Humans used to have to do hard things all the time.

Now the privileged environment we live in is safe and nice.

That ultimately limits us, we don’t go on the edges.

We don’t have the adventures we could have, we miss out on new thrilling experiences.

What makes us happy is not accomplishing things that are easy.

Having moments that press us back, that push against us, is what keeps us healthy.

Life is not supposed to be comfortable all the time.

If it were, we’d lose something fundamental about being a human.

We’d rather stay in certain misery than endure not knowing what the journey might bring.

But knowing what we’re going to get is not even as exciting or captivating.

Sure, the outcome might not be the best but it could be pretty great.

The stakes are not that high : we’ve figured things out in the past, we can do it again.

Discomfort is linked to uncertainty, a need to know what the future holds.

Our brain is trying to slow or shut us down to keep some energy on board.

Not recruiting all of our capacity is a defence mechanism.

What we think our limits are is somewhat of an illusion.

We can see discomfort as a choice, see what it has to bring.

We can run it through context, frame how we want to view it.

We can choose to do hard things and feel lucky we can do them at all.

We can choose the story we’re going to tell ourselves in any given situation.

We can resist choosing a short-term relief at the expense of long-term growth,

it is a battle with our ancient primitive hardware but it’s also a choice.

This battle can be won with internal conversations.

We can make better long-term decisions, overcome addictions.

We can embrace this ingrained sense of not being or having enough.

We can accept moderation is difficult even in times of abundance,

Having more used to give us a survival advantage,

but our surroundings have changed, we don’t live as we did in the past.

Tough and challenging moments make us realise what we’re capable of.

Experiences outside of our comfort zone can change our perception.

“We risk so much hesitating to fling ourselves into the abyss.”

But doing so gives us perspective and makes us so deeply appreciative.

Discomfort reminds us to be grateful for what we have :

running water, access to food, education, healthcare, entertainment.

Today’s pleasures often becomes tomorrow’s any given things,

we keep searching for the next hurdle, we keep waiting for the next problem to appear.

Let’s not do the next easiest, most comfortable thing,

let’s do the hardest one instead, let’s do it with audacity.

Let’s apply this to all the facets of our lives,

and see how it all unfolds, adds up, and compounds.

Let’s change our psychological relationship with discomfort,

let’s do challenging things in order to grow as humans.

We are capable of way more than we think,

we just don’t get thrust into positions anymore to realise this.

Let’s be willing to do things that are uncomfortable,

let’s have difficult conversations with the people we love.

Let’s not wait for evidence to go on an adventure,

let’s trust the evidence will come from the adventure itself.

Let’s get down there and improvise, figure things out.

The way it will shape and change us will be quite permanent.

We’ll come out on the other side different, improved,

with an ability to make better long-term decisions.

Let’s be intentional, let’s choose consciously.

This is ultimately where our precious freedom is.

Let’s change the story we tell ourselves, the experiences we have.

Let’s change our sets of beliefs if they are not serving us.

Let’s do the hard thing even when no one is watching.

Let it be proof that we’re not the type of persons that quits.

Let’s keep first and foremost our commitments to ourselves,

let’s let this tell us a story about who we are.

Let’s embrace the journey, let’s “throw ourselves into the abyss.”

Let’s embrace short-term discomfort to get long-term benefits.

It’s in the struggle we learn what we’re really capable of,

let’s go on our own hero’s journey, even if it’s hard.

by : antιdrastιc element

ιnspιred by : Michael Easter

(professor, author of : The comfort crisis)

based on : Michael Easter’s interview on DOAC

This Popular Lifestyle Is Killing 1 Person every 33 seconds!

photo credιt : www.instagram.com/michael_easter/

ιmages credιt : shutterstock, dreamtime