Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable.

9 things that have helped me to get comfortable being uncomfortable. (Hint: Uncomfortable doesn't have to be permanent.)

1. Reframe what it means to be uncomfortable. Uncomfortable doesn't have to mean something bad. Uncomfortable simply means you may be doing something that you haven't done before.

2. Practice doing uncomfortable things. The more we practice doing things that are outside of our comfort zone, the better we will get at embracing discomfort.

3. You won't always feel uncomfortable about the same things because your comfort zone will expand. This quote by athlete Alex Honnold reminds us that our comfort zone isn't static: “My comfort zone is like a little bubble around me, and I've pushed it in different directions and made it bigger and bigger until these objectives that seemed totally crazy eventually fall within the realm of the possible."

4. Realize that everyone feels uncomfortable at times and that we're not alone. Everyone around us also deals with discomfort and that it's part of our shared humanity.

5. Have big goals and let them drive you forward through the discomfort. Swimming legend Michael Phelps encourages us to have goals that stretch us: "I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time."

6. Consider the long-term negative consequences of staying in your comfort zone.

7. Choosing to avoid uncomfortable feelings offers immediate short-term relief, but avoidance can lead to long-term consequences.- We can make our comfort zone more uncomfortable as this will make the alternative more appealing. Use the discomfort of your status quo to push through discomfort.

8. See your discomfort as a necessary part of growth. Teach yourself to see your discomfort as a sign that you're growing.

9. Stop procrastinating and just do it now. Act now because uncomfortable things generally get harder the longer you wait.