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We Need To Be Uncomfortable

All of us have been in positions that make us uncomfortable throughout our

lives. When we look back on those times it can make you feel embarrassed, regretful

or upset, but what if you were told that was a good thing? It may not seem like but

being uncomfortable can actually be a good thing that helps us develop. I fully believe

that we should strive to do things that make us uncomfortable.

In the current landscape we live in, being at home and being on your phone is

the norm even before COVID, with adults spending 5.4 hours on phones (Brown

2019) and children being on screens for 7.5 hours a day.(Screen Time vs. Lean Time”)

We feel safe with no real harm coming towards us, but this isn’t good all the time,

especially for kids. (“How Technology Affects Children”) When children don’t

experience feelings of being uncomfortable or nervous they cannot learn

important life skills. Public speaking, for example, is a fear that around 73% of the

population according to the National Social Anxiety Center.(“PUBLIC SPEAKING

ANXIETY AND FEAR OF BRAIN FREEZES”)With that high percentage you can't

expect kids to be better at it if they don’t do it, even if they don’t want to. If they don’t

do it then, later on it will become much harder.

Many opportunities are hidden behind unfamiliarity and chance of failure. Job

interviews are great examples of this. We see jobs we want but won’t take due to the
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fear of messing up or being awkward and that is no way to live. This also applies to

meeting new people, you miss out on forming relationships with people and to not

have that is a fear we all have. You can also look those who have gone through

hardships like this they actually are not as affected with future situations according to

the American Psychological Association. (Seery 2010) When you don’t take that

chance you will be constantly thinking about the regret you feel more than if you

failed at it.

Most people will point to just how much stress it can cause you

mentally. This is especially the case for those who suffer from anxiety or other

conditions. The Mental Health Foundation expressed that stress can cause all sorts

of issues like stomach ulcers and mental problems. (“Stress|Mental Health

Foundation”) Obviously stress isn’t good for you but it can be somewhat avoidable.

Firstly, taking your time with whatever you are doing is much better than just jumping

into it. Preparing for a speech will make you have more confidence than if you just

started talking with no practice at all. Secondly, you are not alone when it comes to

being in uncomfortable situations. The experiences of others’ similar experiences can

be a great teacher and show that it isn’t as big as you think. Their is absolutely nothing

wrong with asking for help, so finding friends or family that has done what you are

doing is great. Lastly, at the end of the day you just have to get through it and jump in.

While all the practice and help is great, it is solely up to you to give that speech or
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going to that interview. If you accept that you are going to do that it will lessen the

stress you feel. Stress will always be there,but that doesn’t mean you can’t get through

it.
Another to consider is where is the line drawn when it comes to

uncomfortability. Often being uncomfortable is associated with serious topics and

situations, which is still important. The difference being what you are doing,why you

are doing and how you are doing it. If you want to get a job, but requires you to talk to

people you should absolutely go through those feelings to get it. If someone is

making you uncomfortable or involves your own personal space, then it is wrong and

should be avoided. Safety will always be most important and if that is danger do

whatever to protect yourself.

These experiences of being uncomfortable will always be there, but that isn’t

bad. Through it you grow,make meaningful memories and relationships. Being

uncomfortable is a merely a challenge to be overcome and should be the driving force

of great things we are able to do

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Works Cited

Bregman,Peter. “Learning Is Supposed to Feel Uncomfortable”. Harvard

Business Review. Aug. 21, 2019,

https://hbr.org/2019/08/learning-is-supposed-to-feel-uncomfortable
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Brown, Eileen. “Americans Spend Far More Time on Their Smartphones than

They Think.” ZDNet, ZDNet, 28 Apr. 2019,

www.zdnet.com/article/americans-spend-far-more-time-on-their-smartphones-tha
n-they-think/.

Floridatechonline.com,

www.floridatechonline.com/blog/psychology/how-technology-affects-child-develo
pment/.

“Infographics - Screen Time vs. Lean Time.” Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Jan.

2018,www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/multimedia/infographics/getmoving

.html.

Montopoli, John. “Public Speaking and Fear of Brain Freezes.” National

Social Anxiety Center, 20 Feb. 2017,

nationalsocialanxietycenter.com/2017/02/20/public-speaking-and-fear-of-brain-fre
ezes/.

Patel, Sujan. “Why Feeling Uncomfortable Is The Key To Success”. Forbes,

Mar. 9 2016

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sujanpatel/2016/03/09/why-feeling-uncomfortable-is
-the-key-to-success/?sh=4350789d1913

Seery, M. D., Holman, E. A., & Silver, R. C. (2010). Whatever does not kill us:
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Cumulative lifetime adversity, vulnerability, and resilience. Journal of

Personality and Social Psychology, 99(6), 1025–1041.

https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021344

Stillman, Jessica. “Science Has Just Confirmed That If You're Not Outside

Your Comfort Zone, You're Not Learning”. Inc, Aug. 14 2018

https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/want-to-learn-faster-make-your-life-more-un
predictable.html

“Stress|Mental Health Foundation .” Mental Health Foundation, 26 Mar. 2021,

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stress.