Discomfort Looks Good on You

One of my favorite personal development books is "The Discomfort Zone: How to Get What You Want by Living Fearlessly" by Farrah Storr. She encourages readers to embrace brief moments of discomfort to reach their full potential. And honestly? She's right.

About two years ago, I signed up for a blog-writing course. I’d spent more than a decade writing content in corporate communications—none of it under my name. I was either ghostwriting or hiding behind that faceless “corporate comms” label. A few people even thought the execs wrote their own content. That’s cute.

Then came the assignment: launch a personal blog—and keep it going. Hitting “publish” on that first post was strange.

It was me—my voice, my perspective—out there on the internet without the corporate filter.

And still, I felt proud. Proud of myself for trying something new, for putting myself out there, and seeing where it might lead.

That one blog turned into a website.
The website turned into a professional brand.
The brand led to a book.
The book sparked podcast interviews, speaking opportunities, and eventually, my own coaching and consulting business.

Every step of that journey pushed me into my discomfort zone.
And every step helped me grow.

So—what’s your professional discomfort zone?

Is it speaking up in meetings?
Pitching a bold idea?
Challenging the “way we’ve always done it?"

We stay in our comfort zones because they feel familiar—like a favorite cardigan.

But growth? Growth lives just outside that cozy little boundary.

That’s where the more interesting stuff happens.

Stepping into discomfort is the practice of having a growth mindset.

It’s believing you can get better.
It’s being willing to learn, take risks, and keep going—even when it’s messy.

👉 Need Inspiration?
Here are 27 real-life examples of a growth mindset in action.
(Fair warning: You might see yourself in a few.)