Be the 2%: Why a Little Discomfort Might Save Us All.
We are currently living in a world, where we have all the comforts we could possibly need. The food arrives within a few minutes of us ordering it, you can access all entertainment with only one click on your phone, and the thermostats keep us cozy all year round. However, while it is nice to live our lives easier, we often forget that our development and growth rarely happens in comfort. Micheal Easter’s book The Comfort Crisis argues that our modern life has become too easy, and it is slowly killing us in the meantime. We actively seek easy solutions to our everyday problems, without realising that it affects our ability to handle any mishaps. However, Easter proposes a solution that is as old as humanity itself: seek out discomfort on purpose!
We have created a world that provides us with all comfort we could need and has prioritised comfort above everything. Whether it is ordering groceries to be directly delivered to the house or “doomscrolling” and sending memes to other people instead of engaging in meaningful conversation. Our smartphone gives us an illusion that makes us think that we are always connected, however, more and more people report the feeling of being disconnected from life. We compare ourselves to others which results in the feeling of isolation, and with that comes a mental fatigue. While it is true that technology makes our lives a tiny bit easier, it makes us weaker at the same time.
One might think that the easiest solution to solving a problem is a simple AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated answer. Not only it is environmentally unethical, it also takes away from our critical thinking development. Statistics show that the AI usage for problem solving has diminished ability to critically evaluate information and engage in reflective problem-solving. Therefore, it is important to engage in problem solving tasks more often in order to develop them. That way we would not need to rely on AI at all!
Our brains and bodies were built for a challenge, however, over the years our environment has deprived that from us. As a result of this, we get anxious and restless. Our bodies call for us to take on those extra challenges that develop our mind. The best piece of advice that has been discussed in Comfort Crisis are those 2% of the people who choose different paths. Only 2% of people choose to do things the hard way, even though you have access to do it easier. The 2% of those who choose the more difficult tasks in their daily lives (such as taking the stairs instead of elevator), they become more grounded, present, more resilient, and they live longer. That 2% of people do not chase their dreams that could happen in the near or far future, they are present and live in the moment fully, welcoming the discomfort. Not running away from it. We need to intentionally invite the discomfort just enough so that we could feel alive and build resilience to the more challenging events in our lives, which is extremely rewarding in the long run. Our bodies and minds will thank us!
Whether it is taking a freezing cold shower, walking across the city to meet your friends, or going on a hike without your headphones and Spotify, it is important that self-imposed hardships can recalibrate the mind and the body. Easter discusses that if we never stretch our limits, we shrink. The discomfort is not something you should be afraid of: embrace it! It teaches us endurance and that our body is capable way more than we think we do. The real satisfaction comes not from shying away from difficulty, but from overcoming it.
Written By: Ieva Dambrauskaite
