Discomfort.
It’s that feeling we get when we step outside of our comfort zone. When we move beyond the constraint of activities and opportunities that we feel comfortable with.
The thing is, most of us don’t like that uncomfortable feeling. In fact, avoiding it is part of human nature – a weakness that urges us to run from discomfort.
So, we usually stick with staying within our comfort zone. The problem is that this zone isn’t very big, and we end up missing out on many great experiences and a better life.
Worse yet, by avoiding that uncomfortable feeling, we eventually cause it ourselves. How so?
When people stress, they often turn to comforting but unhealthy habits. They use shopping, food, cigarettes, alcohol, or even drugs to escape from pain or discomfort. Anything to get rid of the stress that causes them that uncomfortable feeling. But by turning to those things, they often stress themselves more and cause more discomfort in the end. – It’s a paradox.
How can you break free from this vicious cycle and have a better life?
By building mental strength.
The Key to a Better Life – Discomfort
You might think that mental strength is about how you respond in extreme situations that test your bravery and determination. But it starts with something much simpler than that – it starts with meeting common, day-to-day goals.
Consider: Just like a muscle, your mind needs to be exercised daily to grow, develop, and gain strength. Only then will your mental “muscle” be strong enough to take on a difficult challenge.
Growth, though, only happens when you stretch yourself to the limits – and beyond your comfort zone – to accomplish something worthwhile. Hence, it’s virtually impossible to reach your goals if you are not willing to be uncomfortable.
Yes, stepping past that initial uncomfortable feeling and embracing discomfort is actually the key to personal growth and a better life!
How can that be?
Think about this: When you’re stepping past the uncomfortable feeling of trying out new things, you begin learning and expanding your mind. It opens up new possibilities, new experiences, and new joys.
Learning to be comfortable with discomfort can also help you make life-altering changes. You can learn to stop procrastinating, to start exercising and eating healthy, to learn a new language or instrument, to overcome major challenges, and much more.
But, in order to achieve all this, you first have to choose to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
How to Learn to be Uncomfortable
The way to get comfortable with being uncomfortable is exercising your mental “muscle” in small doses. It takes practice, but a lot of small day-to-day victories eventually add up.
How do you go about this?
Just like with physical exercise, you have to find the sweet spot between going too easy or too hard on yourself. The key is to challenge yourself enough to grow, but not so much that you can’t meet the challenge.
Try the following:
- Be aware what situations give you that uncomfortable feeling and in what ways you try to avoid it. What issue and goals have you been running from? What excuses have you made?
- Set yourself up with small discomfort challenges at regular intervals. Do the things that make you feel uncomfortable. Push yourself just a little. Now, focus on the emotions you’re experiencing. Are you angry, scared, worried?
- Take a deep breath and stay with the discomfort – It will pass! Keep yourself from giving in to the urge to run from that uncomfortable feeling. Reject the urge – twice. The third time, give yourself permission to give in.
Congratulations! You’ve just expanded your comfort zone and opened up the door to a better life!
