Who likes change? I don’t. Most of us don’t like change. It starts from when we are born. When a child is born, both the mother and child undergo some difficulties – the childbirth pains and the shock of life on the baby – that’s why they cry. They discover life is not one cozy warm space in the safety of their mothers’ wombs.
Soon they adjust, and something starts popping in their mouths – teething. Another shock. Then on to schooling, making friends with peers, and on to peer pressure and self-image matters during teenage hood, alongside hormonal and physical changes.
You get into adulthood and there are career choices to be made and facing some life realities. In comes work-life balance issues, parenting, health issues, and mid-life crisis. Onto aging, hormonal issues, empty nest syndrome, and health issues and loss. All these are stages we all must go through, or should I say, should be privileged to go through. Without them, there’s no growth.
Imagine having a child who refuses to grow and remains an infant because they’re afraid to grow and face the difficulties ahead. When it comes to personal growth, the same principle applies. One cannot expect to keep doing things the same old way and hope that by some miracle, things will change for the better for them.
Whenever you embark on a journey of personal improvement, be it health-wise or otherwise, you usually start off with lots of energy and resolve. It’s easy to imagine that the energy will remain the same and high throughout the journey until you reach your perceived destination.
The path to improvement is often uncomfortable, challenging, and filled with moments that make us want to retreat to our comfort zones. We all recall the teenager in you who wanted to grow up so that you could do whatever you want 
.
Embracing the Challenge
Change only comes when you change something you do daily. This means some discomfort has to be involved. Doing something daily shows that it’s your comfort zone, but comfortable as it is, you know deep within when it’s time to move on.
Building New Habits
The discomfort of growth is perhaps most evident in the journey of habit-building. It’s very tempting to fall back into old habits that feel more comfortable. Imagine having a child who decides, “Walking is not for me, I’ll just crawl and wait to be carried”. As well-meaning parents, we will encourage the child to walk, we will cheer them on, we will keep insisting, and if all the above doesn’t work (which it usually does, as children are more receptive to change than adults), we will give a few strokes of the cane, until walking becomes second nature to that child.
That’s the same way we need to handle our intended new habits. Cheer yourself up, encourage yourself, and keep insisting until it becomes second nature. It will be uncomfortable on some days, and it will be difficult to follow through on others, but you’ll thank yourself later on when you finally achieve it.
A mentor of mine says sometimes you need to just keep going despite your feelings. Your feelings will catch up with you later. This has proven very true in many aspects.
The Rewards of Persistence
Growth is a journey filled with peaks and valleys, moments of triumph, and periods of self-doubt. But the discomfort we experience along the way is not a sign of failure; it's a testament to our resilience and commitment to improvement. The stories of those who have embraced this discomfort illustrate a universal truth: growth requires stepping out of our comfort zones and enduring the challenges that come with change. In the end, the discomfort of growth is a small price to pay for the rewards it brings. Whether it's achieving a long-held dream, improving our health, or building new habits, the journey is worth every moment of struggle. So, the next time you find yourself facing discomfort on your path to personal improvement, remember the little child. Embrace the process, trust in your resilience, and look forward to the day you emerge transformed.
