Life has a way of handing us lessons. Some we choose and others we are faced with and have to find a way to navigate through. We have been thinking about this a lot lately, and what it means to push ourselves when a challenge arises. Essentially, finding a way to be comfortable in times of discomfort.
As the name suggests, many (if not most) of us have a tendency to want to stay within the safety of our comfort zone because it is just that: comfortable. Whether the things we do are ultimately for our benefit is another matter, but even those so-called ‘bad’ habits feel nurturing because they are known to us. We have realised that what is often the true source of discomfort is not necessarily the work we will have to do to get through, but it is that bit right at the start staring down a path that is unknown to you, unsure of what lies ahead.
When you make the choice to do something differently it can be deeply destabilising, not least due to the feeling of being lost, anchored. A new path can raise questions about ourselves, it can require us to seek answers to questions with nobody around to ask, it can make us feel like we know nothing at all. There will be days that we can’t believe we didn’t try sooner and days that make us feel like we shouldn’t bother trying at all. However, as we all know, whether personally or through the anecdotes of others or simply the cliché, the hardest journeys can ultimately be the most fulfilling. CloudCloth wouldn’t have started if we hadn’t made the choice to go on such a journey to answer our own questions about personal skincare and sustainability.
People like to think of paths and journeys and goals and worthwhile achievements as a straightforward move from where we are now to where we want to go. However, sometimes going forwards requires us to go backwards and sideways and up and down and round and round. It’s not always (it’s usually never) as straightforward as going from where you are now to where you want to be, and that is a good thing. It takes grit and determination and a lot of falling down and getting back up again. Always getting back up again.
Take a moment to consider what is outside of comfort for you. And then think about what could be gained from taking even a small step towards it.
