In partnership with
LIVE LIFE WELL
Discomfort Can Be Good
I dislike discomfort, and have typically tried to avoid it but…
…as a health coach I am realizing more and more that it is important to acknowledge that change can, and usually does, cause discomfort. For instance, if you are used to eating potato chips, donuts, and mounds of pasta, it will feel uncomfortable eating more meat, fruit, and vegetables, and foregoing lots of processed carbs.
So I got to mulling over the place of discomfort in our lives.
Things that can cause discomfort, but are good:
Learning something new
Quitting smoking, drugs, or excessive alcohol
Getting rid of bad habits
Building new, good habits
Childbirth
Saying you are sorry
Working on losing weight
Surgery
Sharing our time, things or money with others
Working out: Strength training, running, etc.
Obeying God’s commandments
Saying “no” to yourself
Potty training children
Fasting
What discomforts can accomplish:
New good habits
Riddance of bad habits
Building character and endurance
Creating more neural pathway that help keep your brain keen
Ultimately improving our life
New life (as in labor & delivery of a new baby)
Building muscle & improving agility
Riddance of disease (in the case of surgery & other medical treatments)
Saves relationships (like when you say you are sorry)
No more diapers
Builds faith in God because we need to rely on Him in difficulties
My Axioms Regarding Things That Threaten My Comfort
I can do hard things; I have done them before.
Trust God and just roll with it.
This challenge is making me smarter (or healthier or stronger).
No pain, no gain. (This idiom bordering on cliche - not my favorite.)
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Strategies are our friends.
Don’t strain your brain or train to gain if, you prefer the plain & mundane. (My invention, but I doubt that this one will go viral.)
Does the Bible back up the discomfort concept? Yes, but in a roundabout way.
“Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me.” Psalm 23:4. (Life inevitably has its discomforts and scariness.)
“And He (Jesus) was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “ Luke 9:23
Saying “no” to myself - quite uncomfortable.
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes”. Psalm 119:71. Afflictions - Totally uncomfortable.
Romans 5:3-4 - Tribulation builds perseverance, character, and hope.
Tribulations - yep, uncomfortable.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance”. James 1:2. Trials - nobody wants these either.
Implications for Your Health Journey
Acknowledge that X will likely be uncomfortable to some degree. This is okay. Don’t be surprised by it. Think of workarounds. You will survive.
X = some new healthy habit or omitting something that does not serve your wellness goals.
If you want to consider working with me as your discomfort providing health coach, you can go here.
Discomfort Conclusion
I am not advocating misery. Just trying to be real. Of course some discomfort can and should be avoided when possible, like car accidents and falling down stairs. But some is inevitable. And remind yourself that some is good, and even necessary for our betterment. So plan on it. And roll with it.
Follow-Up On Last Weeks Post
So far I have collected these One Word’s from people: Resilience, Exploration, Flow, Intentional, Growth, Comfort, Balance, and Strong. Pretty good assortment. It is not too late to send me yours. Just hit reply. It only goes to me. Read that article here.
The Wonder of Words
You seasoned readers know that I love words and have often highlighted one, even using it in a sentence and encouraging you to do the same. It can be uncomfortable to try to use a new word.
Here is a new word for you: VIMORATIONS. Definition: Sparks of ideas begging to be germinated.
The newly hired chef was flooded with vimorations during his first day on the job.
You have never heard this word before. Because…I invented it. I looked it up in a dictionary just to make sure. A few nights ago, in the wee hours of the morning, this word and its definition appeared in a dream. When I woke up briefly, I repeated it over and over so I would remember it later when I got up. Never had that happen before.
Embracing discomfort in return for the benefits,
~Vanessa
www.vanessamarsden.com
Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
