growth mindset

3 Habits to Boost Your Comfort with Discomfort

In my last post, I introduced the growth mindset as a powerful way to learn new skills even when you’re out of your comfort zone. I also stated that you can adopt a growth mindset at any moment with dramatic results. I suggested you think of a situation where you were feeling uncomfortable because you hadn’t yet mastered a new skill and ask yourself two questions:

  1. What’s my current mindset? How is it helping or hurting me?

  2. What would a growth mindset tell me to do?

Of course, the implication was to do what a growth mindset would tell you to do!

It all sounds so straightforward and simple. Yet last week I found myself unable to maintain a growth mindset after receiving some lukewarm feedback.

How to Make Friends with Discomfort

“Really? You want me to solve this problem on my own? I came to you because I don’t know what to do. You’ve always given me great advice in the past,” Justin exclaims, then leaves the office.

“Well, that didn’t go well,” Philip thinks. “What am I doing wrong? I’m trying to practice what this leadership program is teaching but I don’t seem to have the knack. I’m supposed to ask questions that help people think for themselves. My mind goes blank and I feel completely awkward. Now I have to tell my learning partner that I failed miserably. And Justin doesn’t feel supported. Oh, boy, I’ll never get this!”

Sound familiar? Chances are you’ve felt awkward or uncomfortable when learning a new skill.