We’ve been struggling with uncertainties lately. They usually just come from change: Our oldest started high school, and jobs changed. We know that change and uncertainty are the only constants in life, so we’ve been looking for ways to increase our capacity for dealing with them.
We received some wise counsel from a friend this summer: Do one thing every day that makes you uncomfortable. Whether it’s something you don’t want to do, something you’re afraid to do, or something you don’t think you can do, “if it makes you uncomfortable,” she said, “do it.” In the beginning, it was tough. As easy as it would’ve been to stop, we kept going. Miraculously, difficult things became easier. When we realize it feels good to go beyond what we assume we’re capable of, it makes us want to do it again. It builds our endurance and tolerance for being uncomfortable.
Our experience this summer helped us recognize the wisdom of doing things that make us uncomfortable. Deliberately making small changes in our habits and routines helps prepare us for the big changes when they come. The stories in this issue of The NEWTON Community Magazine are about people who stepped outside their comfort zones and experienced or accomplished the unexpected—people who discovered they were capable of more than they thought. Maybe we all are. Let’s get comfortable being uncomfortable and find out.
May the Lord bless and keep you.
Meredith Tredeau
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