Get Comfortable being Uncomfortable
“All progress takes place outside of our comfort zone.” - Anonymous
Most inventions are designed to make life easier. Electricity simplified lighting, the telephone transformed communication, computers streamlined complex tasks, and the internet brought instant access to information. In my own lifetime, I’ve gone from sharing a party line (some of you might need to Google that) to carrying a phone in my pocket. We’ve progressed from conventional ovens to air fryers, an atlas to GPS apps, and encyclopedias to Google. This constant drive for efficiency has made nearly everything quicker and easier — but in the process, have we lost our resilience, determination and perseverance? Have we created a world where our kids miss out on learning how to improvise, adapt and overcome obstacles?
"Embrace the suck” is a saying originally made popular by the military during Operation Iraqi Freedom, capturing a truth about life’s challenges. At some point, everyone encounters responsibilities that are less than ideal. Not every job aligns with our dreams, and even dream jobs have tasks that can feel grueling. Personal growth requires us to face challenges head-on. Whether it’s pushing through tough workouts, dealing with difficult personalities, or tackling uncomfortable or exhausting tasks, we’re all presented with a choice. We can avoid these duties, building resistance, or we can choose to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
To parents, I would encourage this: let your children experience struggle and even failure. Let them wrestle with challenges without stepping in too soon. In trying to protect them, we sometimes mistake comfort and ease for true happiness. Yet, my most fulfilling moments were when I achieved something after failing more often than succeeding. School and life will have many uncomfortable moments. The sooner we get comfortable being uncomfortable, the sooner we’ll learn to overcome the obstacles ahead.
Marc Hostetter
MVJHS Principal
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