Personal evolution only happens when there is pressure.
The only way to grow, is with pressure and stress. What makes you comfortable can ruin you what makes you uncomfortable is the only way to grow. At this moment of time we are trying to filter out discomfort like if it was a disease of some kind. Sure discomfort is not always nice and sure why be in discomfort if you could choose to be in comfort. If that is the argument than my argument to you is if you value growth, personal development, mindfulness, creativity, new memories, new skills, better physical health, spiritual health, economical health, then you must outgrow your shell of comfort, your bubble of fluffy comfortable non growing way of life. Nothing of importance can never ever grow in a zone of comfort. If you are in a relationship with a loveable partner then good for you! If you live in a comfortable relationship then chances are that your social and emotional band are not as strong as it could be. If your band with this person in the zone of comfort never been challenged with adversity, discomfort and stress how would you ever know how strong this band of love really is between you? Discomfort is a stress test of strength.
I will give you an example
How does lobster grow? a lobster is soft, mushy creature that lives in a rigid hard & shell. That hard and ridged shell does not expand. So how does a lobster grow? When the lobster grows, that shell gets very small & uncomfortable, that feeling of stress forces the lobster to cast off it shell and build a new shell under a rock so it can protect itself from predators. If lobsters would have doctors they would never grow, they would take some medication , some painkillers and the lobster feels fine. Times of stress can be times for growth, use pain, adversity and setbacks as fuel for growth.
Why is comfort killing us slowly?
Let me present the side effect of being comfortable…. daily predictable routines!
Routines may make you feel at ease and in control, and that it not a bad thing but if your whole life is a predictable constant routine then you are in deep water my friend. All life around you will disappear before your eyes. Routine is known to dull our sensitivities. Think about the times in your life when you’ve driven the same route repeatedly: after a certain number of trips, you start tuning out most of it. Have you ever had a trip to the office or school where you barely remember what happened after you got there?
If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you might find yourself tuning out much of your life on a daily basis. And that is not living, that is existing!
But when you go out of your way to experience new things, or when you let new things happen to you, your body creates brand new neural pathways that fuel your creative spark and enhance your memory. If you want something in life that you have never had, you will have to do something that you have never done.
Why is it hard to be in discomfort?
The feelings of stress, fear and discomfort are emotional reaction from an experience. To fully live means to fully take in the full picture of all emotions. If you try to avoid certain emotions because you are scared to be uncomfortable. If that is the case you are also taking away the full picture of being alive, you limit your senses and reduce the full capacity of “sight” physical and spiritual. Let say you want to go on an adventure road trip, hiking or camping. Adventure means thrills of surprises and unpredictable moments of chaos. The reality of being in discomfort is when the rug is pulled under our feets, that pain of chaos we forever be apart of our memories and we will forever remember those days of discomfort because of all the mixed emotions in that timeline of experience which is a reaction from that experience of being fully alive and embracing spontaneous discomfort of what life is really about.
The hardest part of being in discomfort is stepping out form our comfort zone of daily routines,control predictability and familiar spaces into the “discomfort zone” of chaos, fear, unpredictability and unfamiliar spaces. When you start being comfortable of being uncomfortable then the growth in every area of your life will take place.
If it doesn't challenge you it will never change you.
How to start being in discomfort
Call for change- your are not happy with your life, you want to live.
Be brave- Trust your ability for change.
Do something you have never done- embrace new territories that challenge your body and mind.
Be spontaneous and unpredictable.
Be where you are- see everything, feel everything- this will enlighten your perspective of life.
Something to remember
Be brave and just take one step towards unfamiliar ground and trust yourself that it is possible for you. You will notices a more colorful world that has always been there wear you haven't been and when you are in discomfort you will feel so very much alive. What makes you comfortable can ruin you what makes you uncomfortable is the only way to grow.