All positive growth requires a degree of stepping out of our comfort zone. This can sometimes feel scary to varying levels, but the rewards for bravery can be tremendous. 

Sometimes, we can come to a point in life where we can feel stagnant. We might find we have been going to the same job, eating the same food, hanging out with the same friends, going to the same places on holiday and having the same routine for a long time. It is said that one of the best ways to grow as person is to participate in the unfamiliar. 

Participating in the unfamiliar could include travelling somewhere new, spending time with people of a different culture or religion, people with different interests, trying new foods, or learning a new skill. If we can do something positive that scares us – it is these scary things that will develop us and help us discover new potentials. 

This can be something very extreme, for example, it can involve setting goals to embark on a completely different career, returning to education, retraining and taking an entirely new path, moving cities, or even moving countries. In our personal lives, we might challenge ourselves to adopt a new positive habit. For example, someone who has always been a night-owl may have read the benefits of the being an early-riser. This night owl might decide to try it out and might push themselves against their long forms to begin to get up at 5 am. 

At first this could prove to be incredibly difficult. However, as time goes on it may demonstrate to become easier and that individuals might find the benefit of this new practise. This might include feeling more rested and able to get a head start in the morning, and generally have a fresher head. These benefits will be a positive maintaining reward from this new habit. But this can only done through placing ourselves out of our comfort zone into a difficult circumstance to begin with. Any difficult situation will inspire some form of growth and personal development for us as human beings, and it can add to the adventure of life. 

Next time you are faced with what seems to be a difficult situation, you might wonder ‘how will I cope with it all?’. Remember, this might be an unexpected opportunity for growth, and you might discover new things about yourself and develop more confidence. It can be helpful to try and find silver linings in life. Sometimes in hardship this can almost be impossible but one thing we can always take is any experience will teach us something new about ourselves, about our ability to survive, our ability to overcome and realise strengths we never had before.