Embracing Courageous Growth for Vitality

How Stretching Outside Your Comfort Zone Fuels Energy

In the spirit of DRIVEN’s Word of the Year—Vitality—we’ve spent the past few months gently exploring what it really takes to sustain energy. From the quiet noticing of May’s Energy Audit to the brave pausing of June’s Rest & Recovery article, each chapter has revealed something essential: we don’t thrive by accident. We thrive by intention. And that includes a willingness to grow.

But here’s the thing about growth—it rarely feels comfortable in the moment. And yet, stepping into discomfort is often where our energy expands most dramatically. This month, we explore how courageous growth—while messy, awkward, and fear-inducing—can actually fuel vitality.

Discomfort is the Doorway

Several years ago, I was invited to speak on the topic of confidence at seven regional offices of RSM, an accounting firm. What an opportunity, right? But let me tell you—this was way outside my comfort zone. Not only was the logistical lift huge, but I also don’t love flying. And this was a seven-city tour.

Each city presented its own challenges—new spaces, new faces, unpredictable flights—but I kept showing up. And as I did, something began to shift. My confidence grew, yes—but so did my learning. My sense of purpose. My national reach. What began as logistical stress transformed into professional expansion. Discomfort cracked open the door to growth—and vitality walked in.

Growth Activates Vitality

It was February 2020, just before the world changed. I joined the Virtual Collaboration Campus team, a newly formed group of international facilitators and coaches who saw what was coming with the COVID-19 pandemic. We banded together to build a four-day virtual conference—from scratch—for over 800 participants worldwide.

At the time, I was still green at virtual facilitation. I felt awkward and wildly underqualified. Impostor syndrome showed up daily. But I kept raising my hand, showing up, asking questions, and learning. And slowly, something happened: my creativity returned. My connection to a new professional community deepened. My fear was still there—but it was accompanied by aliveness.

Research backs this up. A 2020 article in Frontiers in Psychology found that when individuals engage in personal growth experiences—especially those involving challenge—they experience higher levels of subjective vitality. Growth, in this case, doesn’t drain us; it energizes us. Harvard research adds that leaving your comfort zone enhances adaptability and resilience—two vital contributors to long-term well-being.

Fear Often Masks the Threshold

Growth almost always comes with fear. Right now, I’m navigating this as I continue building and leading the DRIVEN Community Laboratory. The LAB is a space for experimentation, but even within that context, I often feel the tug of resistance.

Will this work? Am I doing enough? What if I fail?

These are some familiar voices of Eve, my inner critic, and I’ve come to see them as part of the process. Fear doesn’t mean “don’t proceed”—it often means “pay attention.” Resistance is the doorway. Growth is on the other side.

Recovery and Growth

And here’s where the full picture comes together: recovery and growth are not opposites. They are partners.

Think about the muscle-building metaphor. After a strength workout, your body needs time to rest. But in that rest, growth happens. The muscle fibers repair and strengthen. The same is true for our emotional and mental resilience.

Here are a few examples:

·         After a big presentation, you give yourself a quiet evening, and in that stillness, your mind integrates new learnings and builds confidence.

·         After making a tough decision, you allow a day of less stimulation. Your nervous system resets, and the clarity of your choice settles in.

·         After starting a new role, you build in micro-moments of restoration—stretching between meetings, journaling after the workday, or connecting with a mentor. The recovery makes the growth sustainable.

This month, as you think about courage and growth, remember that rest isn’t what happens after the journey. It’s what makes the journey possible.

From Insight to Action

Last month’s Energy Audit Quiz helped many of you identify your most depleted tank. This month, consider how one brave step—whether it’s asking for support, initiating a conversation, or saying yes to something that makes your palms sweat—might refuel you in ways you didn’t expect.

Growth doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins with tiny steps outside the familiar. The LAB’s philosophy is rooted in this principle: small actions lead to powerful compound interest.

So where might you stretch this week? And how will you rest alongside that stretch?

If you haven’t yet, we invite you to revisit the Energy Audit Quiz—a quick, personal tool that can help guide your next micro-shift. Think of it as both mirror and map. Sometimes, knowing where you are is the bravest step of all.

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