3 Steps To Help You Tap Into The Potential Of Being Uncomfortable
3 Steps To Help You Tap Into The Potential Of Being Uncomfortable by Jenniffer Avis for Swell Made Co. Photo by Ash Nayler.
How Comfortable Are You With Being Uncomfortable?
Most of us are not great at it—which makes sense. If you’re uncomfortable about something it’s because there’s friction. But, if you can find a way through those icky feelings, there is a lot of potential in being uncomfortable.
Why? Because that feeling is red-flagging something that is out of alignment—kind of like a sensor light on your car’s dashboard. Discomfort is giving you an opportunity to deal with something “under the hood” and make a change before major repairs are needed.
Choose Yourself By Leaning Into Discomfort
Whatever it is that’s making you uncomfortable (confrontation, owning a mistake, setting boundaries, stating needs, making decisions, etc…) you have to choose how you’re going to handle it.
One option is to ignore the feelings and simply carry on being uncomfortable. But, while you’re busy channelling your inner ostrich and sticking your head in the sand, you’re also missing out on opportunities and life’s sweet and simple moments. This choice might seem easier in the short term but in my experience, it sets you up for more discomfort and possibly regrets down the line.
Another option is to face up to your discomfort and deal with it. This isn’t an easy choice—it can mean opening yourself up to even more uncomfortable feelings. (They tend to travel in packs.) But, if you can commit to investing in yourself, working your way through being uncomfortable (instead of hiding from it) can be a really empowering choice.
It’s Like They Say… Nothing Worth Having Comes Easily.
There is so much potential in choosing to lean into the experience of being uncomfortable. You stand to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and make sustainable changes to align your life with a clear mind and an open heart.
But how do you tap into that potential? You can start by taking a deep breath, giving yourself a top-notch pep talk and diving in.
Here’s how the process of using discomfort as a catalyst for something great could look for you.
3 Steps To Help You Tap Into The Potential Of Being Uncomfortable by Jenniffer Avis for Swell Made Co. Photo by Ash Nayler.
3 Steps To Help You Tap Into The Potential Of Being Uncomfortable
First, sit with your feelings and be uncomfortable.
Don’t hide (pull your head out of the sand) and don’t run away. Talk it out, cry, journal. Feel it.
Then, get to the root of it.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable, it’s because you’re in conflict with yourself in some way—even if the problem is external to you (like a fight with a friend, for example). There is usually something bubbling up below the surface and if you can dig in and find it, you can make some empowered choices about what to about it. (Bonus: You could also set yourself up for some deeper healing.)
For example, you disagree with someone’s actions but bringing it up with them makes you feel uncomfortable. Instead of putting off a potentially difficult conversation (engage ostrich mode!), you could ask yourself WHY you are so uncomfortable. It could look like this:
Thinking about confronting someone makes me really uncomfortable.
Why? Because I don’t like confrontations.
Why? Because I don’t like when people are angry with me.
Why? Because they might be disappointed in me or have a poor opinion of me.
So, what you have uncovered is that you are uncomfortable confronting someone because it might change the way they (and others) view you. You are worried about what people think of you—which is totally natural (we all are to some degree!).
Finally, decide how to face it.
Once you know what’s causing you to feel uncomfortable you can make some decisions about how to address it.
Continuing with the example from above, now that you know your discomfort with confrontation is rooted in a lack of self-confidence, you can focus on building up your self-worth and self-love. In the long term, this investment in yourself will empower you to stand firm in your beliefs and confront someone knowing that even if they do change their opinion of you, your opinion of yourself is solid.
Note: Some of this work can be heavy lifting and if you have access to a counsellor to help you through it, that’s never a bad thing!
Look At Being Uncomfortable As An Opportunity, Not An Obstacle.
Learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable is empowering—but not always easy and definitely not instant. That uneasy feeling is telling you that it’s time for something to shift and change. And change is always uncomfortable in the beginning. When you commit to learning more about WHY you are uncomfortable, there is huge potential to change, to grow and to break with self-limiting habits and beliefs.
Jenn (she/her) is a full-time entrepreneur based in Peterborough, ON. She believes that words are magick and has built a career copywriting and creating content for other small business owners to help them weave their brand stories and connect with their audience. When she isn't tapping out words at her desk, Jenn can be found tending gardens, burning candles, or gazing into crystal balls.
Follow her online for inspiration and copywriting tips on Instagram: @aviscopyandcontent