aim for you to to build a life that genuinely excites and fulfills you.
The question becomes: If you weren't limited by what you "have to" do, what would you "want to" do? If you weren't just trying to maintain what is, what would you choose to create?
Your comfort zone has served you well. But it's called a comfort zone, not a growth zone. And sometimes, the most radical act is giving yourself permission to want more than "fine."
Level 3 energy often represents a plateau – a place where you've achieved stability but might be ready for growth. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward consciously choosing whether to stay comfortable or to stretch toward greater fulfillment. Take the ELI assessment and book a debrief if you’re ready to stretch.
