Overview:

This episode dives into the importance of embracing discomfort for personal growth. Hosts Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale & Cali Werner explore how avoiding discomfort hinders critical thinking & limits our ability to experience true joy. They discuss the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, the impact of societal polarization on critical thinking, & the need to challenge our own beliefs. The episode also touches on the connection between self-awareness & emotional intelligence, offering practical tips for listeners to lean into discomfort & foster personal growth.

Key Insights:

• Discomfort is essential for growth: True joy & meaningful experiences often arise from embracing uncomfortable situations.
• Critical thinking requires discomfort: The polarization of society discourages critical thinking because people avoid uncomfortable conversations and perspectives.
• Self-awareness is a starting point: Recognizing our anxieties and discomfort is the first step, but taking action to address them is crucial for personal development.
• Difficult conversations are valuable: While uncomfortable, these conversations foster deeper connections & understanding in relationships.
• Avoiding discomfort limits our potential: Rushing to decisions or avoiding difficult situations hinders growth in personal, professional, & familial relationships.

Notable Moments + Quotes:

• [00:02:08] "Growth comes from discomfort. It doesn’t come from comfort."
• [00:09:06] "…the world has gone so polarizing… that we’ve lost space for critical thinking because people don’t want to be uncomfortable."
• [00:10:13] "…individuals who have no tolerance for anxiety or no tolerance for uncertainty don’t actually get to get the real experience of joy."
• [00:25:46] "When we rush to a decision so that we don’t have to feel discomfort, is that really allowing you to grow?"
• [00:31:39] "Without discomfort, you cannot grow."
• [00:36:26] "…self awareness alone doesn’t mean other people accommodate… Self awareness is, ‘Hey. I’m aware that I struggle with this… and so can I lean into it?’”

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:10] Cali’s awkward neighbor story + the importance of self-awareness
• [00:04:40] Cali’s anxious moment: Avoiding thoughts about upcoming delivery
• [00:07:50] Discussion about discomfort tolerance
• [00:08:25] Leaning into discomfort
• [00:10:41] Two types of self-awareness: Internal + External
• [00:10:50] The link between self-awareness + McDonald’s fries (a critical thinking example)
• [00:17:04] The importance of evidence-based medicine in relation to anxiety + the dangers of black + white thinking
• [00:22:18] Where do you need to grow in self-awareness?
• [00:30:32] Choosing to lean into discomfort
• [00:31:50] Algorithms + critical thinking
• [00:35:01] Self-awareness without action
• [00:36:20] Challenge: Embrace self-awareness + take action
• [00:37:51] Conclusion + Call to Action

Call to Action:

Subscribe to The Anxiety Society Podcast on your favorite platform! Leave a review + follow us on Instagram @theanxietysocietypod for more content + to connect with our community! Submit your questions at theanxietysocietypodcast.com! Let's get comfortable being uncomfortable together!