The Gifts of Getting Uncomfortable
A few weeks ago, my singing coach asked me to try a song that made my stomach drop. “I Have a Love” from West Side Story — is a beautiful, soaring ballad… but it has some incredibly high notes I was convinced I could not reach! It’s also not my usual genre at all. My first thought? She must be joking. My second thought? How can I get out of this?
I thought I knew all about stepping out of my comfort zone, but this felt like a massive step too far!
Why We Resist Leaving Our Comfort Zone
It’s funny how quickly our minds rush to safety. We want to stay where we feel competent, where the risks are low and the chances of embarrassment are minimal. And yet, so often, the moments that shape us most happen far beyond that soft, familiar edge. That’s the essence of stepping out of your comfort zone — taking a deep breath and venturing into the unknown.
Even though I genuinely did not believe I could read those high notes, I reluctantly gave it a go. I trusted my coach – maybe she saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. My voice squeaked, my cheeks flushed, and for a moment I was sure the notes were out of reach. But then, with some patient coaching and a willingness to look (and sound) a bit ridiculous, I found myself landing on those high notes — not perfectly, but more than I thought possible. In that moment, I felt something shift: a reminder that our limitations are often just old stories we’ve told ourselves for too long.
The Magic of Personal Growth Through Discomfort
Leaving your comfort zone isn’t about forcing yourself into situations that feel unsafe — it’s about gently stretching what you believe you can do. That stretch might be singing a note you’re certain you can’t hit. It might be signing up for a course in a subject you’ve always admired from a distance. It might be speaking up in a meeting when you’d usually stay quiet.
The discomfort is real — and so is the magic that follows. When we challenge ourselves, we often discover skills, strengths, and confidence we didn’t know we had. We also grow our capacity to handle the unknown. Each time we do it, the “uncomfortable” becomes just a little less daunting, and our world gets bigger. That’s the power of personal growth through discomfort.
Therapy as a Powerful Step Beyond the Familiar
Perhaps one of the biggest, most transformative examples of stepping out of your comfort zone is starting therapy. For many people, taking that first step can feel daunting — opening up to someone new, exploring feelings we’ve kept tucked away, facing parts of ourselves we’ve learned to avoid. But so often, just like hitting that high note, we discover that we are more capable than we thought, and that there’s incredible relief, insight, and growth waiting on the other side.
And if you’ve already had therapy, you’ll know exactly what I mean. You’ve stepped into that unknown before, and you’ve felt the benefits first-hand — the way self-awareness builds, resilience deepens, and life feels more open. Sometimes, the next stage of your journey might mean returning to therapy to explore new challenges… and sometimes it’s about taking that same courage you found in the therapy room and applying it to fresh areas of your life.
If you’re standing at the edge of something that both excites and unnerves you, maybe that’s the invitation. Say yes. Try the thing. Even if you wobble and even if it’s messy, you might surprise yourself — and in the process, you might just meet a braver, freer version of you.
And if you would like my help, (whether you’re local or on the other side of the world) I’d love to support you in stepping out of your comfort zone and discovering what’s possible for you. You can find out more about working with me here
Warmest wishes,
Frances x
N.B. If you have a child who is facing challenges in their life, do have a look at my separate Brighter Futures for Kids blog where I have numerous posts helping parents support their children and teens in a wide range of different situations