The Power of Discomfort
The space of discomfort.
The uncomfortable.
It’s the space we try to avoid yet, it’s where we expand the most.
The mind can create the story that when we feel discomfort, something must be “wrong” or “off”. This could be within a relationship, a job, or a situation. However, what if it is the frame of which we look through that is slightly off?
Life isn’t meant to be all sunshine. If it were then we would never know what a rainbow is. There is beauty that comes after a rainstorm. AND there is also beauty within it. The rain isn’t better or worse than the sunshine. Both are necessary for this life to exist. Both opposites cultivate life, growth, and change.
And maybe it is within the change that we struggle the most.
The discomfort of an emotion or a situation that rises up within us, is only a beautiful reflection of where we may need to shift or grow. The discomfort is our teacher. The discomfort is there to lead us to the wisdom that we are ready to receive if we allow it to move through us.
We don’t magically become a runner if we never start running. So, we can’t expect ourselves to handle discomfort well in certain situations or with certain people if we aren’t used to doing so. That is why the work of embodiment is so powerful within the space of discomfort. You begin to attune to your own energy, the sensations of your body and just by noticing it, your body reveals its wisdom.
If our nervous system isn’t used to holding discomfort, we will show up in protective behaviors. This can show up as avoidance, numbing or distraction, reacting, big emotions, and more. None of this is bad. It is just information. It is the path inward. The path to reflect. And it’s not meant to be met with judgment. The true gift of sitting with the energy of discomfort is that it invites us to meet ourselves with compassion and grace.
These spaces within us that struggle to hold the discomfort need our compassionate awareness. When met there, we build our capacity.
We rebuild.
We recalibrate.
One moment of presence, of compassion, and grace at a time.
The true power of discomfort lies in our compassionate curiosity to see why this is coming up. It is here to show you what you may have rejected within.
They say that when the student is ready the teacher will appear. I feel this is similar with discomfort.
Discomfort rises up as a way to show us where we need to grow. Of what we still have yet to see clearly or feel fully. It is asking to be welcomed.
This isn’t easy but on the path of true transformation and healing, it is necessary.
The next time you feel discomfort, see if you can notice where you feel it in your body and also notice the thoughts you are having about the discomfort. What story is being told?
Notice what behaviors or emotions are coming up.
Place a hand on your heart. Bring yourself back to your center of compassion.
We are human and this life transforms us within the expansion and the contraction.
It isn’t a path of either/or but rather both/and.
Embrace.
Be gentle.