Getting Comfortable With the Uncomfortable
This past year has been all about getting out of my comfort zone.
I think most of us have at least one area of our lives that we want to change, but change can be difficult because we’re creatures of habit. Even when something isn’t serving us anymore, the familiar often feels safer than the unknown.
Over the last year, my family and I have moved twice in pursuit of the lifestyle we wanted. I underwent excision surgery and a hysterectomy to finally prioritize my health and feel my best. I started meditating regularly. More recently, I have committed to strength training and running.
None of these things felt comfortable at first.
In fact, many of them felt scary, uncertain, and overwhelming. But growth rarely happens when we stay exactly where we are.
One exercise that has helped me is taking an honest look at the different pillars of my life:
- Physical health
- Mental and emotional wellness
- Family and relationships
- Career and finances
- Mindset and personal growth
- Spiritual wellness and purpose
For each area, ask yourself:
- What is going well?
- What isn’t working?
- What would I like to improve?
- What would make me feel more fulfilled?
Once you have identified areas you would like to grow, set goals that challenge you without feeling impossible. I like using three levels of goals:
Achievable Goals: Goals you are confident you can reach with consistency.
Stretch Goals: Goals that require extra effort and focus.
Dream Goals: Goals that feel exciting and ambitious, even if you are not sure how you will get there yet.
For example, if you are focused on growing a business, an achievable goal might be earning $50,000 this year. A stretch goal could be $60,000, and a dream goal might be $75,000 or more.
The same concept can apply to almost anything:
- Running your first mile without stopping, then a 5K, then a half marathon.
- Meditating once a week, then three times a week, then building a daily practice.
- Cooking one homemade meal each week, then three, then most nights.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress.
I have also learned that these areas of life don’t exist independently from one another. They often overlap in ways we don’t expect.
Maybe you enjoy the company you work for, but your role no longer feels meaningful. Maybe you have the right job but the wrong environment. Maybe improving your health gives you more confidence, energy, and patience in your relationships. Maybe prioritizing your mental wellness helps you show up more fully in your career.
One small change in one area can create a ripple effect throughout the rest of your life.
Something else I have realized recently is that not every goal needs to be bigger. Sometimes the goal is simply to feel better.
Social media often tells us that we should always be striving for more – more money, more success, more productivity, more accomplishments. But there is nothing wrong with wanting a life that feels balanced, peaceful, and aligned with your values.
For me, success looks different than it did a few years ago. It looks like having the energy to play with my son. It looks like family dinners, movement that I enjoy, meaningful work, and being present for the moments that matter.
The uncomfortable truth is that the life we want usually requires us to do things we’ve never done before.
We have to start before we feel ready.
We have to be willing to fail, learn, and try again.
We have to trade temporary comfort for long-term growth.
So if there is an area of your life that you’ve been wanting to change, consider this your reminder: you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight.
Pick one thing.
Take one uncomfortable step.
Then take another.
You might be surprised how much your life can change when you are willing to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
