Most afternoons in recent days, I have carried a backpack of dog food cans up Quarry Mountain. There are no dogs at the top of the mountain—only some microwave towers—and our dogs generally stay home. So why am I doing this?
To make my load heavier.
I’d have a more pleasant hike without the cans, but there will likely be numerous long term benefits of making my body a bit less comfortable. I should not only grow stronger, but also a bit tougher… more accustomed to being a bit uncomfortable.
There are many ways to be uncomfortable, in a good way:
Exercise more, especially out in nature
Stand instead of sit
Say what needs to be said, instead of avoiding difficult conversations (see Say It Skillfully for more on this)
Fast
Be a bit cold
Or be very cold, for short periods (i.e. roll in the snow in your bathing suit)
Edit or review your work, instead of just sending it out
Skip dessert
Go on a very big physical adventure, one lasting days or weeks. As I write this, a young couple from my town are in Antarctica waiting for a break in the weather so a plane can airlift them out; a few days ago, they skied down that continent’s highest peak.
Finding ways to add discomfort to my life, I’ll admit, is a new thought process for me. I like being comfortable. If I get cold, I turn up the heat or add another layer.
But I also like having energy, good health and resilience. As we age, the choice is pretty clear: we either take better care of our bodies or our bodies start to betray us. (By “age”, I mean over 35.)
So lately, I have been wondering whether the amount of pain we’ll experience in our lives is mostly predetermined and we can reduce the amount of pain we will experience in any single day by accepting modest amounts of pain (i.e. discomfort) every day.
Here’s a simple example what I mean. Imagine that by fasting 16 hours each day, you can prevent yourself from getting cancer or heart disease. In this manner, you will make a daily sacrifice that is quite bearable in order to avoid unbearable pain. Would you take that deal? I would.
In many respects, adding daily doses of discomfort into your life is like saving money: the benefits compound. At first, you won’t see much of an impact. But five or ten or twenty years down the road, you will have a life-changing amount of positive value. You will be happier, healthier and better prepared to handle whatever life brings your way.
Please enjoy the holidays, and I always welcome your thoughts and ideas!
Cheers,
Bruce
Thank you Bruce for sharing what at first glance seems counterintuitive, but makes complete sense. Here's to resilient and vibrant living! May you and your family be blessed with a peaceful, joy filled holiday season.