The Power of Being Uncomfortable. And Why it’s my new Superpower.

Ever since the beginning of the summer, I’ve been trying to do one thing every day that makes me feels uncomfortable. You see, I didn’t realize that just before turning 40 this summer, I was going to go through another healing journey, one I wasn’t expecting. I was emotionally rocked to my core in a way I hadn’t been in a while, and although I’ve spent years working on myself and my growth, I had a hard time figuring out how to pick myself back up. Then I decided that instead of sitting around and waiting for “time to heal all wounds”, I was going to take matters into my own freaking hands. And what better way to do that than by getting uncomfy. I wanted to see what would happen, as a little experiment if you will, and I’ve been thrilled, and surprised, with the results.

I didn’t just jump right in, cannonball style without dipping my toe in first to see how cold the water would be. Some days the uncomfortable thing is easier than others, and sometimes it really gives me that sick-to-my-stomach feeling. Sometimes it’s as simple as emailing someone I normally wouldn’t email, asking about an opportunity. Which then resulted in a magazine article being published about my boudoir photography journey. I started volunteering at the local street fair in my town, pouring beer on Friday nights, which transpired into meeting some of the coolest people I’ve come in contact with since moving to my neighborhood two years ago. I was getting a drink at a distillery in Denver on a Sunday afternoon and noticed it was dog themed. I wanted to ask the manager if I could come and take photos of dogs one afternoon, which felt uncomfortable at first, but once I did, it resulted in her asking me to be the photographer at two dog events this Fall. And at one of those events, the owner of the food truck that day asked me to take photos for his business after I struck up a conversation with him. You see, one domino just kept leading to another, and the opportunities started flowing in. I could keep giving you examples, but I know you have better things to do with your day.

Basically, my theory for being uncomfortable is why the hell not?! What’s the worst that can happen? The “no?” The rejection? Well that was kinda there before you even did it in the first place so what’s the difference? The last few months have been exciting, prosperous and abundant, both for my business and personally. And 40 has started out to be one of the best years yet. I began to become addicted with the challenge of finding something within each day that would make me feel uncomfortable. Something that would make me cringe, or make my stomach drop like I was on a rollercoaster, and then bam! That’s the thing I’d do. Because if you don’t just go for it, you’ll never know.