Walk Towards Discomfort

In these times, it's more important than ever to challenge yourself. We're all spending more time than ever inside our comfort zones, and it's starting to take a toll. That's why I'm here to tell you that it's time to walk towards discomfort. It's time to put down the Netflix remote, step away from the comfortable chair, and venture outside your comfort zone.

When you walk towards discomfort, you're giving yourself the opportunity to grow. To learn new things. To expand your horizons. When you stay inside your comfort zone, you're restricting yourself. You're telling yourself that you're not capable of handle anything outside of your normal routine. But that's not true! You are capable of so much more than you realize. Walking towards discomfort forces you to step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. And that's where the magic happens.

For example, let's say you've always wanted to learn how to cook but haven't because you're afraid of failing. Well, guess what? The only way to become a good cook is by practice...and by making a lot of mistakes along the way. If you never venture outside your comfort zone, you'll never know what you're capable of and you'll never get better at anything. Sooner or later, you have to take the leap and just go for it!

Now that we've talked about why it's so important to walk towards discomfort, let's talk about how you can start doing it today. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Set a goal for yourself each day/week/month/year that takes you outside your comfort zone. For example, if cooking is something that makes you uncomfortable, set a goal to make one new recipe each week. Or if public speaking is something that makes you nervous, set a goal to give one presentation per month. Small goals are key here because they'll help ease you into the process and won't feel as daunting as big ones might.

2) Find a friend or family member who will challenge you and hold you accountable. It'll be easier (and more fun) to achieve your goals if someone else is walking alongside you on this journey.

3) Take baby steps! Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day—and neither is comfort with the uncomfortable :) Start small and work your way up from there.

4) Be patient with yourself and don't get discouraged if things don't go perfectly at first (or second...or third). Like anything else in life, walking towards discomfort takes time and practice before it becomes second nature.

5) Reward yourself! Whenever you accomplish one of your goals, take some time to celebrate—you deserve it! This will help establish positive associations with stepping out of your comfort zone and make it more likely that you'll do it again in the future :).

So there you have it! Why walking towards discomfort is so important and how YOU can start doing it today. Just remember to start small, be patient with yourself, and have fun with it! Trust me—you'll be glad you did :)