2 Thoughts - Discomfort & Growth
#1: Discomfort
Today we have THREE thoughts and a story:
1. Our extreme comfort is making us uncomfortable - lack of hunger, shelter, need to physically exert ourselves - has a negative mental impact. For an easy read: The Comfort Crisis, but for my nerd friends: Physical Activity VS Depression
2. The power of solitude and boredom - this is where creativity and novel solutions happen. Podcast: The Decline of Reading in America.
3. Failure is good - intentional hardship, pushing beyond our capabilities, and chance of failure builds confidence, skills, and resilience.
Story time!
I recently started a course to learn how to develop word-of-mouth referrals. I know that mastering this skill will dramatically impact my journey. But learning this skill is super uncomfortable - I hate asking for help. The first few times, it came out "cringy" (as my kids would say) and I wanted to immediately stop.
Which brings me to Point 1 - I have avoided working on these skills in the past because I'm on a decent enough path. Why change? Comfort kills ambition.
Point 2 - learning doesn't happen in a neat little block on your calendar. Real learning requires a mental journey. It requires time to wrestle with deeper thoughts to test them to find a way to reconcile them or forge something new. One of the first exercises was answering the question with extreme clarity, "What do you do best and who do you serve?" I set aside 3 hours for this initial session, but it took me nearly 3 weeks of wrestling with this to come to the *right* version. I couldn't plan for that clarity, I had to make space for thinking over and over again. Thank goodness for long drives and forced boredom.
Point 3 - failure is good. Despite my cringy first attempt, I've kept on asking for help. I have accountability partners, and each week I report in on my progress. The conversations are getting easier. I actually love having that terrible first attempt because it's a measuring stick for progress.
*Picture above is my 2nd daughter doing something WAY outside her comfort zone and crushing it!
#2: One Question to Ask Yourself
Where is your comfort making you uncomfortable?
