Don’t Be Comfortable With an Uncomfortable Situation
“Stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is crucial for personal growth and development. By facing challenges, individuals can learn new skills, expand their perspectives, and build confidence,” so declared a source. To Arlin Cuncic, “Being in uncomfortable situations isn’t easy, but sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is just what it takes to learn, grow, and change.” Let’s reflect on not accepting abnormal condition as normal.
Do you know that while it’s a virtue to accept pain to achieve your desired gain, it’s a absurd to settle for what is below the normal or reasonable threshold? While it’s a virtue to accept to be uncomfortable – to get out of your comfort zone – to pursue your dream, aspire for something higher, and challenge the status quo to establish a new normal, it’s queer to accept to live with an abnormality, illegality, maltreatment, inhumanity, abysmal condition, and the likes because you don’t have the courage to challenge the situation, feel timid to speak out, are afraid of what people would say, and the likes? In the present society, many have developed philosophies that seem to encourage accepting as okay uncomfortable conditions that hold nothing better for the future. Due to the fear of what tomorrow holds, some have become comfortable in the uncomfortable condition of “half bread is better than none” or, “If you can not beat them, join them.’ Some settle for “if the desirable is not available, the available becomes the diresirable.” As lofty as these philosophies may seem, the best they offer is mediocrity, average standard of living, and barriers to the actualization of your great human potentials. In Nigeria, for instance, some politicians have exploited poverty as an instrument of control. In that wise, an average youth can feel comfortable and even defend a politician because the latter oftentimes has “something for the boys” without questioning the abnormal condition of high unemployment, which the politician might have contributed towards.
So, enhance your capacity to reject the temptation to accept abnormality as normal. Know that any pain that is not pregnant with future gains should be rejected. Don’t let your political affiliation, ethnic bias, or religious sentiment make you accept what should not be condoned. Know that what is wrong is wrong irrespective of who does it, and what is right is right irrespective of who does not do it. Enhance your capacity to recognize the importance of facing necessary challenges and discomfort rather than avoiding them. Be willing to embrace growth opportunities and build resilience by pushing past your comfort zones. Don’t pray for grace to adapt to an absurd condition. Don’t try to rationalize wrong, defend illegality, explain away immorality, and the likes based on today’s benefit. Rather than being comfortable in an uncomfortable situation, accept to be comfortable with the pains and inconveniences of challenging an uncomfortable condition.
As you step out, treat what is not okay as if it’s not okay. Don’t settle for the average or accept mediocrity. Target what brings the best out of you and makes the society better for others. Never forget Cuncic’s counsel: “If you always stay in your comfort zone and avoid situations where you might fail or be uncomfortable, then there is no way for you to grow as an individual.”
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Prof. (Engr.) Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for some international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
