It was quite uncomfortable when I had the opportunity to be the learner. 

I am usually the facilitator, the trainer, the speaker, the author. This time I was the learner. 

It was this time about a year ago that I had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in an experience that pushed me, stretched me, pulled me and in some ways broke me.  I experienced the imposter in all it’s glory.  I was taken right out my comfort zone.  My mountain of questions was growing with each second of the experience.  Was I good enough?  Had I ever been good enough?  Would I reach my goals?  What were my goals?  Why did I have those goals?  Were they still my goals?  

By the end of this experience, after I travelled home and woke up in my bed, I truly did not know what day it was. And even though only three days had past, the amount of work completed in those three days felt like two weeks had gone by.   

I returned and I felt different.  There was a new sharpness in my focus.  There was an elevated level of energy.  Whilst some of my questions had remained unanswered, I had a feeling of being comfortably uncomfortable.  I realised that I was now more deliberate and intentional in my thinking and approach. 

I was comfortably uncomfortable, and this was a new feeling for me.  I like to be comfortably comfortable!  Usually knowing where I am going and how I will get there.  After this experience I knew where I wanted to go, and I looked forward to discovering the path I would take to get me there. I don’t always need to know the how.  I am comfortable in knowing the why and the what.   

Through this approach there is deeper conviction- a deep trust in myself.  A trust that it is exactly as it needs to be.  I trust that in the discomfort lessons are illuminated, brighter and sharper because of the discomfort.   

“Comfort is the enemy of progress” PT Barnum 

Rita Cincotta writes, mentors, and speaks about deliberate leadership.  She works with organisations to develop better leaders that support people and businesses to thrive.  You can download Rita’s new whitepaper, Deliberate Leadership here.