Being Open to Discomfort

I don’t like to be too cold, or too hot. I don’t like to feel angry or hopeless or sad. I don’t like to be pushed too hard or restricted in my efforts. I’m a lot like Goldilocks, I like things just right. But the truth of life is that there is often something creating a sense of discomfort.

One metaphor used in yoga is that our thoughts, sensations, and even emotions are like clouds in the sky. They are insubstantial. They come and go, changing in each moment. The constant is our awareness observing the sensations and information coming in with each moment. If we can shift toward recognizing the experience (instead of pushing or running away), we can learn from the discomfort. We can observe what is happening and take action, on purpose.

Learning to distinguish between discomfort and pain is a helpful tool. “Discomfort invites us to assess the current situation, to be fully in the moment, and to make a decision about how to proceed. Discomfort allows us to bring our attention to the distinction between pain, which is a sign that something needs to change, and intensity, which is a sign that we are working hard” (Roundtree, 2013). 

This practice is not an effort to push through negative experiences or to suffer in silence. Instead, try out the idea that uncomfortable thoughts or sensations are telling you something. Check in with the body to discover the line between functional discomfort (like the effort of getting stronger or learning something new) and dysfunctional pain (that ripping, tearing, shooting signal of damage). Notice your mind’s reaction to experiencing emotional or mental discomfort. Recognize the tendency to avoid painful thoughts and how that may perpetuate the discomfort. Take a minute to be open to discomfort and listen to what it is telling you.