Growth over Comfort | Nerd Fitness

Stephen Wilson Jr. was a scientist working for Mars, Inc. (Yeah, the Sweet firm).

Someday, his boss pulled him into an workplace and stated one thing that modified his life:

“Stephen, you’re about to get promoted.”

Usually a trigger for celebration, this was as a substitute meant as a warning by his boss.

In a previous life, Stephen had been a guitarist in a small indie rock band. He additionally spent his evenings writing songs.

His boss knew Stephen was a rattling good songwriter, and the place he actually belonged.

He instructed Stephen in regards to the golden handcuffs:

“You’re in line for a promotion and so they’re grooming you for the following degree.

And also you’re type of at a crossroads.

As a result of in the event you take [the promotion], like I took it 30 years in the past, your goals of being a songwriter, they’re gonna be gone. That is going to eat each little bit of you.

Proper now you possibly can write songs and do that job, however 6 months from now I’m unsure you’re gonna be capable of. So I simply wish to provide you with a warning.”

That tiny voice in Stephen’s head, that had been there for years and years, began to get louder.

6 weeks later, with that interior voice now at a deafening quantity, he put in his 2 weeks discover, which confused everybody (besides his boss and his spouse).

He began bartending and ready tables to make ends meet whereas honing his craft, making an attempt to get publishing offers in nation music…whereas getting rejected for not writing ​“bro country” songs​:

He was instructed, “you write REAL songs. We are able to’t do nuthin’ with that…”

Years later, after some modest success writing songs for different musicians, he lastly labored up the braveness and expertise and clout to begin recording his personal songs.

And final yr, he lastly put out his debut album, Son of Dad, which Rolling Stone referred to as among the finest albums of 2023.

Just lately, Stephen put out a ​jaw-dropping cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,”​ which I’ve listened to roughly 10,000 occasions over the previous month.

(Significantly, please watch this video. It’ll provide you with goosebumps!).

Golden Handcuffs vs Uncomfortable Enlargement

From 2008-2010, I additionally lived a twin life.

I had my day job at Sixthman, serving to promote and produce floating music festivals. However I additionally spent my nights and weekends engaged on slightly web site serving to nerds get match.

My boss April and my mentor Andy (who owned the enterprise) each knew the place my coronary heart was; they inspired me to chase the uncomfortable way forward for making an attempt to make Nerd Health into my profession.

16 years later, we’re nonetheless going robust!

In Oliver Burkeman’s ​Four Thousand Weeks​, he encourages us to ask a selected query when making choices in life:

“The place in your life or your work are you at the moment pursuing consolation, when what’s referred to as for is slightly discomfort?”

Asking ourselves “what would make me happiest” will most certainly lead us in direction of the quick time period, comfy, protected possibility.

As an alternative, we ought to be considering which path will make us GROW as an individual, or which model will trigger us to SHRINK every week. We most likely, deep down inside, know the reply to the query, if we now have the braveness to ask it.

Burkeman’s recommendation:

“Select uncomfortable enlargement over comfy diminishment at any time when you possibly can.”

Yep, typically chasing “uncomfortable enlargement” doesn’t lead to a songwriting deal, or a profitable enterprise. I’ve chosen the uncomfortable path and typically issues don’t work out. However that’s a part of the method, and no less than it removes the potential for unhealthy remorse!

Which brings me to at present’s mission.

Let’s get comfy with being uncomfortable

Let’s chase uncomfortable enlargement in 2025.

• Once we energy prepare, we drive our muscle groups to get uncomfortable by lifting heavier and heavier weight – they reply by rising and adapting.
• If we use meals as a coping mechanism once we’re unhappy or indignant or bored, addressing our relationship with meals could be uncomfortable.
• When we now have uncomfortable conversations, we are able to lastly deepen {our relationships} or arise for the issues which can be vital to us.

In 2025, let’s ask the query:

The place in your life are you snugly residing in consolation and security, when deep down you understand the trail of “uncomfortable enlargement” is what you really want to develop and provide help to get what you really need?

You won’t have to stop your job instantly, or go all-in on a brand new purpose or change…

However it might be value asking your self that uncomfortable query.

Life is difficult, and alter is more durable.

Uncomfortable.

Scary.

Messy.

However in the event you’re keen to say NO to consolation, it is likely to be precisely what you want.

-Steve

PS: ​We’re doing a free 5-day workshop​ for individuals who wish to construct new habits that really stick in 2025, it begins in just a few days!