#65 Being comfortable with feeling uncomfortable

Good evening from seat 11K on a Boeing 777 from Cape Town to London Heathrow.

I’ve been on the African continent for the past couple of weeks, and when I talked to a friend about my current travels and security measures, he said, ‘I don’t like unfamiliar travel.’

For me, that’s exactly what makes travel memorable: the new sights, sounds, and smells—the new experiences that leave a lasting impression. Travel is also how we learn and grow.

The unfamiliar can generate a degree of discomfort, and we naturally want to minimise that.  But embracing the unknown and the uncomfortable allows us to push ourselves and to develop.

When we do new things, we activate different parts of our brains.

Doing uncomfortable things can challenge the brain to adapt and change, leading to increased neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. By pushing beyond our comfort zones, we can stimulate the growth of new neural pathways and enhance cognitive abilities.

Consistently pushing ourselves through continued confronting of low-level discomfort can build our overall levels of resilience, allowing us to better navigate and overcome challenges and obstacles across all aspects of our lives.

While initially uncomfortable, repeatedly exposing ourselves to challenging situations can lead to habituation, where the discomfort diminishes over time. This process can help reduce overall stress levels and increase tolerance for discomfort in the long run.

Overcoming discomfort often requires managing emotions such as fear, anxiety, or frustration. Repeated exposure to uncomfortable situations may also help us learn to regulate our emotional responses more effectively.

Implementation idea

Do one thing this week that makes you feel uncomfortable.

The discomfort you feel? Those are growing pains.

Let’s get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable.

Best, Alex Joshi.

On my bedside table:

• Podcast: In good company with Nicolai Tangen (link) - CEO of the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund interviews CEO’s of the companies they invest in. I binge-listened to interviews on Ryanair, McDonalds, Dominos and Hilton.

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