Why You Should Become Uncomfortable in Pursuit of Your Goals

Imagine a wild winter morning. It’s dark, the wind is swirling and it's bitterly cold. It’s also raining.

Contrast this with lying in your bed. It’s warm, you're wrapped up in the covers and cosy.

The last thing you want to do is go out for a run. You don’t want to leave the comfort of your bed. I don’t blame you. I was doing the same.

We go through a lot of life taking what appears to be the easy option. And with good reason. We evolved as a species to survive and not threaten that. In the modern world, this is turned up to 10. You can order your shopping, takeaways, clothes and furniture without ever leaving your home. There are obviously many positives to this - we’re no longer being chased by lions across the Savannah - however, it’s reduced our ability to experience all that life has in store for us.

Luckily, we can change and improve this. It’s all about getting out of your comfort zone. To do this, we can move into what is called the “stretch zone” where we decide to try something new and exciting, forcing us to learn. It’s worth noting it can feel a little scary and make you nervous. That’s okay.

A reassuring fact to remember is fear and excitement are very similar physiologically — meaning the chemical reaction going on in your brain and the way it shows (dilated pupils and sweaty palms, for example) can be reframed as excitement.

I did this recently. I signed up for two 10km trail running events. Why? Because I needed something more than only going to the gym 4 times per week. I wasn’t being wholly satisfied by it. Plus, I also wanted a challenge.

Initially, my training was a run on a Sunday for 30 minutes. Some weeks I wouldn’t even go. I told myself “I’m not a runner”. This limiting belief was holding me back. If I wanted to take this running game seriously, I had to stop telling myself stories.

Going back to the morning I described at the beginning, I was now going out in this. I told myself no matter what the weather I would go out and do my runs. I was now going twice per week while continuing to lift weights in the gym. By the time the first event rolled around, I was feeling in a much better physical and mental space compared to when my run lacked intensity and purpose.

Why is getting out of your comfort zone important? It’s where true growth lies. Wherever you are challenged there is an opportunity to learn, grow or improve. More importantly, it transfers over to every aspect of our lives. You’ll be able to operate at your best - especially for those closest to you.

Whether you’re stepping into the gym for the first time or a seasoned athlete, trying something new helps build your confidence. It’s going to be scary at first however that’s the brilliance of it. When you feel this, you’ll know you’re being challenged which is going to encourage you to develop.

It might not work the first time. It’s all about creating sustainability. In the past, I’ve tried some crazy workout routines but they only lasted a couple of weeks before I reverted back to my tried and tested methods. I’ve found what works for me and pushes me that little bit each day. It keeps me outside of my comfort zone and into the “stretch zone” – the home of peak performance.

Challenging yourself and your beliefs is no easy feat however it can be done. Setting yourself a clear goal with a plan puts you in a position to achieve it.

Once you have your goal, break it down into manageable chunks. What do you need to do each week to get there? You should make it slightly harder than what you’re currently doing or know you’re capable of doing.

For my running, this meant adding on 5 minutes each run or 2 hill sprints each week. In the gym, it was adding 2.5kg to the bar.

What this does is avoid the “all or nothing” lifestyle we so often try to emulate.

On the other side of all this, you can realistically expect to see a better version of yourself. One is who is committed to creating a prosperous environment for yourself and the ones around you. You’re willing to embrace short-term discomfort for long-term pleasure.

I believe the reason people don’t start on such a journey is because of the negative connotations of failing. It’s part of life and sometimes it’s necessary for us to fall down so we know how to get back up again. It creates a callous of the mind.

One of my favourite podcast hosts, Jake Humphrey, credits failing as being the reason he became who he is today. If he hadn’t failed his exams, he wouldn’t have gotten into the TV industry or gone on to become the main presenter for Formula 1 and BT Sport.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn— John C. Maxwell

A week before one of the events, I had a bad run. I woke up and wasn’t feeling it but I went anyway. My legs felt heavy. I was dragging myself along thinking that this was the worst.

I got home feeling a bit down. I decided there and then that this was one run. Compared to where I was before I was in a much better position. Previously, I wouldn’t have gone at all.

I’m glad I did. I learned a lot.

I got out of my comfort zone, I felt scared and nervous. I embraced this. It became the energy I fed off of.

Life can be simple and easy but it can also be an adventure if you’re willing to seek discomfort and go beyond what you think your limits are.

I didn’t want to stop at 10km races. I wanted a bigger challenge. I’m ambitious by nature. That’s why I signed up for the Edinburgh marathon. Now I’m really out of my comfort zone.

Fear and excitement are inherently the same. I know what one I’m picking.