Society's Comfort Trap: How Embracing Discomfort Leads To Personal Growth
Society traps you with comfort. Familiar comforts prevent self-transformation. Only by embracing discomfort will you experience personal growth and achieve your goals.
Are you willing to embrace discomfort to succeed? It is by doing uncommon and challenging things that you achieve success. In a society addicted to comfort, embracing discomfort will make you stand out from the crowd and experience personal growth.
“Growth is the only evidence of life.” — John Henry Newman
Society’s Comfort Trap
Society wants to addict you to comfort. This addiction makes you more pliable, more easily controlled and manipulated. For instance, instead of being able to think critically and independently, you might find yourself unquestioningly accepting a news source or a politician's word as truth. You may end each day by pouring yourself a drink to get over what happened at work.
News, politics, and alcohol are three familiar comforts that society often pressures people to partake in.
News is a form of comfort because it makes you focus on problems happening in the world but not directly happening to you. It is a form of voyeurism where you are observing the world's issues from a safe distance. Much like social media, news can give you the illusion of being informed about the world when you use it to pass the time.
Politics is another everyday comfort that people are led to believe in. They have been sold the idea that the solutions to their problems can come about through politics. Instead of taking action each day to find ways to improve their lives, many people are under the illusion that simply voting for a politician will bring about change.
I have always been wary of politics due to the people I know who have been involved in politics to varying degrees. I knew someone who ran a political marketing firm. I knew another person from college who aspired to be the President's Chief of Staff. They both were smooth talkers and seemed always out to find ways to move up in the political ranks.
They were driven by the pursuit of power. They did not worry about how their actions affected others as long as it helped them move further up the political ladder. These are the types of people politics attracts.
One of them let slip over drinks one day. If people knew what politicians were like behind closed doors, not how they presented themselves to the public, people would be disgusted by them. Could House of Cards be closer to a documentary than people want to realize?
Both the news and politics prey upon fear to get you to return to them. The news uses it for clicks. Politicians use it to get elected and to stay in power. When all else fails, politicians take the people to war to distract them from the problems in their home country.
Alcohol is the most popular drug. It is a widely available depressant. When someone turns 21, there is a big celebration. Society uses alcohol to show that someone is now officially an adult. As it a depressant, it is an artificial relaxant that many people use to get past their bad days or to celebrate the end of the work week.
Regularly reading the news. Caring about politics and believing that political solutions will change your life circumstances. Drinking to get through the challenges of life. These are surefire ways to ensure you continue to be a part of the crowd.
Discomfort Leads To Personal Growth
Discomfort is the fertile ground for self-development. You hold the reins of your growth.
You must make the decision to step out of your comfort zone. You are responsible for sowing the seeds of your evolution.
Muscles grow through pain. The same is true for personal growth.
True growth only comes from pushing your boundaries. Only by taking risks can you learn your full capabilities and limitations. When you commit to changing your bad habits to good ones, you can transform yourself.
Each day, you can find small ways to challenge yourself, and with each challenge conquered, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment that fuels your personal growth journey.
These daily challenges can help you to reach your goals.
Taking risks is scary. It is easier to want to be safe. However, only by taking financial risks can you have a higher return on an investment that is higher than the safest option.
The safest option is to leave your money in a savings account. Due to inflation, the value of your money decreases over time. It loses value in the bank since it is earning less than the actual inflation rate.
There is no guarantee that your risk will work out. An investment may not work. It may take multiple tries to finally find one that works. That is the nature of taking any risk.
Personal growth is a monumental challenge. It's no surprise that many opt for the easier path of comfort. But remember, choosing self-development over comfort is a courageous choice that can help you achieve your full potential. It requires you to be willing to make hard choices, such as leaving a secure job to pursue your obsession and do what most people do not want, like facing rejection or failure.
That job may actually not be as secure as you think it is. You could find a way to monetize your obsession and start your own business, allowing you to leave the job.
So, the question remains: will you choose comfort or embrace discomfort and flourish? The choice is yours.
Some Ways To Grow
If you are considering a career change, study relevant certifications that can facilitate the transition. Additionally, networking at relevant events can introduce you to individuals who could provide valuable insights and opportunities for your new career path.
If you are looking to boost your income, consider starting a side hustle. Dedication and strategic planning could make your side hustle a full-time business, surpassing your current income. You get out of the side hustle what you put into it.
Consider a significant financial move- abstaining from alcohol for a year. The money saved from not purchasing alcohol or going out to drink could be invested. Depending on your drinking habits, this could amount to a substantial sum, which, if directed towards a 401(k) or other investment options, could significantly boost your savings for retirement.
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Summary
You must accept discomfort if you are serious about self-development. Only through pain and overcoming challenges can you better yourself, from losing weight to discovering your financial risk tolerance. Comfort is the easy option. Discomfort is the trying option that can transform your life.
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