We all enjoy being comfortable. A stable job, a stable home, a stable network of people. But sometimes what makes you comfortable can ruin you. A goldfish grows according to how big or small its fishbowl is. In the same way, your own environment either prohibits or fosters growth. When you let yourself live in the same “fishbowl” for too long, you stop growing. It’s simple as that. In the video below, Bill Eckstrom, a business owner, executive and entrepreneur, talks about the fine line between stagnation and chaos. Stagnation is when you have too much order, while chaos is when there is no order at all. Both are equally damaging to your growth. The solution to finding the balance is going through discomfort, as counterintuitive as that sounds. Bill discusses three ways in which discomfort happens:
- It can be forced on you. Circumstances can abruptly change in your life. Losing a job, a friendship, a sudden move. Embrace it! Seek the growth out of the situation.
- Someone helps you get there. Having someone help push you out of your comfort zone can force the discomfort you need. These people come in the form of parents, teachers, coaches, and people who push you to grow. Find these people and let them help you.
- Trigger it yourself. If discomfort isn’t occurring from external factors, cause it yourself. Force yourself into a new place or situation. You’ll be doing yourself a favor.
Being comfortable can ruin you. Be proactive about your own situation and seek a bigger fishbowl when you reach a point where you’ve stopped growing!
