Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable [7 Growth Practices That Work]

Growth doesn’t always feel like progress—it often shows up as resistance, frustration, and slow steps forward. This newsletter breaks down 7 proven practices high performers use to keep going when growth gets uncomfortable.

Author

Wilson Obeneme
June 28, 2025

If growth were comfortable, everyone would be doing it.

But the truth is, growth rarely feels like growth in the moment.

That’s the paradox.

You see, the top 1%—the professionals you admire for their focus, performance, and results—aren’t just more talented or lucky. They’ve simply built better systems for pushing through the uncomfortable phases most people retreat from.

Growth rarely feels like growth.

We often expect growth to come with visible progress: increased revenue, promotions, smoother days, clearer minds.

But more often than not, it feels like:

  • Slowness — progress at a snail’s pace, when you expected leaps

  • Resistance — inner friction when stepping outside the familiar

  • Frustration — when results don’t match the effort

  • Doubt — especially when you're doing something new or uncomfortable

Sound familiar?

When these feelings surface, most people face a decision point:

Retreat to comfort
or
Lean into discomfort—and grow

It’s easy to talk about choosing the second path. Much harder to live it.
There’s no shortcut. No secret hack. No morning routine or cold plunge that makes discomfort go away.

But there are proven strategies that make the journey more sustainable—and significantly more effective.

As a productivity and performance coach, I’ve walked this path with hundreds of professionals. Across industries and personalities, here are seven core principles I’ve seen work consistently:

1. Don’t grow alone.

Trying to change habits, uplevel your performance, or pursue a new direction in isolation? It is easier if you don’t do it alone.

Psychologists call it social accountability. It’s the reason mastermind groups, coaching programs, and even public goal-sharing work. When you surround yourself with a community of people who are also pursuing growth, you normalize the discomfort—and gain the support to keep going.

Growth Insight: According to research by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University, people who write down their goals and share progress with a friend are 76% more likely to achieve them.

2. Create structure in your learning.

Most professionals suffer from “inspiration overload.” One day it’s Simon Sinek, the next it’s Steven Bartlett, then Alex Hormozi, Codie Sanchez, Lara Acosta...

These voices are brilliant—but without a focused intention, it becomes mental clutter.

The high performers I coach curate their inputs. They choose 2–3 mentors (books, podcasts, frameworks) and go deep for a season.

Try this: Choose a theme (e.g. "strategic thinking" or "influence"), and stick with it for 4–6 weeks. Depth beats breadth when building mastery.

3. Practice self-compassion.

Growth is a marathon, not a sprint. Self-compassion isn’t about making excuses—it’s about sustaining effort over the long haul.

What works: Set realistic expectations. Expect setbacks. Track progress over months, not days. And give yourself grace when things don’t go perfectly.

4. Know your purpose.

Without a clear why, growth can become performative—or worse, misaligned.

When your goals are tied to your intrinsic motivation, it fuels persistence. This isn’t just inspirational fluff—it's grounded in the research of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, who found that intrinsic goals lead to higher performance and greater well-being.

Ask yourself: Who are you becoming through this effort? And why does that matter to you?

5. Let go of perfection.

Perfectionism is often disguised as ambition, but it’s one of the biggest killers of momentum.

Reframe it: Aim for excellence, not perfection. Progress is always better than paralysis. Done is better than perfect. Let that be your mantra.

6. Don’t believe the “off-day” lies.

Missed a day? Skipped a workout? Didn’t journal this week?

That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. The “all-or-nothing” mindset leads to discouragement and eventual quitting.

Resilience tip: Get good at “restarting” quickly. Treat every day as a fresh page, not a scorecard.

7. Start small.

Yes, big visions are inspiring—but small actions are transformational.

When you break goals into bite-sized, repeatable steps, you reduce decision fatigue and build momentum. Behavioral scientists like BJ Fogg have emphasized the power of “tiny habits” to create long-term change.

Example: Want to write a book? Start with 100 words a day. That’s a book in 6 months.

In Closing...

Growth may not feel glamorous. It often starts in the messy, uncertain, frustrating middle.

But with the right tools, structure, and mindset—you can make the process lighter and more aligned.

Choose the second option: push through.

I’m rooting for you.

If today’s message hit home, don’t miss what’s coming next.

Growth isn’t just about doing more—it’s about leading yourself better.

Leadership isn’t a title.
It’s a transformation.
And it begins the moment you choose to lead from within.

That’s why I’m excited about today’s GrowthPlug Webinar with Julia LeFevre, CEO of Brave Restoration.

She’ll share science-backed tools to help you strengthen the 4 Core Capacities of Self-Leadership:

  • Connection

  • Definition

  • Integration

  • Collaboration

If you’re a professional, entrepreneur, or student ready to grow into the leader your future needs—this is for you.

🗓 Today, June 28
⏰ 5:00 PM WAT | 6:00 PM CAT | 11:00 AM CDT

You don’t need permission.
Just the right tools.
Join us.