Individual growth happens through exploration and exploration can only happen by ‘getting into it’. This means moving into what is happening in you without judgment or any desire to escape from the pain and discomfort that invariably arises at times.
Our most valuable moments for personal growth are those moments when we feel weak and vulnerable. It is at those moments that we need to be most alert. The natural instinct is to move away from such feelings and there are numerous ways to escape, some subtle, others not so much. But, at these moments we need to hang in and live through and with these feelings and see where that process takes us.
Escape from discomfort happens almost instinctively because, after all, who wants to feel uncomfortable? Consequently, we have to make a conscious effort to stay in the discomfort without seeing a problem or trying to ’fix’ anything. The ego is extremely clever in devising creative ways to escape and therefore move away from the discomfort and pain.
This is counter-intuitive and does not make logical sense, especially at a time when everyone is drawn to all things positive. Why stay with discomfort? It will not be easy; you will need great courage to stay with your own feelings of vulnerability because every fiber of your body will want to run far away as fast as possible.
You will only be able to stay with your own discomfort if growth is more important to you then success, power or fame. You have to be totally committed to your own personal growth.
Your individual and unique journey will be revealed to you as stay in this space.