Why Embracing Discomfort Can Change Your Life
When ease becomes the goal, growth and courage are sacrificed.
After some unseasonably warm weather at the beginning of February, this week saw temperatures plunge so low we even got a bit of whiplash. Along with that came snow, and the South, never getting enough snow to warrant the expense of buying plows, makes the reasonable decision to close down for a day or two until things melt.
Like many, I have always loved the forced stoppage of the work routine, a full day to stay indoors with a roaring fire and a mug of hot chocolate.
I can almost melt into the comfort right now just thinking about it. I suspect that part of my appreciation for even the idea of this kind of amenity is that only days before, as per my usual, I was out in the 40-degree weather walking my dog in the rain—no raincoat needed. They just slow me down.
While I can’t pull off the level of austerity of my inspiration, Diogenes—who lived in a jar, embracing the value of a simple life—there is something admirable about his refusal to be owned by comfort. He went barefoot, fashioned his tunic to work as bedding, and met his fate with courage, viewing his own suffering with indifference.
Desire for comfort can control you, make you a coward, and lull you into complacency. It can turn the pursuit of ease into a justification for surrender—first to small inconveniences, then to anything that threatens the cocoon of safety. We see it everywhere: people trading their convictions for social approval, their independence for a false sense of security.
When Alexander the Great met Diogenes, legend has it that he said, “Were I not Alexander, I should choose to be Diogenes.”
Alexander was not commenting on Diogenes having great power and respect as a philosopher. In fact, the cynic thought such things were “mere fancy and Illusion.”
The conqueror King envied Diogenes because he had the one thing Alexander didn’t. Complete freedom.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying warmth, shelter, and a giant mug of hot chocolate. But when comfort becomes the highest good, when we recoil from anything that disturbs it, we risk losing the challenges that make life worth living—the struggle for resilience, championing our freedom, and cultivating the courage to face the world unflinching, regardless of the hardships it throws at us.
The snow will melt, the fire will smolder, then ebb, and eventually, we all have to step outside. The question is whether we do so as masters of our lust for comfort or as its captives.
Housekeeping
Things have gotten very busy around here. I’ve been on some podcasts, and I have a few others coming. I’m organizing in 10 directions at once while getting interviewed. That’s partly why I’m keeping things a bit brief.
I did have some lovely time in the snow with my best girl.
Her back is healed, but still not growing hair. It might remain bald for the duration, but she seems back to her old self, which is a relief.
We saw some lovely shapes where the snow was holding tightly to the leaves, some of which were remarkably green while also not being pine needles. Plants have some great tricks up their… uh… branches.
On the Bookshelf
You know the answer. It’s still the same two books. Lord have mercy. I need to be locked on a long-haul flight with nothing else than these books. But on the upside, I’ve listened to several others, and I’ve re-read dry regulations, so there is that. Also, I’ve been downloading my Kindle books here real quick before that’s no longer an option. Sigh. I hate when our tech lords yank those chains.
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About
Diogenes in Exile began after I returned to grad school to pursue a Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree at the University of Tennessee. What I encountered, however, was a program deeply entrenched in Critical Theories ideology. During my time there, I experienced significant resistance, particularly for my Buddhist practice, which was labeled as invalidating to other identities. After careful reflection, I chose to leave the program, believing the curriculum being taught would ultimately harm clients and lead to unethical practices in the field.
Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to investigating, writing, and speaking out about the troubling direction of psychology, higher education, and other institutions that seem to have lost their way. When I’m not working on these issues, you’ll find me in the garden, creating art, walking my dog, or guiding my kids toward adulthood.
You can also find my work at Minding the Campus