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Doing Things That Scare You Isn’t The Only Key To Growth
Why normalizing the constant need to outdo ourselves is hurting our mental health
“If you’re not scared or challenged by what’s in your calendar each week, you should start being afraid for your future”
I saw someone post this on Facebook a few days ago and it got me thinking.
To be sure, challenging yourself, doing things that scares you, or going beyond your comfort zone — that’s how you spur growth. But it’s not a constant state of being.
I cannot begin to describe how dangerous this way of thinking is, as someone who has recovered from that constant need to outdo himself in all areas of school, work and life to feel like I’m worthy of making progress.
In the beginning phases of your learning, development, and iteration, things will be scary, and you’ll feel stretched out of your zone of comfort as you expand deeper into your potential.
This can look like:
- Taking on projects that stretch you.
- Having days where you’re learning and creating for many hours.
- Making decisions that put you out there in a way you’re not used to.
- Investing into opportunities you don’t feel…
