Few weeks back, our team met for an informal catch up. With the Mumbai rains lashing on the glass windows, our conversation drifted to comfort food. We all described what we loved and intuitively go for in such weather – varying from hot Maggi to vegetable khichdi….
The word ‘comfort’ stayed with me that evening. I started wondering – what is ‘comfort’? Where does ‘discomfort’ come from? Do we crave for discomfort? Why?
I remember, more than 8 years back – I was comfortable in Hyderabad, working in a role that I liked, a company that I admired, a city that I loved living in, a beautiful house we settled in well. Yet, there was a sense pf restlessness; for something more, different, challenging. Guess the comfort brought with it boredom. And the restlessness brought triggered the ‘search for discomfort’.
Human beings are naturally wired to learn and grow, thus our inherent comfort with discomfort. While the the extent varies between individuals, we crave for ‘being uncomfortable’ as it helps us in
- Embracing change – as I shifted to Mumbai, all my old routines, ways of living and working were disrupted – far more than I expected. Yet, I had expected to feel intense discomfort (rather sought it); and it enabled me to navigate transitions and embrace new opportunities.
- Personal growth – challenge ourselves and expand our capabilities – be it at work or in personal life. I recently started to learn writing haiku, the Japanese form of micro poetry. I have always written prose, so it was completely out of my zone of comfort. I am amazed to see my mother, a septuagenarian, eagerly learning new recipes and trying them out.
- Resilience – as I learn to write haiku, I make umpteen mistakes… and often get a rap on the knuckles by the seniors in this art form. I try to publish in journals and oft get rejected.. Yet, the discomfort is helping me gain confidence gradually and increase my resilience.
- Overcoming fears – I remember my visit to Kenya for a jungle safari five years back. I was keen to experience African savannah…. but couldn’t find anyone willing to accompany me. For quite sometime, I was afraid to step out to into the wild (literally…) all alone. But I gave it go…. I am so glad that I did, those 7 days I spent in the jungles of Africa are one of the most memorable ones of my life.
- Improving empathy – when we step into unfamiliar territory and experience discomfort, it helps us understand others better. It broadens our perspective, allowing us to different perspectives.
How has the sense of ‘discomfort’ helped you in your life journey? Would love to hear…..
Perspectives 