Learn to dwell in the uncomfortable

This article appeared in the Spring 2008 edition of the YMCA England InTouch magazine. The author, Pip Wilson, works at West London YMCA. He is the author of several books including "The Big Book of Blobs".

Pip's Mini Bio:

Pip Wilson is a Beautiful Human Person who became an Adult when he was 40
His work has ranged from:
~ Urban Street Gangs in East London UK
~ Club for Hells Angels in Lancashire
~ Special Needs Group Work with humans with drug and alcohol issues
~ Author of five books and creator of many Games Exercises and Growth and Development Tools
~ Creator of The Blob Tree' which can open the hardest heart and top communication in all cultures and contexts
~ Believes that vulnerability is strength not a weakness
~ Currently employed by West London YMCA as a Training and Development Consultant.
~ Believes that there is no such thing as a difficult person - only difficult behaviour

Pip writes:

Growth does not reside in a place called comfortable

Human development does not reside in a place called certainty

Wholeness does not reside in a place called self

Freedom does not reside in a place called security

There’s something rich about being poor. That sort of thing was said of the Master, who humans with a Christian faith – like myself – in our stumbling fumbling way, decided to follow. They said of him: ‘He who was rich became poor.’

How about applying that next time you are in a crowded room? Choose to talk with the least attractive human rather than crowding around the current YMCA personality?

We’ve all heard about stepping outside our comfort zones. And I don’t doubt you step outside them in your day-to-day work. How about considering deliberately stepping outside them?

Choose to deliberately sit close to someone who is scary, loud, noisy, or smelly... Not oppressively close, but close enough that some words may be naturally exchanged. Hope that a better relationship may develop and, more importantly maybe, that you may learn...

I leave you with a blessing. To read it is to reside in a place called comfortable. To absorb it is to daily refresh your irritation.