Be Uncomfortable - August Challenge

Can you believe it’s August? I certainly can’t! Summer is going too quickly, and I am hardly able to keep up! I hope you’re enjoying every moment of this full season.

With the first Friday of the month comes a new theme at Home in the Hollow. For August I want to focus on something that isn’t popular in our culture. Infact, given the choice, it’s something I try to avoid. The theme/challenge for this month is: be uncomfortable. Caleb and I have been discussing this issue on and off over the past few weeks and I wanted to share some of our thoughts.

Let’s start with the obvious: Being uncomfortable is hard. And being uncomfortable looks different for each of us. Some may be uncomfortable talking to new people. Others are uncomfortable being alone. Maybe being uncomfortable take on more of a physical aspect for you. Take for instance air-conditioning (yep, I’m going there). It wasn’t invented until the early 1900’s. For thousands of generations mankind survived without it. Unfortunately, today we feel it is a necessity. We become irritated and unkind if we have to suffer through a hot day without our “creaturely comforts.” The list could go on and on. Doing chores, going to work, public speaking, volunteering, spending time with people who are different or even difficult... You get the idea.

But why be uncomfortable when you don’t have to be? That’s a legitimate question. I would like to make the argument that being uncomfortable is healthy. Not just physically like when we exercise, but healthy in all areas of life. If we never step outside our comfort zone we never grown. We become a prisoner of our own comfort.

I’ll give you an example from my personal life. I’m an introvert and struggle talking to new people. Especially people close to my own age. I have a variety of different reasons and excuses as to why I am like this. But if I’m completely honest, it mainly boils down to the fact that I don’t like feeling uncomfortable. Several years ago, a woman at my church invited me to her home. I didn’t think we had anything in common and quite honestly didn’t want to go. But I pushed myself and said yes to the invitation. Years later, I have a great friendship and someone who challenges me to view life from a different perspective. If I had stayed comfortable, I would be missing out on all the blessings I am enjoying today.

So, here’s the challenge: Do one activity that makes you uncomfortable this month (and yes, you have to do it with a positive attitude). Maybe give up the air-conditioning and go camping for the weekend. Or talk to that new person in your book club. Say yes to that speaking engagement you’ve been putting off. Go for the hike. Or just pledge to do those annoying chores without a complaint. I hope you’ll join me in our August Home in the Hollow challenge. Leave me a comment with your thoughts on this topic.

Let’s not miss out! Let’s be uncomfortable! Let’s not be held back by our comfort zone!

Thanks for reading,

Abby