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Seek Discomfort

There are two words that I started living by a few years ago that have changed my life. It's simple:

Seek Discomfort.

It comes off counterintuitive, the majority of us are completely wired to avoid discomfort at all costs. It's human nature, and we try to avoid anything that makes us feel uneasy, but I've come to realize that this is fundamentally flawed if you want to grow as a person. The truth is that in moments of discomfort is where true growth lies.

Think about it - everything you've ever mastered started from a seed that rooted itself in discomfort. From learning to ride a bike to something bigger picture. This philosophy of seeking discomfort applies to literally (and i'm not kidding) all facets of life.

For a few years, I had a whiteboard hanging in my room with just those two words: "Seek Discomfort." When entering my room it was always the first thing I'd see, no matter what. That constant reminder really pounded it into my head to make choices that scared me, and to step outside my comfort zone consistently. Now, I don't even need the whiteboard. It's become so deeply ingrained in my being that it guides everything I do. I'm reminded of those two words every time I am presented a fork in the road.

Seeking discomfort isn't about making yourself miserable. It's all about recognizing that the path of greatest growth often comes with the highest burden of discomfort. That job that requires skills you haven't mastered yet? That relationship that needs a difficult conversation? That project idea that might fail publicly? These are all the choices that will propel you forward if you have the courage to embrace them.

I'm not saying you need to do some crazy shit like quit your job tomorrow or start doing crack because it's uncomfortable. Start small and take calculated risks.

My Personal Practice

I challenge myself with each and every decision to take the hard route. And no, it doesn't get easier to embrace the weight of discomfort. Each new crossroad still brings that same shitty feeling to my stomach, that same urge to take the easy road.

But what I've learned is that the gamble is almost always worth taking. The discomfort is temporary, but the growth is permanent. When I (finally) decided to launch the first version of Avora, knowing it wasn't where I wanted it at the time, I braced for the feedback. When I had to navigate the fallout from the Nebula/EarthPol fiasco, I felt completely overwhelmed. When I decided to share my honest reflections on leaving the community I loved, my hands were shaking.

Each of these moments were genuinely uncomfortable experiences, and they still would be today. The difference is that I've seen the rewards on the other side of the coin enough times to trust the process. While the discomfort doesn't diminish the difficulty, your faith in what lies beyond should grow stronger with every choice.

So I'll leave you with this: What discomfort are you avoiding right now that might be holding back your growth? Whatever it is, that's exactly where your next opportunity lies. Seek it out, embrace the shitty feeling, and come out a bigger person. Send that text. Apply for that position. Post that thing you've been working on. The size of the discomfort doesn't matter - it's the consistent practice of choosing it that builds the mental muscle. Future you will almost always thank present you for being brave enough to be uncomfortable today.