I've been realizing a very important, but still very disturbing thing lately. . . life isn't meant to be all buterflies and rainbows all the time. We aren't meant to walk around in our comfort zone all the time. We don't grow unless we're challenged, we don't achieve our wildest dreams unless we push ourselves and the magic truly happens outside of our comfort zone.

Disturbing right?!?! But also kinda exciting at the same time knowing that if I could just get comfortable with being uncomfortable, so many amazingly wonderful things could be in store for me. . . and for you too!

But get comfortable with being uncomfortable?!?!? Like how does one actually do that? Should we be signing up to give a TedTalk even though we get sick at the idea of public speaking? Should we force ourselves to stand in front of the cage full of mice at the pet store if we're deathly (like legit could die) afraid of mice? Or should we be attending two classes a day at the local gym to overcome our fear of working out in front of others?

All of these things seem a little extreme, yes, but the question remains. . . should we be thrusting ourselves into uncomfortable situations until we miraculously just become comfortable with them?

IMO, the answer to that question is no. No, we should not haphazardly throw ourselves into uncomfortable situations with limited planning or forethought in hopes that the shear fact that we are in the uncomfortable situation enough times will transform it into a place of comfort.

A more practical way of going about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable might be to train ourselves to manage the emotions and feelings of anxiety that arise when we enter an unfamiliar situation. We can move from pain to power in any circumstance by changing our perspective. If you’ve learned to be fearful or negative you can also learn to be courageous and positive. If you've learned to be shy and non-confrontatoinal, you can learn to be confident and to stand up for yourself. Instead of letting fear or discomfort rule our lives we must accept that it’s a fact of life and persevere to achieve our goals.

Take it slow, but actively make an effort to get cozy with the feelings of discomfort that come with being in an unfamiliar situation. By raising your hand to give a presentation for your company, walking slowly past the mice each time you go to the pet store or working out with a partner once a week, you are demonstrating that you are at least willing to confront your discomfort. By choosing to introduce the discomfort into your life in small amounts, recognizing and looking it square in the eyes and agreeing to logically handle whatever emotions you may feel in the midst of that discomfort, you are training your brain to move from pain to power. Our mind is our strongest tool and as I've said before, one of the only things in life we have full control over.

Right now I could list a handful of things I’m struggling with at the moment that are causing fear to creep its way into my mind and ultimately give me this huge feeling of discomfort. Spending time and energy contemplating those things doesn’t make them go away or get me any closer to where I want to be in life. In fact, I only psyche myself out more by focusing on the discomfort I feel because of those things.

But by addressing those situations as they come and mindfully focusing on the strengths I have, which have helped me get this far, I am better able to control my fear that something won't go as planned or that I won't be fully equipped to handle every single circumstance that comes my way. The way we talk to ourselves and coach ourselves through uncomfortable things makes all the difference. Letting our thoughts run rampant and become wildly out of control is no way to move from discomfort to comfort and certainly not a recipe for overcoming the obstacles that try to keep us from achieving our greatest potential.

If you haven’t read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic, I highly recommend it. (It’s life changing!) But in it Elizabeth writes, “Basically, your fear is like a mall cop who thinks he’s a Navy SEAL: He hasn’t slept in days, he’s all hopped up on Red Bull, and he’s liable to shoot at his own shadow in an absurd effort to keep everyone 'safe.'”

When you’re starting to feel the anxiety or discomfort, remember that if you relax, your discomfort will relax too! Remember also that you have the power to control your thoughts and move from pain to power!

Light, Love & the Highest Vibrations,

Lon