Temporary Discomfort Leads to Growth.
Are you uncomfortable? Maybe it’s in your clothes? Or at your office? Or in your relationships? You can’t quite put your finger on it but you sense something is “off.”
It’s okay to be uncomfortable. What matters is the type of discomfort you’re experiencing.
Let me explain.
In yoga, we talk about good pain and bad pain. Good pain feels like your muscles working, shaking even, as you hold a pose. Or maybe it’s the deep stretch of a tight muscle as you release tension. It’s a temporary discomfort that ultimately builds strength or creates flexibility.
Then there’s bad pain. That’s intense compression or a bone-on-bone sensation. It’s the feeling that if there’s an ounce more of pressure something will snap.
You know that feeling, right?
Think about the area of your life where you feel uncomfortable. Are you experiencing good discomfort (growth + strength building) or bad discomfort (something’s got to give)?
It’s in our human nature to stay comfortable, even when our version of comfortable is sitting in bad discomfort.
Your life will change when the bad pain of your current circumstances outweighs the good discomfort that comes with growth.
Let me give you an example.
There was a time when I complained about my job a lot. And I mean A LOT. I was so miserable that I began to take my frustrations out on others. My relationships began to suffer. My health suffered, and my migraines became a daily occurrence. Even my sleep suffered. And yet, I stayed at the job for another 6 months because the thought of updating my resume, applying for jobs and learning about a new company terrified me. It felt uncomfortable. I felt unqualified, ill-equipped, and disloyal.
And then one day, someone I trusted told me I could do better. And for the first time, I believed them. At that moment, the pain of staying stuck outweighed the temporary discomfort I would feel in changing jobs.
Friend, you can do better too. I truly believe that you are meant to thrive, not merely survive.
If you feel like you’re treading water to survive and experiencing bad discomfort try this exercise:
Ask yourself what is the worst that could happen if you make a change.
In my example, the worst case scenario list looked something like this:
Have to take a lesser paying job
Feel humiliated
Lose friends
Be seen as a failure
The reality was that my actions when I was in a miserable headspace were already embarrassing me. I picked fights, was rude to people and walked around with a chip on my shoulder. I was already losing friends and know others were concerned for my wellbeing. Things on my worst-case scenario list were already happening by staying stuck.
My indecision was still a decision. So is yours.
Now, ask yourself what’s the best that could happen.
My best-case-scenario looked something like this:
Earn more money
Learn new skills
Make new friends
Be inspired again
Open the door for advancement opportunities
The best case scenario leads to a new result, whereas the worst-case scenario leads to the same result or more of what you’re already experiencing
As ‘Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If you keep doing what you’re currently doing, your life won’t change.
Imagine yourself one year from now. You’re confidently navigating the holiday season, family obligations, school parties and work with grace because you took a chance on yourself. You’re laughing and smiling instead of stressing. Life is full of joy and peace. You’re thriving.
It’s possible, friend. 💛
Give yourself permission to dream and share with me your best-case-scenario list!
