I recently was sent a newspaper article from my mentor.  The article was by Joe Rexrode, Nashville TN, entitled, “Pat Summitt’s remedy for Kara Lawson:  uncomfortable situations”.  The article highlights Kara Lawson and how her college basketball coach and mentor, Pat Summitt, provided her with opportunities to work through her discomfort with public speaking. 

Summit recognized Lawson’s potential but knew she needed to become comfortable speaking in public.  Summitt continually exposed Lawson to public speaking opportunities.  Currently, Lawson coaches and is an analyst on television for the NBA.  Lawson credits Summitt for pushing her past her comfort zone and preparing her for her career. 

Daily I find opportunities that require one to push through feelings of being uncomfortable.  I have found great value in mentors taking the time to help push me past my fears or levels of discomfort to find success in things that caused me to be uncomfortable in the past. 

Writing this blog has unquestionably taken me to numerous levels of being uncomfortable.  I am a very private person who goes to great lengths to avoid talking about myself.  Publicly disclosing personal information and my beliefs is excruciatingly painful for me. 

As a child, my writing skills were bleak.  As I made my way through college and graduate school, my writing improved, but never would I have guessed that I would be writing a public blog.  I do, however, believe this is my intended path, and each week exposing myself to the readers of this blog becomes slightly less painful. 

Currently, my kids are feeling very uncomfortable regarding raising money for their high school sports team.  On one hand, they want to be enthusiastic about raising money for their team, and on the other hand, they are being pushed far beyond their normal comfort zone, experiencing fear.  They have thought through all the possible alternatives; asking mom if she will write the check, counting their money to see if they have enough funds to meet the fundraising requirement, making a list of potential people who might support their cause, and cold calling homes in our neighborhood. 

They had the courage to ask me if I would support their team.  I said, “I would be happy to purchase a raffle ticket.”  One down, 19 more to go.  Secretly, of course, I would like to write the check and wash away the discomfort they are experiencing.  It is much more painful for me to watch them agonize over asking people to support their cause. 

However, learning how to approach people in support of a cause is a very valuable life skill.  I would much rather have them experience this discomfort early in life when I am around to encourage them.  Doing the uncomfortable now is preparing them for their future.

Every time I feel uncomfortable, I take a deep breath, pray that I will be guided through the uncomfortable path, and give thanks that it soon will be over! 

Click here to stay connected.