A person wants to apply for a better job, but they don’t out of fear of getting turned down.
Someone saves thousands of dollars for a down payment on their dream car, but they’re afraid of making the monthly payments, so they get or a vehicle with a lower sticker price.
A person dreams of moving to another city, but fear causes them to stay where everything and everyone is familiar.
When you shy away from the things you want because you’re uncomfortable, you rob yourself of improved performance, more enjoyable relationships, and a better life.
A freeing thought
To live fully, we must be willing to do something unnatural to us. We must readily and repeatedly step into the unknown.
To do that, we must alter our relationship to change and be ready for a paradigm shift. Instead of “I’m good with how things are. I don’t want change happening to me,” think “Change is inevitable, so I make change happen for me.”
This shift in thinking allows us to navigate change with a sense of personal power and confidence and shape the outcomes we get.
Where the magic happens
Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is challenging. But it’s a small price to pay for reaching your goals and creating the life you really want.
However, all goals are not the same; there are three different types.
The first is a Type A goal. This is a goal you’ve already achieved, such as getting a comparable job, house, or car. Type A goals do not make you stretch.
Then, there’s Type B goal, which is something you’ve never achieved, but you know, with a little more effort, you can probably reach it.
And, finally, there’s a Type C goal. This is a fantasy-like goal that makes you stretch. It’s something that takes you far outside of your comfort zone.
If you have a Type C goal, it will really excite you. Type C goals are where the magic happens because you want them so badly that you’re willing to do what it takes to reach them. You get comfortable with getting uncomfortable.
Below are three ways and reasons to get comfortable with being uncomfortable:
REFRAME
You won’t achieve a significant improvement in any area of your life without experiencing some discomfort. So, instead of avoiding it, look at discomfort as a chance to grow, an opportunity to be, do, and have more and better.
One way to shift to this new mindset is to get curious about yourself. When you are facing an unknown, and you start to feel uncomfortable, notice the story you’re telling yourself about the situation. Ask yourself: Is it true? How do I know? Is there another possibility?
To reframe discomfort, you can also use one of Bob’s mind tricks: Reduce it to the ridiculous.
For example, if you currently earn $62,000 a year, but your goal is to make $250,000 a year, it might seem like a herculean task when you think of having to quadruple your income.
However, if you break it down into how much you would have to make a day or an hour, earning $250,000 a year becomes far more manageable in your mind.
Breaking down things that make you uncomfortable into little bite-sized chunks keeps you from feeling overwhelmed with everything you need to do when you step out of your comfort zone. It’s far less intimidating when you look at accomplishing your task one step or one day at a time.
RECHOOSE
Recognizing a situation, circumstance, or opportunity as a chance to grow does not mean that old thoughts and habits stop presenting themselves. It means you can recognize the old self-sabotaging tendencies more quickly, and head them off at the pass by choosing new possibilities in your mind.
You make a choice every single moment. You choose who you want to be, how you show up, what you do, and what you don’t do. So, when doubting thoughts of “what if” arise, instead of backing away from what you want, make a new choice.
If your intention is to achieve a particular goal, you can use your choices as a powerful tool to free yourself from what limits you. Your choices are how you get to where you want to go.
REIMAGINE
Everything starts and ends in the mind. Where your attention goes, your energy flows.
If you have a cash flow problem, do you concentrate on what’s currently in your bank account or the amount of money you want in your bank account?
If you have a health problem, do you focus on the x-ray results or restoring your health?
If you want to overcome a problem and create a different outcome, you must focus on what you want.
Whenever you’re afraid of something, step back and imagine yourself completing the task or overcoming the obstacle you’re facing.
Picture yourself having already succeeded. Imagine the accolades you’ll receive, the balance in your bank account growing, or the joy you’ll feel when you’ve accomplished it. Allow yourself to experience all the emotions you’ll feel when you succeed.
Visualize your success over and over and hold the image of it in your mind. This will direct your focus to what you want—to achievement, rather than fear.
To more and better,
Sandy Gallagher
