Beware of Comfort

I would rather sit in a lounge chair at a movie theater than a folding metal chair at the DMV because it is more comfortable. Many things help us feel more comfortable, like blankets when we are cold or fans when we are hot. If you look around you right now, there are probably more than a dozen things that help you stay comfortable.

However, progress is often made when we are uncomfortable. We are uncomfortable with the challenge or timeline of a project, but we get better because of the difficulty. We are uncomfortable when we exercise, but it is good for our health. We are uncomfortable when encountering new information and ideas that do not easily match our perspective, yet we gain an appreciation for the knowledge and experience of others to expand our worldview.

Most of the time we will choose comfortable over uncomfortable, which is more pleasant in the moment, yet over time we could benefit more from making an uncomfortable decision. Recently, a colleague and I had a conversation which was very uncomfortable at the moment, and I thought I may have lost the relationships, yet two days later she thanked me for being clear and considerate. The uncomfortable conversation led to deeper trust for future interactions, even though it was hard in the moment.

A person does not need to be uncomfortable all the time, but strategically choosing the best times to follow the uncomfortable path can be beneficial and powerful. If you would like to talk more about the best times to choose and avoid comfort, please Contact Us.