Comfortably Get Uncomfortable
If it was
Obviously
The way to go
Then obviously
Everyone would already
Be there
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Easy to say. Challenging to do.
Which is the very reason it is such an important habit to develop. With develop being the operative word.
To change. To grow. To progress forward.
When an idea does not make sense to us, it can be a sign that the idea is wrong. That it does not make sense because it is nonsensical. It is without meaning or ridiculously impractical. Or an ill-advised suggestion with obviously negative consequences.
At least from our own perspective.
From another perspective this may well not be the case. Life is incredibly complex and ideas are contextual. In one context an idea might seem wrong, while in another context it might be right.
?
01
?
How much is the zero worth?
Zero obviously.
Literally worthless.
Now shift position and look at the same elements from another angle.
?
10
?
Now how much is the zero worth?
Just by shifting our perspective what once appeared worthless has become far more valuable. With far greater potential. Through a subtle yet profound change in context.
This perspective shift is both simple and difficult at the same time. Changing position requires leaving behind the comfort of the familiar, willingly leaning into discomfort. Incredibly difficult to do when the familiar patterns being left behind are deeply ingrained thought patterns. Formed from our experiences and learnt behaviours, becoming part of our identity through deeply held beliefs.
At times the discomfort felt by challenging our preconceptions can literally be physical discomfort, resulting from emotional responses such as stress?and anxiety. At a physiological level whenever we have a thought, there is a corresponding chemical reaction in our minds and bodies as a result. What we think changes how we feel – and how we feel changes how we think.
Think of it as rearranging the furniture in our minds.
We get comfortable with the status quo. Sinking comfortably into expected locations. Which is necessary for being able to navigate intuitively and with minimal effort. This does not mean that it is the right arrangement. Or the best arrangement for all seasons. Just as the world changes and evolves, our thought patterns can also be rearranged. While this requires deliberate effort, ultimately the effort required may be less than holding onto an outdated position.
We should stand strong where it truly matters – while being careful not to convince ourselves that we are standing firm as a matter of important principle, when in fact it is more a case of resistance?to change. Resisting a possibly new and better way – that we can never truly understand without first letting go of the comfort of the known to explore the unknown.
A simple switch we can make is to become more aware of our own responses. Developing a heightened ability to recognise our own negative reactions?to new possibilities. Leveraging greater awareness of our own discomfort as a trigger to lean in, rather than outright reject.
Comfortably?being un
comfortable.
Collaborative Leap
Reflection: How do you naturally react to ideas that do not align with your own perspective? Are you more likely to push back with your own thoughts or to curiously ask others to explain further? When reflecting on these questions, be objective. After answering from your own perspective, consider how others might describe what your typical responses are like.
Conversation: When talking with others, observe how you react and respond to different ideas that do not immediately align with your own perspective. Deliberately practise noticing signals from your mind when alternative ideas make you uncomfortable. Then use this discomfort as an opportunity to experiment with changing your response. For example you might let someone know that although the idea does not sit comfortably with you, you are open to exploring the idea further – whether it is trying a new way of working or just asking further questions to better understand differing perspectives.
Action: Identify a low-risk suggestion or new idea that makes you slightly uncomfortable. Push past your discomfort by moving the idea into action. This might be as simple as listening to a podcast you normally would not or varying from your typical lunch selection. Or go a step further and implement a new way of working, whether it is changing your usual sequence of activities or going with someone else’s suggestion for how to approach a task. Keep top of mind the objective is not to prove that the new way is wrong and that your preferred choice is right. If you find this happening, repeat until you discover new benefits that you otherwise would have missed. Reassuring yourself that great discoveries are made by deliberately venturing beyond the known.
This is a chapter from our book Futurework – A Guidebook for The Future of Work
Inspire
Inspire forward with new possibilities
As a Futurist living on the edge of the world, I’ve presented on stages and screens across the globe from San?Francisco to South Auckland to Sydney.
Shift
Gain momentum by shifting perspectives
Facilitation is a complex process. In a complex world it’s only getting more complex. Fortunately it’s the complexity of facilitating that inspires the way we work.
Upskill
Upskill to transform the future
Adaptive. Digital. Collaborative. Diverse. Inclusive. If you look at the critical shifts happening within modern workplaces, they’re designed to enable organisations to become more responsive.