Trusting the Discomfort
May 30, 2025
Discomfort isn’t always a warning — sometimes, it’s an invitation to stay present with the growing pains of change.
Discomfort is rarely welcome.
We label it as a problem. A sign that something’s off. Something we need to fix, escape, or numb.
But what if discomfort isn’t the enemy?
What if, sometimes, it’s a guide?
What if it’s the body’s way of saying, “This is unfamiliar, but not unsafe”?
Growth isn’t always graceful.
Healing isn’t always soothing.
And becoming isn’t always comfortable.
Discomfort often shows up when we’re leaving behind patterns that used to protect us — people-pleasing, perfectionism, avoidance, self-silencing.
These habits may have kept us safe once, but they also kept us small.
So when we step out of them, it feels… wrong. Awkward. Exposed.
But that doesn’t mean it is wrong. It just means you’re somewhere new — and your nervous system hasn’t caught up yet.
The key is to notice the discomfort — and stay with it long enough to understand what it’s really telling you.
Is it fear? Or is it unfamiliarity?
Is it danger? Or is it the edge of your old identity?
You don’t need to push through recklessly. But you also don’t need to back away automatically.
Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is breathe and stay. Just a little longer. Long enough to realise:
This discomfort isn’t hurting me. It’s growing me.
You can trust the discomfort — not because it’s easy, but because it’s honest. It’s a sign you’re not stuck. You’re evolving.