Let’s Get Uncomfortable
Have you ever tried to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand? I have. It’s annoying. It’s hard to get the toothpaste on the brush and then making my hand move in a way that actually gets my teeth cleaned is incredibly difficult. For me anyway. You may be one of those cool people that get to be ambidextrous and if that’s you, ignore this analogy.
Something like brushing out teeth can become a cumbersome chore when we switch it up and do the task being uncomfortable. At first we may even think “ah! Not a big deal! It’s just brushing my teeth!” But after a moment or two of actually brushing you are ready to switch back over. Why? Because it is uncomfortable. So what would you do? Stick with the experiment and prove you can do it or switch back to your dominant hand – after all, no one is watching…
We like to be comfortable. As a society we do everything in our power TO BE comfortable. We turn up the air conditioning when it gets too hot. We grab a blanket when we are cold. We grab a snack the moment we get hungry (or bored, or angry, or sad, or…). We TAKE OUT OUR PHONES when we are standing in a line, riding an elevator, in a waiting room, in our living room, waiting for our children, at dinner, fill in the blank…..when we are UNCOMFORTABLE. Take a moment to notice next time you get on an elevator what the natural impulse is for you and for the others on the elevator. I often challenge people (including myself) to just don’t. Just don’t take out the phone and just be. WE HATE TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. I’m sure you can fill in with what you do, a real life scenario, where you have done something in order to not feel uncomfortable.
But what if? What if we got better at being comfortable with being uncomfortable. What if, instead of zoning out or disengaging in life, we stay with it? What if we rode the elevator and had eye contact? What if we felt the heat? What if wait to fill our bellies or slow down when we do eat? What if we lived and were fully present in our own life instead of disengaging and sleepwalking through it? How would your life be different? What conversations would you have that you may have been avoiding? What relationships could be strengthened because you engaged in life? How could life be different when we allow ourselves to be uncomfortable?
So I challenge you – get uncomfortable. Start small. Put the phone away when you are on the elevator or in line waiting or if that seems a bit much right now try simply brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand.
Drop me a note and let me know what you did to get uncomfortable this week. See how long you can hang out in the uncomfortable and I’ll do the same.
Xoxo
Mary – Your Strengths Coach