Embracing Discomfort

Contributors: Mikaela Ahlstrom, Tommy Rowan, Will MacDonald

Have you ever gotten in the shower at the end of the day, only to find that all of the hot water has been taken? This likely left you to quickly, and probably irritatedly, take your shower in the less than comfortable water. Or perhaps you’ve jumped into a swimming pool in May only to find that it is still a bit too cold, as you then rush to climb out of the pool. Despite the fact that we are in no real immediate danger, our body and our mind work to convince us that we need to leave the discomfort of the cold swimming pool or shower. However, we can learn valuable lessons from this discomfort as we consider one individual’s experience with ice-cold water. 

Steve Young was a PhD student from southern California who was fascinated with Asian culture and ideology, so much so that he decided to move to Japan to be trained by Buddhist monks. As he began his training, he was sent to live in a small hut with no heat for 100 days. While some of us may be bothered by the isolation of this task, that wasn’t even the hardest part. Young would have to dump several gallons of icy water on his body three times a day. It was so cold that the water would freeze when it hit the ground. Young’s first reaction was to do everything he could to take his mind off of the intense cold that he was experiencing. However, he found that this would most often increase his suffering. He found that by paying close attention to the feelings that would wash over him with each bucket of water, he could minimize the pain of this exercise. 

Discomfort is inevitable. Seeking to avoid it now ultimately leads to greater discomfort in the future. We miss out on character-forming experiences that help us enjoy life to a greater degree. Just as Steve Young sought to turn towards discomfort rather than trying to avoid it, we can do the same and bring about great things in our lives. This module helps provide tools and resources that will enable you to find greater joy through the difficult things we will all experience in life.