How to Grow from Discomfort

It's no secret that discomfort is tough to deal with. It's unpleasant, it can be frustrating, and it can even be scary. But what many people don't realize is that discomfort is also necessary for change.

Think about it – learning is uncomfortable, traveling is uncomfortable, starting a new business or a job is uncomfortable. But all of these things are also thresholds past which you find new life and growth. In other words, discomfort is often a prerequisite for progress.

However, we live in a world where we actively try to avoid discomfort and find ways to feel safe and secure even in minor situations - something that's detrimental to our wellbeing and growth.

Ask yourself if you've ever engaged in these habits as a way to avoid discomfort:

All of these things might seem harmless, but they add up. Over time, they prevent us from ever getting comfortable with feeling uncomfortable – and as a result, we never reach our full potential. So how can we change this? That's what we'll uncover in this post. Let's look at some suggestions on how to get more comfortable with discomfort.

1. Acknowledge that you avoid discomfort

The first step to getting more comfortable with discomfort is acknowledging that you avoid it. Once you're aware of your patterns, you can start to change them.

The next time you're feeling uncomfortable, ask yourself why. Are you afraid of what might happen if you step outside of your comfort zone? Are you worried about failing or looking foolish?

Just asking a few questions and being present is a great first step to making discomfort work for you.

2. Understand that discomfort is necessary for change

As we've already established, discomfort is a necessary part of any change. Without it, we would never learn, grow, or develop new skills.

The frustration you feel when you learn a new language is necessary. So is experiencing rejection when you're trying to launch your business. Such discomfort always passes, however, and you'll become more confident and adept later on.

You'll find out that learning a second new language is easier because you 'passed' the challenges of learning a language for the first time. You'll develop a thicker skin when dealing with future rejection and even learn how to turn your customers' objections into wins.

The next time you're feeling uncomfortable, remind yourself that it's normal and even necessary to feel this way. It's how you know you're making progress.

3. Understand why you're avoiding discomfort

There are usually two reasons why people avoid discomfort: either they don't believe they can handle it, or they're afraid of what might happen if they do.

The first reason is usually based on past experiences. Maybe you tried to do something outside of your comfort zone in the past and it didn't go well. As a result, you told yourself that you're not capable of handling discomfort, so you might as well avoid it.

The second reason is usually based on a fear of the unknown. When we're facing something new, it's natural to feel some anxiety. But instead of letting this feeling stop us from taking action, we need to remind ourselves that such feelings and projections may not be based on reality.

We have a world full of possibilities, and it's worth taking a leap into the unknown because there's a high chance of finding great things.

3. Remember that discomfort is temporary

Whenever you're feeling uncomfortable, it's important to remember that the feeling is only temporary. It might last for a few minutes, hours, days, or even weeks – but it will eventually go away.

If you're going through a difficult time in your life, remind yourself that this too shall pass. Nothing lasts forever, and you will get through this.

4. Lean into your discomfort

The more you try to avoid discomfort, the more it will bother you. So instead of running away from it, lean into it. Accept that it's there and that it's normal to feel this way.

This doesn't mean that you have to like feeling uncomfortable – but it does mean that you need to stop resisting it. Once you stop fighting against it, you'll find that it's not as bad as you thought.

5. Start small

Don't try to take on too much at once. If you're not used to being uncomfortable, baby steps are key. Try doing one thing every day that makes you slightly uncomfortable – and build up from there.

For example, you might try reaching out to one potential client for your freelance business today. And then maybe a couple more next week.

Similarly, if you're afraid of social situations, try being more active on social media once. And then try to reach out to people directly.

6. Practice being uncomfortable

One of the best ways to get more comfortable with discomfort is to practice being uncomfortable. This might sound counterintuitive, but it works.

Start by doing something small that makes you slightly uncomfortable. For example, you could:

• Talk to a stranger
• Go to a place by yourself
• Try a new food
• Do something outside of your usual routine

You might not enjoy these activities at first, but they will get easier with practice. And the more you do them, the more comfortable you'll become with feeling uncomfortable.

Conclusion

Discomfort is a necessary part of any change. Without it, we would never learn, grow, or develop new skills.

The next time you're feeling uncomfortable, remind yourself that it's normal and even necessary to feel this way. It's how you know you're making progress.

And remember that discomfort is only temporary. It might last for a few minutes, hours, days, or even weeks – but it will eventually go away.

So instead of trying to avoid discomfort, lean into it. Accept that it's there and that it's normal to feel this way. And start small by doing one thing every day that makes you slightly uncomfortable.

With practice, you'll get more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. And who knows? You might even start to enjoy it.