Member-only story
How You Harness Discomfort Determines Your Growth
You can push past your limit if you embrace discomfort
No one wants to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable. We’ll all prefer our lives to be easy and fun.
But life is such that uncomfortable experiences are inevitable.
We all go through awkward and embarrassing situations. Breaking a bad habit, learning a new skill, or speaking in front of a group is difficult. It’s scary to take a chance, go on a date, or make a new connection with someone you don’t know.
But, no matter how uncomfortable an experience may be, recent scientific research says that you should seek it out. To avoid doing something because it makes you uncomfortable does you no good.
The reason is simple: Discomfort is the path to learning, personal improvement, and growth.
You can’t run away from discomfort if you hope to be your best self. You can’t reach your full potential unless you’re ready to push yourself through the discomfort. As Peter McWilliams rightly said: “Comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort.”
Most people avoid uncomfortable situations. They think they can find their way around it. And then give up on their goals when it finally dawns on them there’s no other way.
