Embrace the Uncomfortable at Work

What are your New Year's traditions?

Resolutions? Goals? A mantra? A bucket list or checklist? What about a word or two? My thought partner and I pick three words each year that we will hold tight to during the highs and lows of the year.

The purpose of these words is to keep us centered, inspired, moving forward, and focused on our goals! However, as I contemplate my words for 2022 (this is a very important and introspective process), I am torn because the word at the top of my list has such a negative connotation.

After a search in the Miriam Webster Dictionary, the Thesaurus, and a little research on the history of this word, I feel an overwhelming need to defend this word. I think it is important for my growth, success, dreams, and maybe yours.

So here it goes, I will say it out loud - at the top of my list, I am choosing UNCOMFORTABLE.

To review, the definition of uncomfortable is: Causing or feeling slight pain or physical discomfort, OR - causing or feeling unease or awkwardness.

How can a word so critical to growth and success sound so terrible? Yet, I believe uncomfortableness leads to so many pivotal moments. For me, the words that come to mind when I think of uncomfortableness are bravery, strength, risk, growth, understanding, curiosity, creativity, and new perspectives.

Without pushing through the uncomfortable at work, what are you leaving behind?

While each of the following may be uncomfortable in the beginning, think of the upside to each situation:

Receiving feedback, giving feedback, new job assignments, new colleagues with different views, sharing an unpopular point of view, entering a room full of strangers, owning a mistake, working with a difficult coworker, volunteering to lead a new project. The list goes on and on.

Getting comfortable with putting yourself in uncomfortable situations will lead to growth, better self-awareness, stronger emotional control, and ultimately a clearer vision of the path you want to take.

May you find the courage to take on uncomfortable situations this year and follow the path that brings you joy.

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ORIGINALLY POSTED on LinkedIn  1/3/22.

Check out the comments in the post to find out what my other two words are for 2022!