Terence MacLaine (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
Comfort.
We all seek it. We all want to be comfortable. But what about DIScomfort? Is it a bad thing? Is it always undesirable? Our brains, for the most part, are conditioned to regard words with “dis” preceding them to be negative. And often, if only subconsciously, anything negative is looked upon unfavorably. But is it so with discomfort?
Let’s examine some scenarios.
Scenario number one:
Kyle is 23, single, and has difficulty forming meaningful relationships. He has squandered many opportunities because of the uncertainty of the outcome. Like most of us, he wishes it was simple, but in his mind, he figures he faces at least a 50 per cent chance of rejection. It is this fear that has held Kyle back. The fear of stepping out of his own comfort zone. He realizes he is being held back by his unwillingness to leave his comfort zone and has decided to try something different.
Kyle works with Erin, who is also single. He enjoys working with her and wants to get to know her outside of the office. He has envisioned all kinds of scenarios in which to approach her, but he has yet to act on it. Kyle is at a crossroads.
He realizes he can either risk feeling uncomfortable by asking Erin out, or continue to wonder what might have been. Kyle eventually asks Erin out for coffee, and she accepts.
In this instance, Kyle is rewarded by facing discomfort, which in turn has the added benefit of helping him grow as a person as well.
Scenario number two:
Winnie has been with her company for over three years. Like Kyle, she too is at a crossroads. She feels she deserves a raise, yet is afraid to upset her boss by asking for one. Winnie has also noticed she is beginning to feel unrecognized for all her hard work and has come to the conclusion that the only way for her to move forward is to ask for a raise, or continue to languish away. She knows that in order for her to succeed, she will need to be uncomfortable.
Winnie ultimately decides to ask for a raise and is rewarded for her efforts. Once again, we see discomfort as a motivating factor. Discomfort, like any other fear, can be a healthy thing.
It is nature’s way of telling us we are in dangerous or unfamiliar territory. But it can also be the springboard for growth. Personal growth. This is to take nothing away from comfort, as it too has its purpose. But too much comfort can also be dangerous, for if there is no struggle, there is no growth. No progress.
Ultimately, it comes down to your perception of discomfort, and how you choose to approach it. You can try to avoid it whenever possible. But at what cost? Or, you can use it as an opportunity to better yourself.
As the saying goes: do something once a day that scares you.
Do it twice when it doesn’t.
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Terence MacLaine is a writer and blogger from Vancouver, BC. He has a lifetime of experiences set against the backdrop of beautiful British Columbia, and brings his stories to the world in his blog, The Adventures of Yesteryear (theadventureofmemories.wordpress.com).