Growth is uncomfortable -and that’s exactly how you know it’s working.

By Gemma Bell

Transformational Coach for Female Founders and Leaders

When you’re growing as a leader or entrepreneur, discomfort is part of the journey.

But that discomfort doesn’t mean you’re not good enough or not ready — it means you’re growing.

Your mind, specifically your ego, is designed to keep you safe. It likes the known, the familiar, and the comfortable.

So the moment you start stepping outside your comfort zone — launching a business, sharing your voice, taking a risk — the ego kicks in with thoughts of self-doubt like:

• What if I’m not ready?

• Who am I to do this?

• What if I fail?

Why Discomfort Shows Up

Our bodies start to tense. We feel anxious. Our heart rate increases.

We begin to feel very uncomfortable and enter fight, flight, or fawn mode — a natural survival response that often stops us from moving forward.

When these thoughts arise, imagine them as a small child simply seeking attention.

They’re not there to harm you — they just want to be seen.

Getting Curious Instead of Critical

The work isn’t to fight or fix these thoughts, but to get curious about them.

Ask yourself:

• Where are they coming from?

• Is there a limiting belief or old story underneath that’s ready to be acknowledged, accepted, or healed?

A powerful visualisation is to picture your thoughts as clouds passing through your mind.Some might feel heavy, some light — but all are just moving through, meaning you no harm.

See them.Feel them.Let them go.

Even Successful Leaders Feel It

It might be comforting to know that even the most successful leaders experience fear and self-doubt.

You just don’t always see it on social media.

What sets them apart is that they’ve learned to accept uncomfortable thoughts and feelings — and move forward withthem.

They understand that what you resist, persists.They’ve committed to doing the inner work so they can feel the fear and do it anyway.

Courage Over Comfort

This requires courage — and we all have it inside of us.

Think of times when you’ve been challenged and tested. Every breakthrough you’ve ever had came from stepping outside your comfort zone.

As author and TEDx speaker Brené Brown said:

“You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both.”

Over time, when you repeatedly choose courage, your brain rewires.Your ego starts to feel safer.

The fear may not disappear, but it no longer runs the show.

Where Confidence Really Comes From

The sustained confidence we see in visionary leaders like Brené Brown comes from within.

It’s built on a deep foundation that coaching helps you develop:trust in yourself, rooted in your core values and aligned action.

This is the essence of my coaching.

I’ll help you:

• Challenge limiting beliefs and negative thoughts

• Develop a growth mindset so you can keep moving forward

• Raise your frequency to attract success and abundance

Thank you for reading.

Gemma Bell

Transformational Coach for Female Founders and Leaders

“You don’t need to hustle — you just need to be you.”