#316 Choosing Courage Over Comfort

Growth and comfort don't usually ride in the same car. We often say we want change, but when it arrives dressed as awkwardness, risk and hard conversations, we retreat to our comfort zones instead of embracing the opportunity.

• Choose courage over comfort for personal and professional growth
• Courage sounds like "I don't feel ready, but I'm willing"
• Breaking routines that aren't working anymore requires bravery
• Stuck never leads to joy, but courage does
• Courage is often quiet—simply showing up, not quitting, continuing to become
• Consider doubling down where you see movement and shutting down areas without progress
• Book recommendation: "The Comfort Crisis" by Michael Easter

Pause and ask yourself where in your life you're choosing comfort over courage. No one's asking you to be fearless, just willing. Share with us one area where you're ready to choose courage and one step you'll take this week. If your team is stuck in safety mode, visit growthinstigators.com to schedule a discovery call.

Chapters

• 0:00 Growth in Disguise: No Pain, No Gain
• 0:21 Mindset Monday: Courage Over Comfort
• 1:23 Taking Action: Choose Courage Today
• 2:15 Call to Action and Resources

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

What if today's discomfort is actually tomorrow's growth showing up in disguise? Or, as Coach Ed would say, no pain, no gain. Welcome to message 316 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Mindset Monday choosing courage over comfort.

Speaker 1: 0:27

Here's a truth. We all bump into. Growth and comfort don't usually ride in the same car. Nope, we say we want change, but when it knocks on the door wearing awkwardness and risk and hard conversations, and risk and hard conversations we pretend we're not home. Yeah, when, given the choice, gosh, comfort always feels better. Why? Because comfort is easy, it's predictable, it's safe.

Speaker 1: 0:54

But courage, that's where things get interesting. Courage sounds like I don't feel ready, but I'm willing. You'll rarely feel completely prepared. Lead anyways, speak anyways, try anyways. Courage also breaks routines that aren't working anymore. It's easier to stay stuck than to step into the unknown. But stuck never leads to joy. Courage does. And lastly, courage is usually quiet. It's not a battle cry. Sometimes it's just the decision to show up, to not quit, to keep becoming my friends.

Speaker 1: 1:34

Embrace courage today. What does that look like for you? For me, it means doubling down on where I see movement. On where I see movement. It also means shutting down the areas I don't see movement. Both seem scary to me. However, want to know what seems even more scary To just put my head down and blindly go through my day.

Speaker 1: 1:57

And if you're looking for a good read, try the Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter Fantastic read. Here's what I want you to do today. Pause and ask yourself where in your life are you choosing comfort over courage, and what would it look like to switch? No one's asking you to be fearless, just willing. Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a message after the beep or send an email to Aaron at growthinstigatorscom and let me know what's one area where you know it's time to choose courage and what's one step you're willing to take this week, even if it feels uncomfortable and if your team or organization is stuck in safety mode. I help leaders build a culture where courage courageous action is the norm. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let's schedule a discovery call and, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do.