Summer Lessons: Feeling the New Uncomfortable

It is human nature to cling to what feels familiar. The routines, the habits, the comfort zones we have built, they give us a sense of control in an often unpredictable world. But growth rarely happens within those safe boundaries. True change usually comes wrapped in discomfort, in uncertainty, and in those restless nights when nothing feels steady.

The “new uncomfortable” isn’t easy to welcome. It can feel like stepping into a room where the furniture has been rearranged, you know you will eventually adapt, but for the moment, you can’t quite find your footing. Yet this very space is where transformation lives. It is the pause between what was and what is becoming.

This summer I sat with two personal observations: one as a parent and one as a yoga student and teacher.

(1)  For parents, discomfort takes on a unique shape. Watching kids grow up and step out into their own world, full of their own ups and downs means learning to let go, to hold back, and to trust them as they navigate challenges independently. It is a process of releasing and embracing the uncertainty that comes with watching them find their own footing.

(2)  Stepping onto the "mat" whether it is your first time or not brings its own kind of challenge and discomfort. The physical and mental sides of a yoga practice can take you beyond your comfort zone, teaching resilience, focus, and acceptance no matter what level. Each challenge on the mat, big or small, is a lesson in greeting discomfort with openness and patience, if we allow it.

Discomfort takes many shapes and varies in intensity for each of us. Whether your discomfort feels small or overwhelming, what truly matters is how you welcome it. Change can arrive loud or quiet, in many forms, both on and off the mat. It rarely knocks politely, sometimes it arrives messy and inconvenient. But with it comes the possibility of growth we might not reach otherwise. The uncomfortable is not the enemy, rather, it can be the teacher.

Often the hardest lessons are the ones we find ourselves most grateful for.

Hope to see you on the mat!

Find details on classes, retreats, and Jan’s offerings at www.jangoranson.com