Episode 242: How to Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, with Author, Speaker and Coach, Patrick Engasser

“Your purpose is not to sit in that comfort zone, but to step out and experience the world and find out where you can make an impact.” ~ Patrick Engasser, Speaker, Coach, and Author of If I Can Do It, You Can Do It! Inspiration for Eliminating Excuses, Overcoming Challenges and Succeeding in Business and Life   Do you like your comfort zone? Most of us do, because it's, well, comfortable. But Patrick Engasser never had the opportunity to experience the comfort zone most of us share. Blind since birth, Patrick has spent a lifetime navigating obstacles that sighted people never encounter. The skills he's amassed from that experience have informed and nurtured a mindset that recognizes "liabilities as leverage" and is wary of a comfort zone that encourages complacency. Resilience has been a way of life for Patrick, and on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, he shares how learning to navigate the world differently became one of his greatest strengths, teaching him creativity, adaptability, and the value of “doing hard things.” Further, Patrick notes that many of the limitations we face are not external obstacles, but internal stories rooted in fear, perfectionism, and the desire to stay emotionally safe. Patrick also endorses imperfect action as a practical path towards growth and overcoming fear. He explains why growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone and why resilience is built through repetition, persistence, and a willingness to fail forward. Releasing emotional burdens, utilizing transferable skills, leading with integrity and pursuing purpose-driven work that serves others also allowed Patrick to transform both his career and his life, underscoring why learning to separate feelings from action is essential for personal and professional growth. Patrick reminds us that resilience is not about perfection—it’s about trusting yourself enough to take the next step, even when it feels uncomfortable. For more of Patrick's wisdom, tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Patrick and his book here, and be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance:  “The comfort zone is the most expensive place you’ll ever live.” “Your brain is designed to protect you from that negative experience because your brain doesn’t know whether it’s protecting you from a saber-toothed tiger… or just protecting you from that bad feeling.” “The comfort zone creates complacency if it’s a place where we live all the time.” “If you don’t do this, it’s a guarantee that positive thing won’t happen.” “Usually getting past the mental blocks is harder than learning the actual skills.” “When it became about other people instead of about me making money, everything shifted.” “We often measure the pain of trying, but not the cost of standing still.” “If you focus only on what you don’t have, you’ll never recognize how far you’ve already come.” “You don’t have to ignore fear. You just can’t let it decide for you.” “If you want to be good at something, you have to be willing to do it imperfectly.” “Your purpose is not to sit in that comfort zone, but to step out and experience the world and find out where you can make an impact.” Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran