Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: Your Adventure Awaits

Hey there, beautiful soul!

Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind lately—and probably yours too if you’re reading this. You know that cozy little bubble we all love to live in? The one where everything feels safe, predictable, and wonderfully familiar? Yeah, that comfort zone. Here’s the truth bomb: it’s probably the very thing standing between you and the most incredible version of yourself.

The Comfort Trap (And Why We Love It So Much)

I get it. Comfort feels good. We are creatures who like the familiar. It’s like your favorite worn-in jeans or that coffee shop where the barista knows your order by heart. But here’s what I’ve learned through my own wild journey: comfort is a sneaky little dream killer. While you’re nestled in that cozy cocoon, life is happening out there. Adventures are calling. Growth is waiting. And your future self? She’s tapping her foot, wondering when you’re going to show up.

Personal growth doesn’t happen on your couch binge-watching Netflix (though let’s be honest, sometimes we need that too). It happens when you’re sweating a little, when your heart’s racing, when you’re thinking “what did I just sign myself up for?” That’s where the magic lives, my friend.

Building Your Resilience Muscles (Yes, They’re Real!)

Think of resilience like going to the gym—except instead of building biceps, you’re building your bounce-back ability or doing your daily Yoga session if that’s your inclination. And just like you wouldn’t walk into a gym and try to deadlift 300 pounds on day one, or an intense Yoga pose, you don’t have to jump into the deep end of discomfort right away. You train to get there if you know your destination and goal. It take incremental steps to get the muscles trained to tell them what to expect.

In business, I’ve learned this lesson over and over again. Every pivot, every risk, every “oh crapola” moment has been a rep in my resilience workout, admittedly I can be a bit slow and take another bash on the head to really get it but that’s OK if it takes longer than expected, be forgiving of yourself. When you face challenges head-on instead of running away, something incredible happens: you realise you’re stronger than you thought. You discover resources within yourself you didn’t know existed. You become the person who can handle whatever comes next.

And here’s where discipline comes in—not the boring, restrictive kind, but the beautiful, grounding kind. When you’re traveling (literally or metaphorically through life), discipline is your anchor. It’s what keeps you steady when everything around you is new and uncertain. It’s your morning routine when you’re in a new city. It’s your business systems when markets shift. It’s the structure that gives you freedom to explore without losing yourself.

Your Struggles Are Your Superpowers

Can we get real for a second? Every hard thing you’ve been through, every failure, every moment you thought you couldn’t make it but somehow did—those aren’t just random events in your story. They’re the plot points that made you you. They’re your credentials. Your battle scars are actually your badges of honor.

I look back at my own struggles and honestly, I’m grateful. Not in a toxic positivity “everything happens for a reason” way, but in a genuine “wow, I wouldn’t be who I am today without that” way. Yes, I have jumped out of planes, (not with a tandem either, I tool the training course), I learnt to fly a plane, I have rock climbed and assailed and run down a cliff forwards (and f#@*ed it up and again and got it right) bungee jumped, scuba dived, been a rescue diver certified and much more.) I faced all those fears, trust me I was afraid, but moved through it. Those hard times taught me resilience. They showed me what I’m made of. They gave me empathy, wisdom, and the unshakeable knowing that I can figure things out.

The Success Fear (Yes, That’s a Real Thing)

Here’s something nobody talks about enough: sometimes we’re not afraid of failure. We’re afraid of success. Wild, right? But think about it—success means change. It means stepping into a bigger version of yourself. It means people seeing you differently, treating you differently. It means responsibility. And honestly? That can be terrifying.

So how do we face this fear? We flex our imagination muscles, baby! Start picturing that successful version of you. What does she wear? How does she move through the world? What does her day look like? The more you imagine it, the more real it becomes. Your brain starts creating pathways to that future. You’re literally rewiring your mind for success.

Turn up the volume on those daydreams. Make them vivid. Make them exciting. Make them so real you can almost touch them. Your imagination is one of the most powerful tools you have—use it!

The AI Elephant in the Room

Speaking of uncomfortable, let’s talk about the big, tech-y elephant that’s currently freaking everyone out: AI. The shift is real, and I see so many people in business just… freezing. Like deer in headlights. Or worse, they’re pretending it’s not happening, hoping it’ll just go away if they ignore it long enough.

Spoiler alert: it won’t.

Here’s the thing—you don’t have to love AI. You don’t even have to like it. But ignoring it is like ignoring the internet in 1995. The train is leaving the station, and you get to choose: stand there watching it go, or hop on and see where it takes you.

I’m not saying become a tech genius overnight. I’m saying get curious. Play with it. See how it can make your life easier, your business better. The discomfort you feel learning something new? That’s growth happening in real time. And honestly, once you start experimenting, you might find it’s actually pretty cool. Or at least useful. And that’s enough.

What Adventure Really Means

Let’s break down this word “adventure” because I think we’ve got it all wrong. We see it on Instagram—exotic locations, extreme sports, people jumping off cliffs (literally). And we think, “That’s not me. I’m not adventurous.”

But adventure isn’t about adrenaline or passport stamps (though those are fun!). Adventure is about saying yes to the unknown. It’s about choosing growth over comfort. It’s about being willing to try, to explore, to risk looking silly or failing or being disappointed.

Adventure is moving to that neighborhood you’ve always dreamed about—even if it’s just across town. It’s trying that business idea that keeps nagging at you. It’s starting the conversation. Booking the trip. Taking the class. Saying “why not?” instead of “why?”

And here’s the secret: saying yes to adventure takes practice. You don’t wake up one day suddenly brave. You build up to it.

The FUD Factor (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt)

Pay attention to those whispers in your head when you’re about to do something new. You know the ones:

“What if it doesn’t work out?” “What if I’m not good enough?” “What if I fail?” “This is crazy, what am I thinking?”

That’s your unconscious mind trying to keep you safe. It’s doing its job—protecting you from potential danger. The problem? Your brain can’t tell the difference between actual danger and just something new and scary.

So when those FUD whispers start up, acknowledge them. “Thanks, brain, for trying to keep me safe. But I’ve got this.” Then do the thing anyway.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: whether you fail or succeed at whatever you’re trying, you win. Why? Because you learn something about yourself. You gather information. You experience something new. You create new neural pathways in your brain (that’s actual science, by the way). You become someone who tries things, who takes chances, who lives instead of just existing.

Every experience—good, bad, or somewhere in between—is data. And with more data, you make better decisions. You know yourself better. You become more capable, more confident, more… you.

Approaching Challenges Like a Curious Child

Here’s something that’s transformed how I move through life: what if we faced every challenge with calmness and confidence, knowing there’s a lesson waiting for us? Not with stress or panic, but with genuine curiosity?

Think about how a child approaches the world. They don’t stress about trying to walk and falling down. They don’t catastrophize a scraped knee. They get curious. They experiment. They play. They try again with a different approach. There’s this beautiful lightness to it all.

That’s the energy we need to bring to our challenges. Curiosity over fear. Playfulness over pressure. “Hmm, I wonder what this is here to teach me?” instead of “Oh no, why is this happening to me?”

Every challenge—and I mean every single one—comes bearing a gift. A lesson. An opportunity for growth. But here’s the catch: you have to be open enough to receive it. You have to be willing to look for it.

When you’re in a positive state, when you’re approaching life from a place of curiosity and openness rather than resistance and fear, the lesson becomes obvious. It’s like the universe is highlighting it for you in neon colors. But when you’re closed off, defensive, or stuck in victim mode? You miss it completely. The gift is still there, but you’re not in a position to unwrap it.

You Are Source Energy in Action

And here’s something I want you to never, ever forget: you are an expression of source. You’re not separate from the infinite creativity, wisdom, and love that flows through everything. You’re part of it. You’re a walking, talking, breathing expression of divine energy.

When you remember this—really remember it, not just as a nice concept but as a felt truth—everything shifts. Challenges become less scary because you trust that you’re guided. Adventures become more exciting because you know you’re supported. Life becomes richer because you see yourself as part of something so much bigger.

And from this place of knowing who you really are, something beautiful happens: you naturally want to be of service to others. Not from obligation or “should,” but from genuine overflow. When you’re tapped into source energy, when you’re learning and growing and expanding, you can’t help but want to share that. You become a lighthouse for others still finding their way.

Service isn’t about sacrificing yourself or putting everyone else first. It’s about showing up as your fullest, most authentic self and letting that inspire and uplift others. It’s about sharing what you’ve learned. It’s about being the example of someone who chooses adventure over comfort, growth over stagnation, love over fear.

Start Small, Dream Big

You don’t have to quit your job and move to Bali tomorrow (unless you want to—then by all means!). Start with the small stuff.

Move to that neighborhood you’ve been eyeing. Take a different route to work. Try the hobby that sounds interesting. Reach out to that person you admire. Book the weekend trip. Say yes to the dinner invitation even though you don’t know anyone else going.

These little yeses? They’re practice. They’re training wheels for the bigger adventures. Each one builds your confidence, strengthens your resilience muscles, and proves to yourself that you can handle discomfort.

Then, when the bigger opportunities come along—the career change, the business launch, the big move, the relationship leap—you’ll have a track record of saying yes. You’ll have evidence that you can figure things out. And you’ll be ready.

The Truth About What Other People Think

Nobody cares! So, let’s address the real fear lurking behind all of this: judgment. You’re worried people will think you’re crazy, reckless, going through a crisis, making a mistake. You’re bracing for the naysayers, the doubters, the ones who’ll throw their fears at you like confetti.

Here’s what I want you to remember: those judgments? They’re not about you. They’re about them.

When someone tells you you’re being foolish for taking a risk, what they’re really saying is “I’m not comfortable with risk.” When they question your big move, they’re really saying “I don’t like change.” When they predict your failure, they’re really saying “I’m afraid to try.”

People project their own fears onto your adventures. And honestly? Most people are way too wrapped up in their own lives to spend much time thinking about your choices anyway. That’s not mean—it’s just human nature. We’re all the stars of our own movies.

So when the judgment comes (and it might), let it roll off. Smile, nod, and keep moving toward your dreams. The people who truly love you will support you. The people who don’t get it don’t need to—it’s not their journey.

Becoming the Better Version of You

At the end of the day, every uncomfortable step you take, every fear you face, every adventure you say yes to—it’s all in service of becoming a better version of yourself. Not perfect. Not someone else. Just… more you. The most fully expressed, authentic, capable, resilient, brave version of you.

That person is worth the discomfort. That person is worth the risk. That person is worth the journey.

So here’s my challenge to you: what’s one uncomfortable thing you can do this week? Not next month, not “someday”—this week. What’s one small adventure you can say yes to? One fear you can face? One tiny step outside your comfort zone?

Do that. And then notice how you feel. Notice what you learn. Notice how you grow.

Because here’s the beautiful truth: the life you’re dreaming of? It’s on the other side of comfortable. And you’re ready for it.

With love adventure on,

Linda A McCall

P.S. I’d love to hear about your adventures—big or small! Drop me a note and tell me what uncomfortable thing you’re saying yes to. Let’s cheer each other on!

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Ready to dive deeper into creating a life of freedom and adventure? DM me on instagram or LinkedIn for more resources, stories, and inspiration for your journey. @lindaamccall