# A little bit uncomfortable

DevFeed: [A little bit uncomfortable](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/a-little-bit-uncomfortable-12428.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2025/12/a-little-bit-uncomfortable.html>)

Author: werner@allthingsdistributed.com (Dr. Werner Vogels)

Published: 2025-12-16T12:30:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [All Things Distributed](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/all-things-distributed.md>)

Topics: [vulnerability](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/vulnerability.md>), [Computer science](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/computer-science.md>), [Operating system](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/operating-system.md>), [distributed-systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/distributed-systems.md>)

Tags: [article](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/article.md>), [posts](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/posts.md>), [research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/research.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/systems.md>), [vulnerability](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vulnerability.md>)

## AI overview

The article reflects on public-speaking anxiety and argues that discomfort and fear can signal meaningful growth. It recounts a difficult early research presentation, where criticism from the authors of Plan 9 left the writer shaken, while encouraging readers to pay attention to what currently makes them uncomfortable.

## Source excerpt

Fear is actually a pretty good signal that you are pushing into the unknown, that real growth doesn't happen without a bit of that associated discomfort, and that it's worth becoming aware when it happens. Aware enough to consider actually leaning into it.