Uncomfortable But Worth It
I was thinking about how to get things done. Just like everyone else, there are some things that come easy to me. We all have certain talents or aptitudes that feel natural as soon as we try them. There are also tasks and activities that become easier over time. Anything we do repeatedly becomes familiar enough that it seems effortless.
The things we’re good at, whether we’re born with the talent or have gained enough practice, feel easy to do. We can likely do them without much thought.
Then there are the tasks that I would like to (and have) avoided. For me, those tasks include opening mail, submitting info for taxes, general and deep organization, etc. These tasks require more effort and thought. Because I wasn’t “good at it” right away, I avoided them. The more I avoided them, the bigger the tasks became.
It was only when I decided to accept the discomfort that I got these things done. I had to make a decision to do one uncomfortable thing every day. One thing that I might need help with. One thing that would take “too long” and potentially feel awful while doing. I had to decide that that was okay.
It’s uncomfortable not to be able to flow in my work. It feels so rewarding to just be able to do a task effortlessly as a person with experience. Doing these uncomfortable things made my life better. I got things done, and now I feel a bit more comfortable doing uncomfortable tasks.
When we were kids, it didn’t bother us when people corrected us. We were always learning. It felt good to know something new. Now, our egos are involved, and being corrected has become embarrassing.
What if I could put myself in the childlike space of always wanting to learn? Thanking people when they correct me and looking to do things that I am not familiar with. This is a tough mindset to be in, but it’s worth striving for.
ACTION: Reflect on a task you’ve been avoiding. Break it down into smaller, manageable steps and tackle one step today. Celebrate each small accomplishment, just as you would when learning something new as a child.
