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How do you deal with discomfort?

When was the last time you felt uncomfortable?

Has it been a while? 

You see, discomfort is actually a good thing. I know it feels awkward, but more often than not, it is a great sign. It means that you have stepped a little (or a lot) outside of your comfort zone. 

It often pops up when we are doing something new or even just thinking about doing something new! 

It may surface when we are doing something that we don’t feel totally confident in.If we’re learning, if we’re exploring and if we’re putting ourselves out there in the world, we often will experience the feeling of discomfort.

Everyone experiences it in their own way. You may feel it in your stomach. You may feel it as a general buzzing kind of nervousness. Some people may feel it as a very distinct urge to retreat, to completely avoid a situation altogether. 

The most important thing about discomfort is how you deal with it.  Most of us assume if we have discomfort in our lives then there’s something we’re not doing right or there’s something wrong with us. Not true. Everyone experiences discomfort, no matter how confident they may look to you from the outside.

So it’s not about if you experience it, but rather how you choose to view it and deal with it.

Discomfort is a sensation we feel when the brain is signalling some kind of fear. The brain is doing this simply because we are doing something new, where it does not feel familiar. You can use discomfort as a sign that you’re learning, that you’re challenging yourself to grow outside your normal sphere.

So, how do you deal with it?

Firstly, you want to recognise that it’s normal. Nothing has gone wrong. Then you can reassure yourself that it’s a sign that you are really stretching yourself. And that’s a good thing. The most important thing is to not resist the feeling. By resisting the feeling you will amplify it. If you accept that you are just feeling a bit jittery or awkward, and that’s okay, then you will find you can deal with it much easier.

How you treat the experience of discomfort will determine how much you can fully embrace opportunities to create your best life and best business. So, remember, you have a choice in how you choose to view it and in accepting the feeling momentarily. Because inevitably, the feeling will pass and you will be glad you stretched yourself.

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Why discomfort is good

When was the last time you felt uncomfortable? 

Has it been a while or does something specific spring to mind from a recent event?

I’m hoping the latter. You see, discomfort is actually a good thing. I know it feels awkward, but more often than not, it is a great sign. It means that you have stepped a little (or a lot) outside your comfort zone. It often pops up when we are doing something new or even just thinking about doing something new! If we are doing something that we don’t feel totally confident in, we can feel uncomfortable. If we’re learning, if we’re exploring and if we’re putting ourselves out there in the world. All of these scenarios can bring up a feeling of discomfort.

Discomfort is a feeling. You may feel it in your stomach. You may feel it as a general buzzing kind of nervousness. You may feel it as a very distinct urge to retreat, or to completely avoid a situation altogether. What does all this sound like? Fear. Yes, good old fear. We’re feeling uncomfortable because our brain has created fearful thoughts, that we may or may not be conscious of. Those thoughts have created the discomfort. This is a normal human reaction- nothing wrong with you.

The most import thing about discomfort is how you deal with it, not whether you experience it or not. We’re not about trying to eliminate it. Basically every human being experiences discomfort and I want to suggest to you that you even actively seek it. But first, slowly, slowly, let’s start with the “how you deal with it” part first. Stay with me here.

At the first sign of discomfort, what do you do? Think back to the last experience you had when you really felt uncomfortable. Can you remember what you did? Can you remember where you were and what thoughts were running through your mind? How you treat the experience of discomfort will determine how much you can fully embrace opportunities to create your best life and best business.

Discomfort is a sensation we feel when the brain is signalling some kind of fear. The brain is doing this because we are doing something new, where it does not feel familiar. Our brains want us to do the same thing all the time because it is familiar and more efficient. So being an entrepreneur is like waving a red flag in front of the conservative functioning of the brain. It sees danger. It interprets danger, not because there is danger but simply because it is unfamiliar territory.

But hey, isn’t starting something from scratch (your business) or creating something new completely unfamiliar at first? Well, yes. So if you’re experiencing discomfort regularly you’re likely out there creating new things and learning exciting things. This is why I say discomfort is a good thing. I don’t want us to all feel uncomfortable all the time, I just know that if you are feeling it, it means that you’re challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone.

So the key to working with discomfort – like any emotion- is to allow yourself to feel it. Notice it when it comes up, observe it. Use it as a sign that you’re learning, that you’re challenging yourself to grow outside your normal sphere. If you treat it like this, instead of trying to ignore it or push it away, you can actually find your peace with it. You will still get pangs of discomfort but you will understand it’s part of the bigger picture, part of the entrepreneurial journey and a good sign that you’re growing.

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Feeling out of your depth?

Feeling Out Of Your Depth?

Ever get that gnawing feeling inside and find yourself thinking “I don’t know what I’m doing”? I get it a lot, usually as I’m embarking on a project I haven’t done before. The idea of starting the project was exciting and then as I decide to start working on it…anxiety strikes. I suddenly feel out of my depth. I have a plan but it somehow seems uphill all of a sudden. I feel uncomfortable and can already see overwhelm approaching… and I’ve only just started. Do you know what I’m talking about? When your drive and confidence melt into doubt.
Well, the good news is, this is not just us. This is what most people experience when starting something new. How do I know? Because it’s the natural workings of the human brain. Your mind is the most powerful resource you have and also the one thing that can and will prevent you from achieving the life and business you really want. Feeling out of your depth is actually a natural response from a thought you are having in your mind. The thought might be “I don’t know if I can do this” (this is a popular one) or as I mentioned before “I don’t know what I’m doing”. These thoughts are just thoughts, not facts. Our challenge in these situations is to learn to notice these thoughts and then move on without buying into them. The more we can practice doing this, the better we become at it. Next time you start to feel anxiety creeping in, ask yourself “what am I thinking right now about this situation?” If it’s something negative, just gently remind yourself that it’s just your human brain’s response to something unfamiliar. Don’t let it stop you from moving forward.