“Growth and comfort do not co-exist.”
– Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM
I’ve been thinking about this quote as we approach the end of 2025. And it’s one I refer to often when making decisions. Here’s why:
Comfort is necessary. We need it to rest, recover, and solidify the changes we’ve made. It’s a different phase from when we’re actively growing and changing.
Growth, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable, because of the stretch, because we’re breaking old patterns, because we’re stepping into the unknown. And it should be uncomfortable. That’s how you know you’re growing.
And you get to choose, especially in those moments of personal growth and goal setting.
The power of conscious choice
In any moment, you can ask yourself: Am I growing right now, or am I choosing comfort?
Neither choice is wrong, or right. Both are necessary though, for sustainable personal development.
But when you’re conscious about which one you’re choosing, your expectations become clearer:
- You know what to expect and how to feel
- You stop beating yourself up for resting when you need rest
- You stop avoiding growth when it’s time to stretch.
And you can actually enjoy the process, knowing that there will come a time to experience the other choice too.
Why I’m choosing comfort right now (and why you might too)
I’m choosing comfort as 2025 comes to a close.
Not because I’m lazy or unmotivated (well, maybe just a little bit). But more because I know that in 2026, I want to choose growth.
And intentional growth requires:
- Energy
- Clarity
- Direction
- Purpose
So right now, I’m resting, and reflecting. And even doing a little preparing too.
I’m looking back at 2025, not with judgment, but with curiosity:
- What worked this year?
- What didn’t work?
- What did 2025 teach me?
- What patterns do I want to keep?
- What do I need to change?
This year-end reflection isn’t just “nice to do.” It’s an essential preparation for meaningful growth to me.
And that’s because you can’t plan forward effectively until you look back honestly.
The missing step in goal setting
Most people rush into January with a list of New Year’s resolutions without taking time to reflect on the previous year.
They set the same goals they set last year. And wonder why nothing changes.
The problem isn’t willpower or motivation. The problem is skipping the reflection step.
Research shows that people who write down their goals and engage in structured reflection achieve them at significantly higher rates (Dominican University) but most people skip the reflection part entirely.
How to do a meaningful Year-End Review
A structured past year review helps you:
- Acknowledge your wins – What did you accomplish in 2025?
- Identify challenges – What didn’t work as planned?
- Extract lessons – What did these experiences teach you?
- Create guidelines – How will these lessons guide your decisions in 2026?
This process transforms vague disappointment into specific wisdom you can actually use for intentional goal setting.
Growth and Comfort: Both are necessary
The key to sustainable personal growth isn’t choosing one over the other permanently.
It’s about recognizing which phase you’re in, honouring what you need in this season, and then preparing consciously for the next phase.
When you’re in a growth phase:
- Embrace the discomfort
- Stretch beyond your comfort zone
- Take courageous action
- Build new habits and patterns.
When you’re in a comfort phase:
- Rest deeply
- Reflect on your journey
- Integrate what you’ve learned
- Prepare for the next growth cycle.
Neither is better. Both are essential for long-term success.
What are you choosing right now?
Maybe you’re choosing comfort as the year ends. If so, give yourself permission to rest fully. You’ve earned it.
Or maybe you’re already feeling the pull toward growth, that restless energy that says “I’m ready for something different in 2026.”
Either way, a structured reflection on 2025 can help you decide what you want to focus on and when.
The choice is always yours
Growth and comfort don’t co-exist. And that’s okay, and means that you don’t have to choose one forever.
You get to choose in each season, each moment, each phase of your journey toward intentional and courageous living.
Right now, I’m choosing comfort and reflection.
Soon, I’ll choose growth and action.
What are you choosing?
Ready to reflect on your year?
I created a free Past Year Review workbook specifically to guide you through this process.
It takes just 20 minutes and provides a structured framework to:
- Review what worked and what didn’t in 2025
- Extract the powerful lessons hiding in your challenges and wins
- Turn those lessons into actionable guidelines for 2026
- Help you get crystal clear on what you want to carry forward, and what you want to leave behind.
This simple practice creates clarity for your entire year.
Download your free Past Year Review workbook here
Related Articles:
- How to set goals that actually work
- Why New Year’s Resolutions fail (And what to do instead)
- The One Courageous Goal Framework
