How And Why To Make Space For Discomfort

By Christine Van Loo

I spend a lot of time challenging myself to experience discomfort. No, I’m not a masochist; I’m just highly driven.

What I have discovered as a champion athlete, professional aerialist, and global speaker is that the path to success isn’t paved with rainbows and unicorns — it’s riddled with discomfort. For me, that discomfort came in the form of bruises, torn skin, broken bones, and a loss of smell from a concussion. Consequently, I also experienced my fair share of fear, frustration, and tremendous self-doubt. In order to reach the top of my game, you might say that I earned a Ph.D. in discomfort.