The Art of Being Uncomfortable: Why You Should Embrace Discomfort

Why I Fell in Love with Discomfort

Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I used to hate being uncomfortable. Like, really hated it. Back in 2008, I was working at this stuffy magazine in New York, and I’d do anything to avoid stepping out of my comfort zone. Then, one day, my editor—let’s call him Marcus—told me to cover a tech conference in Austin. I mean, I knew nothing about tech, and Austin might as well have been Mars to me.

But I went. And it was terrible. And amazing. I was so out of my depth, but I learned more in those three days than I had in months. That’s when it hit me: discomfort is where the magic happens.

The Science of Stretching Yourself

Okay, so I’m not a scientist, but I’ve talked to some. And they all say the same thing: growth happens when you push yourself. It’s like muscles—you gotta tear ’em up to build ’em back stronger. I remember talking to this neuroscientist, Dr. Linda Chen, over coffee at the place on 5th. She told me, “Your brain is like a muscle. If you don’t challenge it, it gets flabby.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

So, how do you do it? Well, first, you gotta recognize when you’re avoiding something because it’s uncomfortable. And then, you do it anyway. It’s that simple. And that hard.

My Uncomfortable Experiment

About three months ago, I decided to put this into practice. I signed up for a stand-up comedy class. Me, a writer who’s never even told a joke in her life. The first class was a disaster. I bombed. Like, crickets in the room kind of bombed. But I kept going. And slowly, it got better. Not great, but better. And you know what? It was fun. And I learned alot about public speaking, which honestly, nobody asked for but here we are.

But here’s the thing: it wasn’t just about the comedy. It was about proving to myself that I could do something scary. And that feeling, man, it’s addictive.

How to Embrace Discomfort

So, how do you start? Well, first, you gotta find your discomfort. For me, it was public speaking. For you, it might be something else. Maybe it’s networking, or asking for a raise, or trying a new hobby. Whatever it is, find it. Then, do it. And keep doing it until it’s not scary anymore.

And look, I’m not saying you should go out and do something stupid. Like, don’t quit your job to become a professional skydiver if you’re afraid of heights. But maybe sign up for a tandem jump. Or, you know, check out the latest news updates today summary to see what’s happening in the world. Stay informed, stay curious.

Also, surround yourself with people who challenge you. Not in a mean way, but in a “you can do better” way. I have this friend, let’s call her Dave, who’s always pushing me to try new things. Last Tuesday, he convinced me to try rock climbing. I was terrified, but I did it. And you know what? It was awesome.

A Tangent: The Committment to Growth

Speaking of pushing yourself, have you ever noticed how people talk about “committment” like it’s this big, scary thing? It’s not. It’s just a decision to keep going, even when it’s hard. And honestly, it’s the only way to grow. So, make a committment to yourself to try something new, something uncomfortable, at least once a month. It could be anything—cooking a new recipe, learning a new language, even just striking up a conversation with a stranger.

And hey, if you fail, who cares? Failure is just proof that you tried. And trying is what counts. So go ahead, fail. Just make sure you fail forward.

Final Thoughts (Sort Of)

Look, I’m not saying life should be one big uncomfortable adventure. There’s a time and a place for comfort, for sure. But if you’re only ever comfortable, you’re not growing. And growth, that’s what life’s all about.

So, what’s your discomfort? What’s that thing you’ve been avoiding because it’s scary? Go do it. And then come back and tell me how it went. I’m genuinely curious.

Oh, and one more thing: don’t forget to breathe. It helps with the uncomfortable stuff. Trust me.

About the Author
Sarah Mitchell has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s written for major publications and has a love-hate relationship with discomfort. When she’s not writing, she’s probably trying (and failing) to do a headstand in yoga.