I remember the slogan that donned the wall of my high school’s weight room. It read, “Pain is temporary. Pride is forever!” Although this quote may be inspirational, it’s not particularly comforting. Comfort is a state of relaxation in which you are unbothered by any external influences. While we all need to feel comfort at times, there may also be nothing that can be gained by being too comfortable.
Recently I had the opportunity to give a Ted talk. After I delivered my talk from the trademark red dot, several people came up to me and told me how comfortable I looked on stage. I assured them that if they could have seen me backstage they wouldn’t have had that impression. I speak publicly for a living but this was the most nervous I have ever been. Backstage I was hopping up and down, talking to myself and sweating through my shirt.
I knew there was a larger purpose for why I needed to endure the temporary discomfort of the moment. In order to advance in my purpose I had to step on that stage and tell others how to discover and walk in their purpose. Those that desire only to live in comfort may never experience the joys that exist on the other side of discomfort.
POSTPONED COMFORT
Do you dislike what you do? Could there be a reason you need to be there and be uncomfortable for a season so that you can thrive for a lifetime? This generation is largely unfamiliar with the concept of delayed gratification. Growing up we didn’t have a DVR nor were we able to Google answers for every question we had. We went to libraries and looked up what books we need to read by going through the Dewey decimal system. I know I sound old but I’m not. I’m simply reminiscing about a time when people understood that they may need to work to get the answer they desire. We knew that there was a certain level of satisfaction that came from earning what you gained instead of it being given to you.
I recently watched a podcast where C.J., who works with the well-known motivational speaker Eric Thomas, talked about how he allowed the up and coming rapper, Tobe Nwigwe, to grind on his own. CJ, the one who suggested that Tobe utilize his rap talent, could have set up all of Tobe’s connections but he didn’t because he didn’t want to deprive Tobe of the satisfaction that comes from earning your own success. I had the opportunity to meet Tobe before his show in Chicago and his work ethic is evident. We also connected because his self-professed desire is to “make purpose popular.” But he will be the first to tell you that while he was still a nobody he saw the day where he would be known by everybody.
PROPER COMFORT
Everybody wants to be comfortable. The question is when should we be comfortable? And how comfortable should we be at most times? I have found that I work well under pressure. I’m not the only one. Why is that? I think it’s because that level of pressure or discomfort forces you to tap into resources that you may not have even realized you had. There is a certain level of creativity that reveals itself in uncomfortable situations.
This doesn’t mean to procrastinate so that you can ramp up the pressure but some pressure will come in life that you don’t have to manufacture. There will be some issue that will make you uncomfortable and when you work your way through it you will have the knowledge of how you achieved that success with you for the rest of your life. This will allow you to live more comfortably but to do so while maintaining a high level of productivity.
PURPOSEFUL COMFORT
Does discomfort ever serve a purpose? If life has a purpose and we have a purpose then that would indicate that many aspects (including the uncomfortable aspects) of life have a purpose. Think back to the times in your life where you learned the most important lessons. I’m guessing it wasn’t while you were hanging out by the pool. It was more likely when you had to give a presentation and you were riddled with nerves or you were starting a new school, business or family and were uncertain, uncomfortable and possibly unprepared. What lessons did you learn then that continue to impact you today?
There is a purpose to discomfort. There is also a purpose to comfort. We do need to relax and unwind. But we should earn the right to relax in comfort because we handled our times of discomfort well.
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