Showing yourself you’re a strong capable human
As soon as anyone mention discomfort everyone’s faces (and minds!) scrunches up automatically. We’re wired for comfort!
But discomfort needn’t mean running as hard as you can up a hill til you collapse in a heap of gulping urgent gasps of air at the top barely able to walk ever again! In fact it needn’t mean big grand gestures at all! Discomfort is simply setting your own standards, ‘discomfort rules’, and sticking to them:
Making your bed each morning takes more effort than leaving it but it’s really a small tangible victory which can have a ripple effect inspire you to tackle bigger challenges thru your day
Taking the stairs to get to the supermarket carpark is harder than taking the lift but over time will make you strong and more resilient (trust me on this with a busted knee - I now enjoy the stairs!)
Going for a walk on a cold windy day is uncomfortable but hugely beneficial for your physical health and mood. In my family, we call these adventure walks, explorers where no one else is!
Taking a 10-30s cold shower at the end of your hot one can help your heat generating superpowers in your muscles. Your mitochondrial health is anti aging! We call these paradise showers at home (selling it to myself!)
Meditating each day takes more effort than making or buying a coffee while checking your emails first thing but it will help you feel calmer and in control
Turning your phone off an hour before bed takes more effort than scrolling instagram, but will likely improve the quality of your sleep (not to mention intimacy with your family and partner)
When the next episode of your Netflix series starts immediately at the end of the one you’ve just watched, the uncomfortable thing to do is to stop watching and go to bed! You can do it. Oh and getting enough sleep will have a huge impact on the way you feel the following day, improving your your physical and mental well being
All of these small uncomfortable actions will yield incredible benefits when done consistently. While this doesn’t have to be a literal physical list, creating your own ‘discomfort rules’ like taking the stairs will get you away from constant decision making and help making choosing ‘discomfort’ your default - and every time you practice discomfort you build resilience, feel more in control of yourself and show yourself your a strong capable human!
