As we grow older, we feel comfortable when we’re around familiar things. As reassuring as those people and experiences are, when we venture into the “uncomfortable,” we can build our confidence, strengthen our resilience and develop skills that help us continue to grow.

Understanding the Comfort Zone

Familiar routines make us feel safe and provide predictability. We create shortcuts and automatic responses that don’t tax our brain, which allows us to conserve energy for more important moments. When we do encounter something new or different, our senses snap to attention and push us out of that cozy zone, possibly triggering feelings of anxiety and stress. Our reaction to the sudden shift from comfort to discomfort doesn’t mean we should stop; it simply means we need to be mindful of why we are feeling uncomfortable and understand it is a natural reaction to change.

Situations That Feel Uncomfortable

For most people, it’s uncertainty that makes them feel uncomfortable. For example, when you’re learning something new, you aren’t sure you’ll do everything right the first few times, so you feel uncomfortable about moving forward. It can happen when you start a new role or project, speak up in a meeting, present in front of a group — or do anything that pulls you from your comfort zone.

Why We Avoid Discomfort

The key is to learn and grow from any missteps you might make — don’t let your fear keep you from pushing forward. As writer and lecturer Dale Carnegie put it, “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest steppingstones to success.”

Benefits of Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

While it may be easier to stick with a familiar routine, you have far more to gain by trying something new. Each time you lean into feeling a little uncomfortable, you build self-confidence and resilience. Taking on a challenge slightly outside your comfort zone is the perfect opportunity to grow your skills and knowledge, while making it easier to step out further with future challenges.

Practical Strategies for Growth

Hayley Flott, PDRMA Wellness Consultant, suggests the following strategies to begin stepping outside your comfort zone and supporting personal growth.

• Start with small, manageable challenges.
• Focus on learning rather than perfection.
• Break larger goals into achievable steps.
• Reframe mistakes as steps toward learning.
• Celebrate progress and effort along the way.

Build Confidence Through Action

Action is always the first step in building confidence in a new skill. Growth is a gradual process, so set modest expectations in the beginning. Every time you overcome a challenge, you become a bit stronger and more confident, setting the foundation for your future success.

PATH Resources

Are you ready to make friends with the uncomfortable? Get prepared with these helpful PATH resources.

• PATH Health Coaching.
• Media: Build Your Confidence in Social Situations.
• Media: Coping Under Pressure.