Uncomfortableness Helps People Mature

Guest Blogger: Jacob Saylor, class of 2025

In today's world, everyone is looking for a new device, piece of furniture, or entertainment that makes us feel comfortable. I think everyone in the world likes to be comfortable but is too much comfortability a bad thing?

        I strongly believe that being too comfortable is a bad thing. Being uncomfortable is stepping out of your comfort zone, right? That's where all the growth happens. When I'm in new situations, I have to adapt to what's around me and go on and learn, which completely helps me grow as a person, and I think that is the same with everyone.

   For example, I like to work out; even my Genius Hour (ELA project) was built to keep me pushing myself and working out. Working out is uncomfortable and sometimes just downright painful, with all the sweat and the pain, and the mental battle to keep pushing. I'm completely out of my comfort zone but that's how muscles grow. 

I feel that personal growth is pretty much the same in a way. The struggle everyone goes through, going in for a job interview, calling yourself out, and confronting your problems, is all uncomfortable. Yet that “pain” of stepping right out into the unknown, taking that first step, and facing that problem, is what helps people grow and develop as a person.

I do want to say however, we cannot forget about empathy. When people are in uncomfortable situations, especially when it involves other people we can start to unfold a deeper understanding sympathy, and compassion for the things others might be going through. I feel that can be a huge part of maturity.

 Overall, being uncomfortable is never “fun” yet it is super valuable to us. I like to think of it as God’s way of nudging us to the next level. So, I think that people–myself included!--should embrace those awkward, rough, painful moments because all it does is challenge us to become the amazing people God wants us to be.