Befriending Discomfort & What It Has Taught Me So Far
27/2/2024
A date that will be etched into the closing chapters of our time in Singapore. A bittersweet farewell to the community that we’ve grown close to, to begin a new chapter in Spain (and Europe).
A Sunday gathering of some of the most precious friendships that I’ve been blessed with. See ya soon, folks!
As I reflected and pondered about what I want to embrace carrying into 2024, I decided to befriend a particular feeling. One that called out to me, reassuring that we would be okay no matter what obstacles might be thrown our way. I responded in kind, and off we rode into the horizon of 2024.
discomfort.
Quite the paradox, really. As I navigate through major life changes, why would discomfort be a quality that I am actively embracing? Shouldn’t it be the opposite? This is what this post is going to be about - how befriending discomfort helped me to expand my flexibility in its presence.
Let’s start with something that was birthed from navigating huge changes.
Pop Up Workshops with Maybs
Contemporary Choreography (Open Levels) Dancing With Your Ghost - October 2023
“Pop-Up Workshops with Maybs” was birthed in July 2023, as a way to stay close to my craft, and connect with clients (past & new) on a more meaningful level. That, is only the superficial level. If I had to peel back the curtains, it was an experiment to test if I am able to share my practice wherever I travel. Like a scientist, I wanted to put this hypothesis to the test. As I was planning, marketing through my socials, there was a huge wave of imposter syndrome that washed over me. I felt a sense of inadequacy, lack of experience creeping up to my nerves, telling me that I should just relax and “maybe not do it”.
This was a feeling that was all too familiar to me, as it accompanied me throughout my journey as an underdog. But it was not aggressive nor confrontational. Just a physical sensation rising through my body - a surge of energy, warmth running through my veins, my mind racing to make sure that I deliver the best that I can. So with that, as always, I invited my inner critic/imposter syndrome to take a backseat, and just observe what unfolds in the studio. Funnily enough, this is great fuel to the motivation of “I’ll prove you wrong, just watch”. This is a process of harnessing my self-doubt as fuel for personal growth, embracing discomfort and trusting the flow.
If you’re curious on how you can embrace your insecurities and grow from it, I’d highly recommend listening to this podcast episode “Your Insecurities Aren’t What You Think They Are” by Adam Grant (who is one of my favourite authors/thinkers).
In a blink of an eye, 6 months (excluding December 2023) has flown by where I conducted approx. 15 Pop-Up Workshops, ranging from ballet to pointe work, to contemporary and even a collaboration with StephT, a Mindful Art & Positive Journaling Coach-sultant to wrap things up!
Embodied Reflection: Mindful Journaling meets ImprovMental (Jan 2024)
Do I miss conducting workshops? Of course, I do! However, just as I was getting familiar and comfortable, our Spain Digital Nomad Visa came through and in the span of 2 weeks, we packed our life and flew to allow the next chapter to unfold - but first to Turkey as a pit stop to catch up with my in-laws.
Winter fruits in Turkey - Pomegranates & Oranges
Discomfort can show you what is important to you. It shows you where you place meaning. If you are willing to embrace, make space for discomfort, you’ll slowly expand your flexibility in the presence of discomfort.
For example, taking this leap of faith to voyage to the other side of the world (well partially) shows me that I love my partner. It also shows me that I am willing to take this discomfort to allow myself to grow and expand.
Discomfort can also show you pathways that perhaps you weren’t ready for, but you are now due to the choices that you’ve made in the past that has brought you to this point. So taking a small action/step everyday that makes you just slightly uncomfortable makes you more resilient/courageous/empowered.
How am I showing up to discomfort?
Engaging in movement (HIIT/Yoga/Walking/Dance). It doesn’t have to be complex, as long as I incorporate an element of mobility in the daily life.
Reading (book/audiobook)
Learning 5-6 new words everyday in Turkish & Spanish
Watercolour painting as part of my journaling process (thank you Steph)
.
.
.
To be honest, being in a new environment is already discomforting enough. It doesn’t have to be extensive, as long as it grounds you and brings you back to your body. What matters is breaking it down into small bite-sized chunks that are achievable and it aids the narrative to help you feel (insert feeling that you want to feel).
To sum it up, discomfort is part of the human experience, and it’s the fuel that allows me to transcend and grow beyond where I thought I was capable of.
what’s something that you can do today that is both uncomfortable and meaningful?
Till next time,
Maybs x
