12 Jul 2026 2 min read Wellbeing

My Fourth Optometry License

Part of my job as a travel optometry consultant is to understand how optometry works in different provinces, and there's no better way to learn than working on the ground level.

I spent the last year working all over Newfoundland, and I had to embrace uncomfortable changes and constant learning.

I was finally starting to feel comfortable when I recently added a PEI license and booked my first PEI clinic.

The thought of stepping outside my comfort zone yet again feels daunting.

But then I think back to how comfortable I felt in my previous job of 8 years, and I'm reminded of this quote:

Comfort isn't what you really want, it's just what you've gotten used to.

My previous job was wonderful with an amazing boss and mentor (thank you Dr. Min and Dr. Chong), but I've outgrown it.

Comfort Isn't What You Really Want

Looking back on my career, each milestone came from embracing discomfort:

My very first travel clinic in Manitoba
Launching a work happiness podcast
Presenting a well-being talk to colleagues (major imposter syndrome!)

And each time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I took a small but meaningful step towards my dream work-life.

Fast forward to now, as I write this in beautiful Newfoundland on a travel optometry trip, I'm amazed at how quickly life can change when you push through discomfort.

Comfort feels safe, but it keeps you stuck. As I learned through my experience of burnout, the biggest risk is not taking a risk.

Your Brain Adapts to How You Use It

If you keep rewarding yourself with comfort, you will strengthen the areas associated with inaction. Like your muscles, you need to train your mind to do things that are hard.

When I was training for a marathon, it took every ounce of willpower to go outside and run for hours in the summer heat, week after week for months. With each run, it definitely got easier, but it never became easy. All I could do was put on my shoes and keep showing up anyway.