Seek Discomfort
It isn't just about getting uncomfortable; you should move with a purpose.
Getting uncomfortable is a necessary evil in this world. I see no way to have a happy and healthy life without it. Whether it be a long-lasting relationship, a formidable career, achieving your dream body, or starting a family; getting uncomfortable is a necessary part of anything worth aspiring for. Records are meant to be broken, dream are meant to be achieved, none of which happens without discomfort.
This fact of life has become especially popular in recent years. While I have no doubt that this idea is as old as humanity, I can only imagine that Yes Theory’s dedication to the message had done wonders for its propagation in contemporary times. If anything, today’s world is the most comfortable things have ever been, which probably speaks to our desire to “seek discomfort.” For only a few generations ago, the idea of “seeking discomfort” wasn’t a statement of intent, but rather a fact of life. Our modern world, probably for the best, has pushed us away from this understanding with its seeking to fulfill our every desire. The fact that we can be so comfortable is fantastic, it’s something that almost every generation before us would have wished for. Yet, our desire to seek discomfort is clearly telling us that too much comfort has descended upon us.
The logic behind seeking discomfort tells us that we need to be willing to do the uncomfortable stuff in order to achieve our desires. When asked, what keeps you motivated? Casey Neistat once answered:
Well, in short. I’m here, all of my dreams and aspirations are here, and the only thing in between these 2 is a bunch of work.
I’ve included this quote because it speaks to the core idea of seeking discomfort. Basically, there is a divide between you and everything you have ever wanted, and the only way to cross this divide is to do the work, something which almost always involves getting uncomfortable. However, I’d like to emphasise an important point: seeking discomfort needs a purpose.
One of the major flaws that people make during the process of seeking discomfort is to assume that the very act of getting uncomfortable is the purpose of the activity. To see discomfort as the end goal, as opposed to a tool that can help you to achieve your goals. I fell victim to this purposeless desire to be uncomfortable in my first chapter of seeking discomfort.
That’s the message that I’m bringing to you today. Seeking discomfort is a tool, a tool that you can use to give yourself permission to do the hard stuff in pursuit of what matters to you. Being uncomfortable is not the goal, it’s a part of the process of achieving a goal.
Seeking discomfort is undoubtedly a good thing, when it’s acting in service of your goals, that is. At one stage in my life I had this confused, I believed that the act of being uncomfortable itself was a tool for growth, and while you could certainly argue that this is the case, there is no arguing that getting uncomfortable for a purpose is more meaningful.
I would accept an invite to an event I didn’t want to go to under the guise of “seeking discomfort,” when in reality, I just genuinely didn’t want to go. I went with the intent of getting uncomfortable. The proposition that I’m offering you is that this unguided seeking of discomfort is a waste of time and energy.
Life is challenging by its very nature. There will be many opportunities for you to seek discomfort in your life. I believe that your desires, goals and purpose should drive you first, with seeking discomfort being the tool that you use to get where you want to be. Seeking discomfort shouldn’t be a goal without a purpose.
If you’re doing things with only the goal of seeking discomfort, you’re wasting your time. The lesson that I have learnt is that on the path to achieving my desires, there has been and will continue to be many opportunities to put the philosophy of seeking discomfort to the test, and that I should patiently wait to use this tool of personal growth on things that matter, rather than aimlessly wielding it at anything that comes my way. To give a true purpose to my actions, instead of seeking an endless battle against any and all discomfort.
Are you familiar with the story of Sisyphus? I’ll include two excerpts below for reference.
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the founder and king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). He was a devious tyrant who killed visitors to show off his power. This violation of the sacred hospitality tradition greatly angered the gods. They punished him for trickery of others, including his cheating death twice. The gods forced him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity. Through the classical influence on modern culture, tasks that are both laborious and futile are therefore described as Sisyphean. - Wikipedia
Zeus, fed up with Sisyphus' tricks and cunning as well as his hubris - believing he was more cunning than Zeus - punished him to eternally push a boulder uphill. However, as soon as he would reach the top of the hill, the boulder, like a rolling stone, would roll off and Sisyphus had to push it back again. This daunting task, symbolizing the endless rolling of stones, represents the futile yet persistent endeavors that define the human spirit. This myth later inspired French philosopher Albert Camus, who saw Sisyphus' unyielding labor as a metaphor for the human struggle against the absurdity of life, a cornerstone concept in existentialist philosophy. - Greek Mythology
It’s my view that chasing discomfort without a greater purpose is a parallel to the story of Sisyphus. When seeking discomfort is the ultimate goal, one which serves no greater purpose, we’re condemned to endlessly push our boulder up the hill, only for it to fall back down. Sisyphus’ persistence to continue pushing the boulder to the top of the hill, despite its inevitable fall back to the bottom, represents the endless seeking of more discomfort, despite its lack of real purpose. When we push the boulder to its peak (complete an act of discomfort), only for it to fall back down (the individual no closer to the life they desire), we’re locked into an endless battle of suffering for little purpose other than the vapid rising and falling of the boulder. Acting for the purpose of acting, with no greater purpose.
It’s by giving purpose to our discomfort that the boulder need not fall back down the hill. See, when we achieve something with a purpose, we get one step closer to our goal. When we push the boulder up its hill with a purpose, the boulder stays in place at the top, ready for us to begin the push up the next climb, on a journey with an eventual completion. But, when we push the boulder up its hill with no purpose, it falls off only for us to end up in a different position, one which is no closer to the sky. In this analogy, you could think of the sky as the finish line to one’s desires. Without purpose, the boulder never makes it any higher than the top of the first hill. With purpose, our efforts aren’t in vain as they build on each earlier effort, driving us toward the sky (the finish line of our desires).
To me, Sisyphus’ eternal and purposeless struggle is no different from seeking discomfort without a purpose. It’s hard work that aspires to achieve nothing. However, it’s by giving a direction and a purpose to seeking discomfort that we can leverage this tool for personal growth. Seeking discomfort is certainty a profound philosophy, however, it’s a challenging one to implement. One which needs a real purpose to bring value to all the effort it demands.
So, I will leave you with a final message:
Seek discomfort. Seek discomfort with a purpose. Otherwise, your efforts will be in vain, and you will join Sisyphus and his eternal struggle.
Practical Activity (if you’re interested)
It’s all good and well to say that seeking discomfort should come with a purpose, but I forgot to elaborate as to how one might do this. So, if you’re in need of a little purpose, listen up.
I would like you to create a list of things that you want to change in your life (the longer the better, but don’t force it). It could be as simple as buying a new car, or as complicated as moving countries. Take some time and once you’ve made your list, I would like you to identify two uncomfortable steps you can take towards each of these goals.
It may take some time, but once you’re done, you’ll have a list of steps, actions targeted at seeking discomfort, tasks which are driven by a greater purpose. Next time you’re feeling the pull to get a little uncomfortable, or just have too much time on your hands. You’ve now got a list of activities that not only push you outside your comfort zone, but also help you to achieve your goals at the same time. A win-win scenario.
If you choose to partake, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned! Best of luck!!
Also! Please consider sharing with whomever you believe might be interested 🔗