Most of us go to great lengths to avoid discomfort. Indeed entire industries have evolved to ensure our comfort, and they are massively successful. The amount of comfort we enjoy today is infinitely greater than that of those who lived just 100 years ago. But can too much comfort actually be a disadvantage?
There are basically two kinds of discomfort; physical and mental, although sometimes they are intertwined. We sometimes will endure mental discomfort to avoid physical discomfort, such as when we choose to stay in bed and feel guilty rather than get up and go to the gym.
The extent to which we as a populace go to avoid emotional discomfort is getting to be ridiculous. Trigger warnings are a prime example. Originally developed as a courtesy to people with posttraumatic stress disorder, they have morphed into something beyond absurdity. I am personally offended by people who are so easily offended.
There is also the opposite approach though, and that is to purposefully engage is uncomfortable behavior in order to achieve a goal, be it very specific (to lose X pounds) or general (to grow as a person). It can be anything from training for a marathon to cold shower therapy. Basically, living the Nietzsche quote.
Of course, confronting one’s mortality can be quite discomforting to most folks. Very few of us wake up thinking that today will be our last day on Earth and yet one look at the obituaries shows it was exactly that for many people, some unexpectedly. Even so, discussing and imagining what life would be like for your loved ones with you gone is not anyone’s idea of fun. But it is a conversation that every responsible adult with dependents needs to have.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy creature comforts as much as the next person, but as the saying goes, there is a time and place for everything. Don’t let the prospect of a little discomfort prevent you from accomplishing your goals, be it getting down to your ideal weight or protecting your loved ones. Instead, face the discomfort head on and use it to your advantage.