--- title: Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable description: It's the only way to experience real personal growth. canonical: https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/ author: TIME article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-12-30T13:00:03.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:49:25.834Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable og:description: It's the only way to experience real personal growth og:url: https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0595ad910042ecd/6988759acf40a8cad6c411b0/woman-mountain-rock-climbing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5040 og:image:height: 2835 og:image:alt: woman-mountain-rock-climbing og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable twitter:description: It's the only way to experience real personal growth twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0595ad910042ecd/6988759acf40a8cad6c411b0/woman-mountain-rock-climbing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=382028b1-bfed-49a6-a800-cc5121dc5f3b&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=382028b1-bfed-49a6-a800-cc5121dc5f3b&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=382028b1-bfed-49a6-a800-cc5121dc5f3b&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is Inside TIME? Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=382028b1-bfed-49a6-a800-cc5121dc5f3b&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Business of Creativity: The Dancer [Watch (HLS stream): Business of Creativity: The Dancer](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Tbh54prW.m3u8) (3:39)  _Published 2012-10-26. When Karine Newborn's injury sidelined her succesful dance career, some soul-searching and business sense opened doors_ by [Courtney Seiter / Buffer](https://time.com/author/buffer/) ## Courtney Seiter / Buffer Dec 30, 2015 1:00 PM UTC  Woman rock climbing in Vinales, Cuba. Woman rock climbing in Vinales, Cuba. Getty Images by [Courtney Seiter / Buffer](https://time.com/author/buffer/) ## Courtney Seiter / Buffer Dec 30, 2015 1:00 PM UTC I am quite possibly the world’s biggest fan of being comfortable. The word, to me, conjures up an image of a big comfy couch, a roaring fireplace, and maybe a sleepy puppy to curl up with. What could be better? So it has been a challenging, repeated lesson for me to learn that [feeling uncomfortable](https://open.buffer.com/feel-uncomfortable/) is pretty much the only way to experience real personal growth. I didn’t want to believe this for much of my life, and I often still [rail against it now](https://open.buffer.com/6-ways-brain-stops-me-from-creating-fight-back/). But more and more often, I’m learning to lean into what I’ve come to call “the healthy uncomfortable.” By this, I mean getting out of my comfort zone and doing things that [seem a little impossible](https://open.buffer.com/no-idea/) (or at least a tiny bit scary)—getting into the “courage zone.” It’s not the easiest habit to cultivate, but it just might be the one with the biggest payoff. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to practice the healthy uncomfortable. Here are 5 of them. Let’s get uncomfortable! **Uncomfortably sharing new ideas and skills** Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, [said something once](https://open.buffer.com/why-to-treat-product-as-finished/) that will probably live in startup infamy forevermore: --- > “” --- This [“start before you’re ready”](https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-habits-of-successful-people-they-start-before-they-feel-ready) attitude isn’t just for startups: It’s good advice for anyone trying something new. I’m learning that feeling the healthy uncomfortable is a sign that you’re _trying something_ (pretty much the most important step to succeeding). When you do things like share the first portrait you’ve painted, speak a new language you’re learning to a local for the first time, or get up on stage to share a talk or personal experience, every cell of your body is going to push back against the idea. That’s the sign you’re on the right track. If you’re not embarrassed, you’re probably too late. **Uncomfortably giving feedback** A different kind of uncomfortable lives in the idea of [giving and receiving feedback](https://open.buffer.com/how-to-give-receive-feedback-work/). In what I consider to be the ultimate guide to the healthy uncomfortable, the book [_Daring Greatly_](http://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419?tag=timecom-20), author Brené Brown has some great advice on feedback: --- > “” --- So not only do we have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, we have to _stay that way._ Talk about daring greatly! Crossing the scary chasm of the moment of discomfort looks like an impossible leap, but for the sake of what’s on the other side, don’t we have to try? Rearranging my mind to view feedback as a kindness that we offer to a person—or to the world!—when a person or situation truly matters to us has been one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done. **Uncomfortably leading** The world is changed by those who are willing to comfortable with discomfort. In [_Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us_](http://www.amazon.com/Tribes-We-Need-You-Lead/dp/1491514736?tag=timecom-20), Seth Godin writes: --- > “” --- **Uncomfortably building things** One way leaders can coax you into your true potential with the healthy uncomfortable is by, well, not giving you much other choice. Maybe it’s a bit like giving the hesitating skydiver just the tiniest nudge out of the plane—guiding someone toward the decision they ultimately want to make at the moment they might be most tempted to default to fear. Leo and Joel shared a great resource with the team not too long along around the concept of focusing on [speed as a habit](http://firstround.com/review/speed-as-a-habit/). In the article, Dave Girouard, known for building Google’s enterprise apps division into a global business, shares that a certain level of discomfort means you’re moving at the right speed: “Gauging comfort on your team is a really helpful measure of whether you’re going fast enough or not. You know you’re going fast enough if there’s a low-level discomfort, people feeling stretched. But if you’re going too fast, you’ll see it on their faces, and that’s important to spot too.” Girouard offers some insights about what this feeling looked like in practice at Google: --- > “” --- **Uncomfortably creating** As a writer, I’ve discovered that [uncomfortable creativity](https://blog.bufferapp.com/uncomfortable-creativity-create-amazing-content) is a principle I need to rediscover and re-commit to over and over again. The more you create, the more comfortable it becomes to you—until you again get up the nerve push yourself to that next plateau. This is the kind of healthy uncomfortable that we’ve been recommitting to recently at Buffer. Leo defined it as the [“internal struggle”](https://blog.bufferapp.com/marketing) over whether to hit publish. --- > “” --- Chasing this feeling is incredibly counterintuitive—it’s nerve-wracking to share something personal, or weird, or different, and have no idea what kind of response you’re going to get. I’ve learned it requires real practice and reflection to stretch to that edge. The feeling doesn’t get easier—but more often than not, it might just be worth it. **Let’s get uncomfortable! 6 questions for greater vulnerability** Can you create a habit of cultivating the healthy uncomfortable? I think you can. Margie Warrell, author of [_Stop Playing Safe_](http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Playing-Safe-Courage-Outstanding-ebook/dp/B00B0H9QWK/?tag=timecom-20), offers up a few [great question in a Forbes article](http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2013/04/22/is-comfort-holding-you-back/) that I’m going to use whenever I need to “re-up” on my commitment to the healthy uncomfortable. * Do I keep doing what’s always been done, or challenge old assumptions and try new approaches to problems? * Do I proactively seek new challenges or just manage those I already have? * Do I risk being exposed and vulnerable, or act to protect my pride and patch of power? * Do I ask for what I really want, or just for what I think others want to give me? * Do I ‘toot my horn’ to ensure others know what I’m capable of, or just hope my efforts will be noticed? * Do I speak my mind or bite my lip, lest I ruffle feathers or subject myself to criticism? _This_ [_article_](https://open.buffer.com/uncomfortable/?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=syndicated) _originally appeared on_ [_Buffer_](http://open.buffer.com) _More from Buffer:_ * [What Are You Doing to Feel Uncomfortable?](https://open.buffer.com/feel-uncomfortable/?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=syndicated) * [Feeling Uncomfortable: The Way to Create Amazing Content](https://blog.bufferapp.com/uncomfortable-creativity-create-amazing-content/?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=syndicated) * [What I Wish I Knew About Creativity When I Was 20](https://open.buffer.com/creativity-advice/?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=syndicated) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] We're going to work in fifth position. Make sure you're pushing your toes out. My mom used to dance, and every week I would go and I would sit and I would watch, kind of visualize in my head all the steps. Very good. When the music comes up and you're going to go tondo. It became a huge passion and I knew from then, I just knew that was it. You know, I had to be a dancer. There was no question about it. [ MUSIC ] It's my passion that makes me keep going. [ MUSIC ] There's a real reason there why I'm doing it. I mean I could probably still be successful, if you put your mind into anything. You know. Would I be as happy? I don't know, you know, probably not. [ LAUGH ] [ MUSIC ] Second and tondo and close good tondo i bring you [ INAUDIBLE ] [ MUSIC ] [ SOUND ] I was lucky enough to always make a living with my craft. And by 15, I started to dance for dance companies. in Paris, cuz that's where I'm from. And then by 19, I got into Cats, Paris. Did that, not for long actually, I quit, because I want to move to America, and I want to, come dance, and do something different. [ MUSIC ] I started choreographing, a lot of shows and, you know, working on my singing as well. And then I got into Adat. Being on bravo is a big, big deal, but I got injured on the show. [ MUSIC ] I'm now, you know, no job, no money. And I'm, like, a single mom. I have a kid. I'm, like, what do I do now? [ MUSIC ] When I got injured on my job, I had a settlement. So I used that money to start a business. [ MUSIC ] But I knew nothing about how to open model studio, I knew nothing about business Good. I didn't finish high school, I didn't go to college, but, it didn't for some reason it didn't scare me. It was like, I know how to teach, I've been a dancer all my life. It was more of a money situation where you go the money needs to come in. You know, how long can I hang on like that? Start with singles, holding new balance. You know, I remember teaching classes where I had one student. sorry. I remember some classes not happening. And then we'll go into doubles. So you know, and I went and taught at after- school programs, things like that, just to be known in the neighborhood. Open your arms, then double, and close. It's been six years, and now I have about ten teachers. And maybe 700 students, more or less. [ MUSIC ] In order to make a successful business, I think you do have to use creativity. It may not be artistic, but it's certainly creative. To me making it is not being a big star and being a big name. As a matter of fact I never wanted to be a big star and a big name. I just love the craft. [ NOISE ] You know I just keep hoping we're going to keep growing. I think a lot of children need to do something artistic in order to feel alive. It's my passion that makes me keep going. It's Every time I see a kid just doing a step they couldn't do last week. Or like I said, doing those flips after they've practiced so much, you know, and that's just, that's very fulfilling. [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/"},"headline":"Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable","datePublished":"2015-12-30T13:00:03.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:49:25.834Z","description":"It's the only way to experience real personal growth","url":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","keywords":["advice","Careers & Workplace","Know Right Now","knowrightnow"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0595ad910042ecd/6988759acf40a8cad6c411b0/woman-mountain-rock-climbing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Courtney Seiter / Buffer"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0595ad910042ecd/6988759acf40a8cad6c411b0/woman-mountain-rock-climbing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"woman-mountain-rock-climbing","caption":"woman-mountain-rock-climbing","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/advice/","name":"advice"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","name":"Your New Year's Resolution Should Make You Uncomfortable"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Know Right Now: How to be Mentally Strong","description":"It’s estimated that you say 300-1,000 to yourself in a minute: keep those words positive","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/uzXSRUbM/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-08-25T17:28:45.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/uzXSRUbM.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","duration":"PT1M1S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Brene Brown: Rising Strong","description":"Brene Brown: Rising Strong","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Xm9YvVrb/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-09-09T14:03:08.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Xm9YvVrb.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","duration":"PT1M56S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Business of Creativity: The Dancer","description":"When Karine Newborn's injury sidelined her succesful dance career, some soul-searching and business sense opened doors","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Tbh54prW/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2012-10-26T16:53:16.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Tbh54prW.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/","duration":"PT3M39S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4151350/healthy-uncomfortable/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```