Growth Begins Where Comfort Ends
Reflecting on Ginni Rometty’s Wisdom as We Enter a New Year
As one year closes and another begins, many of us take a collective breath. We reflect on what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve endured, and what we hope comes next. It’s also the season when we quietly ask ourselves an important question: Am I growing—or am I simply comfortable?
Former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty offers a powerful reminder for this moment of reflection:
“Growth and comfort do not coexist. If everything is feeling comfortable, you probably need to sit down and do some goal setting.”
It’s a quote that resonates deeply, especially at the threshold of a new year. Comfort feels good. It’s predictable, safe, and familiar. But comfort, left unchecked, can quietly stall progress. True development—personally and professionally—rarely happens while we’re standing still.
The Choice We All Face
At some point, each of us faces a choice:
Do we remain in the ease of what we already know, or do we step into the discomfort that growth requires?
Growth asks more of us. It challenges our assumptions, stretches our skills, and sometimes exposes what we don’t yet know. It can feel awkward, inconvenient, or even intimidating. But it is also where transformation lives.
Comfort, on the other hand, often disguises itself as stability. We convince ourselves that things are “good enough,” that now isn’t the right time, or that change can wait. Over time, that comfort can become a ceiling.
Embracing Discomfort as a Signal
Discomfort is often misunderstood as a warning sign—a signal to stop, retreat, or play it safe. In reality, discomfort is frequently an indicator of opportunity.
It shows up when:
Rather than asking, “Why does this feel uncomfortable?” try asking, “What might this discomfort be teaching me?”
Growth doesn’t mean recklessness or burnout. It means intentional stretch—choosing challenges that align with who you want to become.
If You’re Comfortable, It’s Time to Set New Goals
Comfort can be a sign that you’ve mastered your current environment. If so, that’s an achievement worth celebrating —but it’s not the finish line.
This is where goal setting becomes essential. Not goals rooted in obligation or comparison, but goals that genuinely push your boundaries:
- What skill have you been avoiding because it feels hard? We can help you develop them!
- Where have you been playing it safe when you could be stretching?
- What version of yourself is waiting on the other side of a challenge?
Effective goals don’t just maintain momentum—they create it. They pull us forward into growth rather than allowing us to settle.
Seeking New Experiences – On Purpose
One of the most practical ways to choose growth is to actively seek experiences you’ve never had before. New experiences disrupt routines and invite learning:
- Saying yes to a project outside your comfort zone – PDP has updated our website, expanded our course offerings, attended various events to promote our department, and added new Facilitation Services!
- Learning a new approach, tool, or perspective
- Having conversations with people who challenge your thinking
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Growth often begins with one intentional decision to try something unfamiliar.
Moving Into the New Year
As we move from December into January, the question isn’t whether comfort is bad—it’s whether comfort is enough.
Ginni Rometty’s words remind us that growth is rarely convenient, but it is always meaningful. The coming year offers a choice: remain where it’s easy, or step into where it’s possible.
May this be the year you recognize discomfort not as a threat, but as an invitation—to learn more, to stretch further, and to grow into what’s next.
I am excited to be a part of your growth in the coming year and extend an offer to you to reach out to me at PDP so we can be a part of your growth in the new year!
Fondly,
Patricia Law, Ed. D., Director of Professional Development Programs (PDP) University of Southern Maine