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Why is Doing the Uncomfortable Thing Positive?
Growth comes only from leaving our comfort zones.
As I’m writing this, I’ve reached the end of my third foray to Farpointcon. This sci-fi con in Maryland has allowed me to meet and hang out with other like-minded geeks. As a guest author, I also get to sit on some cool panels and get an hour at a table to sign and sell books.
Despite being an actor in HS, a DJ in college, and serving as a court herald in my medieval organization — and speaking publicly in front of hundreds, sometimes — I’m more introverted than extroverted. Ambivert is a fair approximation for me.
I have never attended this con with anyone. My wife doesn’t come with me, and I’ve never brought any friends along. This means I have an entire weekend among mostly strangers. That can be really uncomfortable.
Even the couple of people I speak with regularly while I attend the con are naught by acquaintances. Thus, a great deal of the time I spend at this three-day con is either alone, among strangers, or otherwise outside my comfort zone.
Despite this, doing this uncomfortable thing is extremely positive for my overall life approach.
Why and how does that work?