A post I shared on LinkedIn about how you can’t manage someone’s change journey – but you can make that journey as comfortable as possible- led to an interesting comment and an important question.
Why do we have to make the journey as comfortable as possible? Why does change need to be comfortable for everyone?
After all, growth happens when we are outside our comfort zone. It’s also where resilience can develop. The person commenting gave examples like running marathons, climbing mountains, or lifting heavy weights. These are all uncomfortable, yet worthwhile.
It’s a fair challenge, and one I hear often from clients. The idea of “comfortable change” can feel contradictory. But understanding what that actually means is essential to creating lasting change.
Click the video to watch on YouTube, or scroll to continue reading.
Why Making Change Comfortable Matters
Change is uncomfortable for everyone. It pushes us beyond what we know into uncertainty. By definition, change requires stepping outside your comfort zone and into the unknown.
And yes, growth, new skills, and resilience only happen when we leave that comfort zone. But here’s the key: those outcomes are only possible if we feel safe enough to stay in that discomfort long enough for new behaviours to become normal.
Our brain’s sole purpose is our survival. It’s hardwired to keep us safe. To our brains, that comfort zone equals safety, and anything outside it poses a potential threat. That’s why you need to make the journey as comfortable as possible. It’s not about avoiding discomfort; it’s about making the discomfort manageable.
Understanding the Two Dimensions of Change
Every change has two dimensions.
The first dimension is the event. The event is the decision or situation that creates the need for something different. For example, the event could be implementing a new system or improving your fitness.
The second dimension is the “Whitespace”. The Whitespace represents the journey required to achieve the desired outcome.
Real change happens in the Whitespace. It’s the process of unlearning old habits and building new ones, whether that’s adopting new ways of working or replacing scrolling with exercise.
Creating a journey that is as comfortable as possible is not about making the change event comfortable. It is often the discomfort of an event that is the catalyst for doing something different.
Nor does it mean that you won’t experience any discomfort. You will.
Instead, it’s about supporting people in navigating the Whitespace.
Uncertainty is the Enemy of Change
Uncertainty is the real barrier to change.
Humans seek consistency and predictability.
So, uncertainty and fear of the unknown are among the hardest and most stressful experiences for every human being.
When faced with uncertainty, our brains go into high alert, signalling potential danger. As psychologist Judson Brewer explains, we instinctively seek to return to what feels safe.
When people perceive only two options, danger or safety, we will choose safety. And that often means going back to our comfort zone, reverting to familiar behaviours, and abandoning change altogether.
Endeavouring to make the journey as comfortable as possible creates a third option. You create a space between safety and danger that allows you and others to feel safe enough to explore the possibility of change and to step outside your comfort zone.
It reduces fear and anxiety, allowing individuals to stay engaged long enough to adopt the new activities.
This type of engagement doesn’t eliminate discomfort. It simply ensures that discomfort doesn’t trigger a retreat back to the status quo.
For example, when leaders noticed the employees in a large organizational transformation were struggling and were questioning whether the change was worth it. They didn’t push harder. Instead, the leaders paused to understand the discomfort.
They adjusted the pace, provided support, and helped employees navigate uncertainty. The result? The transformation was successful, completed on time, and employees felt more capable of handling future change.
Making the change journey comfortable isn’t about avoiding challenge. It’s about creating the conditions that allow people to move through it.
If you’d like to discover how to create those conditions, schedule a Change Strategy Call with me today.
