“Growing is often uncomfortable; we found that embracing discomfort can be motivating,” write Woolley and Ayelet. “People should seek the discomfort inherent in growth as a sign of progress instead of ...

Nowadays, when I have similar struggles–that is, the temptation to resist pushing myself and to stay in my comfort zone–I remind myself of a simple, two-word phrase: Seek discomfort.

Instead, seek out discomfort. You’ll end up reaching your goals faster. The more awkward you feel, the faster you improve. Say, for example, you want to become a famous comedian. As a first ...