We all have to face some difficulties in our lives on a day-to-day basis. Difficulties, unpredicted and unfamiliar events lead us to discomfort. Discomfort is usually not welcomed by people. This is because we are all human beings and human nature is based on a seeking and desire for comfort. However, I firmly believe that success requires discomfort and unpredictability. I think they are connected in a complementary way.
People need to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. For me, one of the most efficient ways of coping with discomfort is normalizing it. Being aware that discomfort is the key to personal growth and keeping in mind that most people have to deal with it, will shift your perspective to a whole new level.
Getting out of your comfort zone is a must if you are looking for ways to develop as a person. Unpredictability means chaos and chaos or not knowing what to do increases the level of stress and adrenalin. This might seem extremely awful and terrifying at first but, you can alter this thought by simply searching for its benefits. In other words, by changing your perspective for the better. This is probably the number one method that I try to integrate into my life and I think this is what works the best for me. You can easily recognize that you are the most solution-oriented or practical version of yourself when you are under some sort of discomfort that pushes you to try something new and accomplish it. If you try to look at it that way, you will have the motivation to push yourself and in the end, it will be worth the stress.
The best way to acknowledge the positive influence of discomfort is by experiencing it. It will for sure be very hard to kill the urge to constantly avoid situations that will later on lead to discomfort. However, once you pluck up the courage to fight, you will be soo proud and satisfied with yourself and your work. Even if you didn’t achieve the exact goal that you had set, you will at least have gained some experience and that is really precious.
Situations that are out of the norm are what evolve us on the journey of self-development. Discomfort is definitely a must for success. As people, we can’t grow in our comfort zone. If you can normalize discomfort and perceive it as an opportunity to experience more, it won’t be a worry at all. The key is to be able to use discomfort to your advantage.