Human beings are not naturally inclined to leave their comfort zones. We are wired for safety and predictability; our brains often perceive change as a threat rather than an opportunity. Yet, life has its own way of pushing us forward. Faith reminds us that God places certain situations in our path precisely to move us beyond our comfort zones. These are not punishments but invitations; opportunities for growth, for resilience, and for discovering the strength we never imagined we had.
The real gift lies in how we interpret these pushes. When we cultivate the right mindset, we begin to see challenges not as roadblocks but as stepping stones. This mental fitness; the ability to reframe, adapt, and grow; becomes one of life’s most valuable assets.
The role of children and schools
If these mental muscles are so critical, then why do we wait until adulthood; or worse, until crisis, to build them? Imagine if schools focussed not only on academic subjects but on teaching children how to navigate life’s uncertainties. Today, too often, education emphasises punctuality, memorisation, and discipline through external control rather than inner values. Exams measure recall, not resilience. Punishment enforces compliance, not prioritisation.
What if, instead, schools wove into their curriculum the skills of reflection, prioritisation, time management as a value-based practice, and resilience as a life skill? Children could be taught to use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix; not to tick homework off a list, but to internalise the principle of distinguishing what is important from what is merely urgent. They could learn ‘Positive Intelligence’ techniques to silence the inner critic and amplify the inner coach. They could practice resilience exercises, journaling setbacks as learning experiences, role-playing how to handle failure, and reframing challenges as growth opportunities.
The benefit is not just academic success; it is equipping our children for the unpredictable twists of life. A resilient child today becomes an adaptive, innovative leader tomorrow.
Learning as a life skill
We often confuse ‘education’ with ‘learning.’ Education is structured, often rigid, and measured by grades. Learning, however, is a lifelong process of adapting, unlearning, and relearning. In a fast-changing world, those who succeed are not necessarily the ones with the highest exam scores, but the ones who know how to reframe setbacks, seek solutions, and continually reinvent themselves.
Discipline, too, needs to be redefined. True discipline is not arriving on time because of fear of punishment; it is prioritising what matters because you value growth and respect commitments. True resilience is not about never failing but about falling and rising with renewed strength. Schools and workplaces alike must embed these deeper meanings into their cultures.
A call to leaders and educators
For leaders, the lesson is clear: creating a growth culture is not about training programmes alone. It is about modelling resilience, giving employees safe spaces to try and fail, and celebrating the process as much as the results. For educators, the lesson is even more urgent: we must shift from teaching subjects to teaching mindsets. If our children can learn how to manage their saboteurs, to see God’s nudges beyond comfort zones as blessings, and to practise prioritisation rooted in values, then we would gift them not just an education, but a life skill that compounds with every challenge they face.
In the end, the most precious form of learning is not algebra or history, but it is the ability to face life’s inevitable discomforts and grow stronger. And that is a curriculum worth building for every child, every leader, and every human being who wishes to thrive beyond their comfort zone.
Join us next month for another edition of Workplace Watch, where we’ll explore more trends shaping the future of work. Until then, keep growing, keep learning, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Amal Kooheji is a growth advocate