Uncomfortable? You're Doing it Right!

There is a great quote in one of Adam Grant's books that say if you are comfortable, you're probably doing it wrong.  On the funny side, it made me instantly uncomfortable. Did that mean I was doing it right? On the not so funny side I realized I really disliked the word wrong.  I grew up in an environment I didn't fit into, so was told I was wrong constantly.  While it made me feel sad and broken, flinging that word of mass destruction at me couldn't change who I was. 

To really understand what Grant was trying to share I needed to find a way to let go of the negative reaction I was having to the word wrong - never easy but I somehow managed it - and keep reading.  In addition to his comment about being comfortable, he went on to say if you are stuck you are probably headed in the wrong direction or running out of fuel. These words seemed to go down easier as they didn't feel like a personal attack. 

So where did this leave me?  Thoughtful.  I didn't have a happy early life and still struggle with self-love and acceptance.  All my life I have sought to come to a drama free place of quiet contentment. I want to be comfortable, and over the last few years I have made huge progress in this area.  I am doing well overall. My husband is also doing well, my kids are off creating their own lives, I love my home, and I've enjoyed some wonderful vacations.  There is not a bone in my body that has any desire for the feeling of contentment I have to disappear, but I do want to continue soaring ever higher.

When I look at my personal growth and writing, I don't want to find myself stagnant.  I want to continue to grow and become all that I can be in every area of my life.  Here is where I can apply the idea of accepting discomfort as a good sign.  In my writing, being uncomfortable pushes me to try writing in unfamiliar genres, to take classes to increase my knowledge and to embrace anything that helps me elevate my efforts. 

In my personal life I try to keep from stagnating as I age by keeping open to new ways of doing things, reading books from wide points of view, traveling as much as possible, and continuing my efforts to become the best version of me I can.  The minute I think I have arrived and reached my full potential is the day I begin to stagnate.  That attitude will keep me stuck in a moment in one place while the world continues to evolve. I will be left behind.  

We all know people this has happened to, who continue to tell their favorite stories from their younger years on repeat as they have no new experiences to share.  Please do not let that be me. I am fighting against that tooth and nail.  There might be a time in the future where mobility issues make it impossible for me to be as actively out there.  If that happens, let me find a way to stay growing and relevant through other avenues such as the internet and reading. 

There is a dichotomy here I fully acknowledge. In my daily life I will continue to create a place of calm and comfort.  This nourishes my soul and creates the fuel I need for the work I do and the life I am reaching for.  In any area of growth I embrace I will accept the need to be uncomfortable knowing that will keep me from becoming complacent, will drive me to new and exciting ventures, and will push me to new heights.  

Step out of your comfort zone regularly. Be brave enough to change directions when you feel the pull of new horizons.  Embrace the discomfort as you learn new lessons.  Scratch that itch that won't stop and never stop living life to its fullest.