Gratitude for Uncomfortable Experiences
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow
Do you ever look back on past experiences that were uncomfortable in the thick of it and wonder why you resisted and didn’t act earlier? Well I do as I even smile and say “You have a very funny sense of humour God.”
I can recall many of these uncomfortable experience I have had which have made me make definite decisions and taken massive action. I always see these uncomfortable experiences as wakeup calls, when we have ignored the little nudges from God/Source?the Universe, for so long. For me these experiences are when I need to move on from something that isn’t serving me anymore.
So I was reflecting over times when I have had to make drastic changes and as I went over them one after there other there was this experience which I am so grateful for and which I would like to share with you. At the start of my corporate career I was so unfulfilled in a previous role that I had begun getting physical symptoms whenever I had to go into the office. The environment was toxic and the role not fulfilling but I was scared to make the move so when I suddenly fell ill one time and went to see my GP I was asked to do 2 things.
Start exercising or be put on medication for the rest of my life
Cut out whatever my stressors were because that was affecting my blood pressure which could be lead cardiovascular diseases.
What? Was my initial response I have been an avid gym goer for as long as I can remember but the pressures at work had gotten me so unmotivated that I hadn’t stepped a foot in 6 months and to let work get me so stressed was unbelievable to me - “but I am so young” I said to the GP.
“Yes but your vitals are reflecting something different” he replied.
That scared the life out of me so I got home made 2 decisions that changed my circumstances within a month.
I joined a gym that night.
I started applying for different jobs as well.
Within the next month I was back on my morning gym routine and I had secured a better paying job. Then things settled with life happening for me. Then after a couple of yeas I had another uncomfortable experience in my current job and this time I had to put myself forward and request a pay review. I had always been saying that it wasn’t about the money for me but at the end of the day who works for free unless you’re doing charity or volunteer work?
Things were getting pricy and apart from the yearly corporate increases my salary hadn’t been reviewed in 3 years so when a conversation at worked showed that my other colleagues were negotiating I decided to also request this. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do but it was huge for me at that time, I had to learn to stand up for me and express myself in ways that commanded respect and that showed I valued myself and my contribution to the company. When there was some resistance to what I demanded I decided to leave my team and find other opportunities in other teams this encouraged a discussion over my then current salary which resulted in an increase and promotion too.
So today when I look back on that one wakeup call at the GPs and other uncomfortable experiences these have been the catalyst for change in my life and I am truly grateful for them. for that one visit to the GP got me to take responsibility for my health and career. Now when I experience something that isn’t in my comfort zone I see it as an opportunity to evaluate and make a move.
I am not sure how you perceive the uncomfortable situations in your life but whatever you are facing right now think really hard and answer this question - where do I need to make a change here? Because like I said earlier on, these situations come when we have ignored the universe’s nudges for a long time and the only way to get us to act is to really push us in those situations. So maybe instead of waiting for things to work themselves out see what you can do about it and move. I’d love to know what your thoughts are on uncomfortable experiences and how you have handled them so do share in the comments.
Affirmation: I am finding ways to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations.