Get Out of Your Comfy Chair

Ahh, the comfort zone.

As humans, this is a place we love. We look for, strive for
and have created products and even entire industries to help
find and maintain high levels of comfort (hello Lazy-Boy!).
You'll find this desire for the comfort zone in all areas of
life - physically, mentally, emotionally and more; face it,
we are hard wired to seek comfort.

Given that, you might be surprised by the title of this
piece. (Could I really want you to get uncomfortable?)

Why would any self-respecting personal and professional
development author write something that seems so counter to
what we all want?

Because like many things in life there is a difference
between want we want and what we need. We all, at differing
levels of fervor, want the comfort zone (it is, after all,
comfortable). Yet what we need to reach our goals is likely
in direct conflict with the desire for the comfort zone.

So why do I suggest you make discomfort your friend? Let me
count the ways.

Five Reasons Why...

Discomfort allows growth. Whether you are talking physically
(it`s hard to become more fit while comfortably sitting in
your favorite chair, and especially when you first begin
exercising, you will feel real discomfort!), mentally
(thinking about new things, concepts and ideas requires
energy), emotionally (doing something different can be
hard), you cannot grow until you push the envelope of your
comfort zone.

If you want more of anything in your life - from healthy
relationships to a healthy body weight to a healthy bank
account (and everything in between) - you must grow in
knowledge, skills, habits and more. You must grow, and all
true growth occurs outside the comfort zone.

Discomfort builds confidence. Ever noticed that the more you
do something successfully the more confident you become? How
do you get better at something - by doing it exactly like
you did it before? Probably not.

Confidence comes in part from competence, which comes from
practicing and trying new things in order to improve. See
the connection? It is hard to build confidence sitting
comfortably in the easy chair.

Discomfort promotes creativity. Creativity is borne of
necessity. People create new things, ideas, concepts and
products when they have a problem - or in some way are
outside their comfort zone.

Often creativity is tapped to help regain comfort, which is
great. The point is that when you feel or notice some
discomfort or lack of satisfaction with your situation, you
will likely be driven to innovate and be creative to find a
remedy. If you want to be more creative, look for your
discomfort.

Discomfort overcomes resistance to change. When we are
comfortable, we are less likely to want to change - almost
by definition. When we have a lack of satisfaction or have
become uncomfortable with the way things are we are far more
open to change. Change, of course, to create a new situation
that is better and ultimately creates a higher level of
comfort.

Discomfort facilitates goal achievement. This is the
culmination of the other four points. If you want more
learning, growth, promotion, profits, etc., you must
consciously get outside of your comfort zone. Ask yourself
this question: "Do you want your goals enough to put up with
a bit of discomfort, or even fear?" Especially when you
realize that the very discomfort will help drive you to your
goals. If so, great. You know what to do.

If not, go ahead and sit back in your comfy place. Just
don`t be surprised when you don`t create a better future for
yourself.

You`ve traded it for all that comfort.

Potential Pointer: Do you want to improve; do you want to
grow; do you want to advance for yourself, your team and
your organization? If so you must stretch past your comfort
zone and become comfortable with being uncomfortable