Faster, Better, Stronger: 4 Reasons to Embrace Discomfort

When was the last time you felt truly uncomfortable?

Maybe it was a social setting where you didn't know any of the other guests.

Maybe you were taking on a new challenge at work, or a new project, and you felt entirely out of your league. Maybe it was learning a new skill, and you felt entirely overwhelmed.

Or maybe it was that 6 AM workout that you just really didn't feel like doing.

But what if I told you that embracing discomfort is actually the key to growing both personally and professionally?

That's right. To become the best version of yourself or grow your business, you going to have to push.

That warm, fuzzy comfort zone is comfortable and feels so good. But if you want to get better, faster, or stronger, you're going to have to break out of it.

Author Brené Brown said,?“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”?And it’s in that outcome that truly powerful things can happen.

Here are a few reasons why getting uncomfortable is a necessary part of personal and business growth:

1) Comfort = complacency

When we get too comfortable, we stop pushing ourselves to become better versions of ourselves, both personally and professionally. We become stuck in a rut and our progress eventually stalls. To keep growing and improving, we have to challenge ourselves to try new things and take risks.

Think about how you hung from the monkey bars on the playground as a kid. Did you know for sure you’d catch the next rung? Of course not. But you did it anyway. And if you fell, you got up and did it again.

2) Discomfort makes us more resilient

When we face challenges that make us uncomfortable, we learn how to handle stress and adversity. This process builds resilience, which is a crucial trait for success in any area of life.

3) Discomfort = progress

If you never find yourself feeling uncomfortable, it could be a sign that you're not pushing yourself hard enough. Have you ever hired a personal trainer or fitness coach? Do you remember how sore your legs were the next day? That’s because that trainer knew they should push you harder to try harder than you’d normally do on your own. Why? Because that’s how you make progress. And just like lifting a little heavier, or doing a few more reps than you might usually do will lead to a fitter, stronger body, pushing yourself mentally will train your brain that there’s a reward on the other side.

4) We learn faster when we're uncomfortable

When we're in a state of discomfort, our brains are forced to work harder to process information and learn. According to a 2018 Yale study, crazy, unstable situations are critical to getting your brain to do something that’s outside of your comfort zone. Their research found that stability is the off switch for your brain when it comes to learning.

That’s fine for your golf game, but not for your professional career or business.

Want to learn or grow? Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

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PS: my new business personal branding cohort for female business owners just kicked off. If you'd like to learn more,?just apply for a call .

References:

Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational psychologist, 47(4), 302-314.

Kross, E., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., Park, J., Burson, A., Dougherty, A., Shablack, H., ... & Ayduk, O. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of personality and social psychology, 106(2), 304-324.

King, L. A., Hicks, J. A., Krull, J. L., & Del Gaiso, A. K. (2006). Positive affect and the experience of meaning in life. Journal of personality and social psychology, 90(1), 179-196.

Grant, A. M., & Ashford, S. J. (2008). The dynamics of proactivity at work. Research in organizational behavior, 28, 3-34.