At Growth By Design, we believe intentional choices lead to impactful growth, whether you're shaping a thriving organization or a meaningful life. Here, we provide the practical information, tools, and frameworks to get you there. Today we explore the power of a growth mindset in the small and big actions each day. 

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Why Embrace Discomfort?

I love my creature comforts. I live a very blessed and comfortable life. This means I have to intentionally push myself to be uncomfortable – which is both a privilege and a necessity. My dreams are on the other side of my comfort zone, but my comfort zone is just that – comfy! Why would I work this hard just to keep working harder, every day, in perpetuity? We live in a society that increasingly pushes us to stay more and more in our comfort zones, which I believe is stripping us of our real potential.

What got me here won’t get me there. Every day I need to do things that help me achieve my goals, even if they are hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. I have big dreams, and I am committed to living a life of continuous growth. That means I need to get more comfortable doing things every day that make me uncomfortable – because on the other side of my comfort zone is the future I dream of.

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“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.“

— Roy T. Bennett

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The Data Behind Discomfort

The beautiful thing about a comfort zone is once you expand it, it doesn’t return to its previous size. The bigger your comfort zone, the more capacity you have to take on bigger and better things. Research consistently shows that stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for personal growth and success:

• Growth Mindset: According to Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck in my all time favorite book Mindset, people with a growth mindset – those who believe abilities can be developed – are more likely to embrace challenges and persist through difficulties. This mindset leads to higher achievement and greater resilience.
• Performance and Learning: A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that people learn best when they’re challenged just beyond their current abilities – a state known as “optimal anxiety.” Too little challenge leads to stagnation; too much can overwhelm, but just enough discomfort fuels growth.
• Success Stories: In a survey by LinkedIn, 74% of professionals said they are not reaching their full potential because they fear stepping outside their comfort zones.

Just Do It Scared

I once heard “If you’re scared, just do it scared” and that really stuck with me. This advice has served as the ultimate gut check, reminding me I can’t wait until I’m not scared to do something because that moment may not come at all – and the fear is often much worse than the thing itself. I was really nervous to start my own business – and even when starting this blog, but I knew if I waited until I wasn’t scared I would prevent myself from building the life I want.

This principle applies to being ready too – if you’re not ready, do it anyway. I can’t wait until I want to work out – I exercise even when I don’t want to (which is most of the time). I’ll go out on a limb and say I will never be ready to take a cold shower, but I crank my shower temp to arctic every morning despite really not wanting to. Why? To practice getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

Where I’m Challenging Myself

Do one uncomfortable thing every day. I promise it is worth it.
I’ve recently cultivated a morning practice of exercising and taking a cold shower before I start my day. Working out when I’d rather do my crossword with a hot cup of coffee is an internal battle every morning. Taking a freezing shower when I just want to relax is equally annoying. Yet, without fail, after I do these two things, I feel accomplished and ready to start my day. Neither of these things are actually hard, but in the moment, it feels like I would rather do anything else. And that is the point – doing the uncomfortable thing even when I don’t want to, so I can show myself I can do hard things.

By starting my day with two things I really, really don’t want to do, I find it easier to challenge my comfort zone throughout the rest of the day.

Join Me in Comfort Zone Expansion

So, friends, I invite you to join me on my journey of daily comfort zone expansion.
Here’s your challenge:

• Pick one thing – big or small – that feels uncomfortable or just a bit out of reach.
• Do it today, even if you’re scared, even if you’re not in the mood.
• Notice how you feel afterward. Did you learn something new about yourself?

I’d love to hear how you are challenging your comfort zone! Share what you did today to expand your comfort zone in the comments below. Let’s inspire and cheer each other on.

Onward and upward!
Katie