Change Feels Uncomfortable — And That’s Exactly What You Need

Thought For The Week

We don’t talk enough about the uncomfortable side of growth.

It’s easy to imagine progress as something that adds to our lives — a fitter body, cleaner eating, better habits, more motivation. That version feels positive, energising, even exciting.

But real growth usually starts with the opposite: letting go. Releasing old patterns, outdated beliefs, and familiar behaviours that once brought comfort.

And that kind of change rarely feels light or inspiring.

It often feels like a loss, even when you’re losing something that no longer serves you.

See, growth isn’t gentle.

It asks you to look honestly at what’s holding you back and choose differently, even when that choice feels uncomfortable.

When things feel heavy or uncertain, that’s often the exact moment you’re creating real, lasting change.

You’re not just adding something new — you’re removing what limits you so you can move forward with clarity and purpose.

Exercise Tip

In training, growth often comes with discomfort. Not the kind that injures you, but the kind that signals your body is being challenged:

• The final few reps when your muscles burn

• The slow progression that isn’t obvious right away

• The sessions where you don’t feel “on it” but you show up anyway

That’s the kind of discomfort that builds strength.

Growth also means letting go of old expectations:

• That every workout should feel amazing

• That visible progress should happen every week

• That motivation will carry you from start to finish

Releasing those ideas creates room for patience and consistency — and that’s what allows you to trust the process and actually move forward.

Try this: 

Own the struggle! When a set, a run, or a class feels hard, pause, breathe, and try naming the discomfort as growth.

Nutrition Tip

When you try to change familiar routines — skipping the biscuit with your afternoon tea, saying no to the popcorn at the cinema, avoiding the wine and crisps after work — your brain will notice. It expects the usual reward, and not giving it can feel uncomfortable, unsatisfying, even frustrating.

But that discomfort is not a signal that you’re failing. It’s a sign that you’re making room for something new. Look for it. Notice it. Embrace it. That uneasy feeling is exactly where transformation begins.

Just as it is in exercise, growth in your relationship with food is also about letting go of the beliefs and behaviours that have been keeping you stuck:

• The all-or-nothing mindset

• Guilt around certain foods

• Pressure to eat perfectly

• The idea that one slip-up means you’ve failed

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Growth comes from loosening your grip on old rules and giving yourself the freedom to practice habits that support you long term.

Try this: 

When skipping a treat feels hard, pause, acknowledge the effort you’re making, and recognise it as a sign of growth.

Links & Resources

Video: Rich Roll emphasises the point that discomfort often signals that we’re stepping outside our comfort zone and into a space where change and improvement become possible.

Blog post: Mark Manson explains how, just as muscles grow when challenged, we develop resilience and self-worth by working through discomfort and struggle.

Article: This article from Psychology Today shows how physical, emotional or mental discomfort can act as a catalyst for change, and invites us to embrace rather than avoid those uneasy moments.

Inspirational Quote

“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.”

Robert Tew