Embrace Voluntary Discomfort for Growth

‘मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः’ – It is the mind that binds. It is the mind that liberates.

The human mind is a terrible prankster. It tricks us into confining our thoughts and forming limiting beliefs. Often, we forget that the mind can be controlled by us! When we take control of the mind, it is liberating. When the mind takes control, it is binding. Therefore, every time you feel bound, just poke yourself to check who is controlling whom.

Our mind tricks us into drawing circles within which we feel safe. This circle becomes our safety net, and we nest and get comfortable in it. Any disturbance to the circle, and we panic. This is our comfort zone. We are happy doing what we are doing, and things seem to be good. But sometimes, we fail to see that good is not the same as growth.

As we cross over this circle of comfort, we enter the zone of discomfort. This is where the real magic unfolds. Life, full of opportunities, presents itself in this zone. Sometimes it is overwhelming, sometimes it is depressing, but enduring it with grit and grace has almost always ended well for many!

Let’s get to know more about life outside the comfort zone.

No one in their right mind would choose not to be comfortable. It is obvious that comfort brings a certain amount of joy and settlement within us. We have a sense of belonging, and we feel that we fit into the process or system. Who would not want to be comfortable? After all, that’s what we are taught to do. Study hard to find a job ~ a good job pays you well ~ having money would make life comfortable. And so, we begin the race very early in our life.

But alas! No success story in the world goes this way! Success almost always seems to choose someone who treads outside their comfort zone.

Where does Magic happen?

Treading outside our comfort zone is a wonderful phenomenon! There is something vibrant about the state of not settling or not being comfortable. It is a buzzing zone. The higher the seeker’s zeal, the higher the buzz! This space is brimming with hope and fight – to survive, to find oneself, to expand, to express, to liberate.

It is in these unsettled and unsure moments that we encounter many hard realities of life. The more, the better! Because these encounters bind us together, forming rich experiences. The bouncier our ride, the better! Because these mind-churning rides turn into creating an unwavering will and strength.

Strangely, the very cause of discomfort teaches us how to elevate ourselves into a higher state of being. For instance, starvation teaches the value of food. Enduring physical pain teaches us to respect our bodies. Emotional suffering teaches us to remain calm and strong over a period of time. Going through harassment of any kind teaches us self-respect. Enduring failure sweetens the taste of success.

When a river flows, it is in a constant state of movement. It doesn’t seem settled. It crashes into boulders and falls from cliffs, but the flow never stops. But when the same water stagnates, ‘settles down,’ it loses its freshness and charm. Over time, this becomes slushy and stale. As long as we are crushing and churning ourselves through the grind of an impossible situation, we aren’t gliding backward. We are flowing. There will be randomness, chaos, and breakdowns, but it’s all part of the process. If we stop this grind, we stop evolving. We become stale and often harmful to ourselves and society.

Therefore, anytime we feel too comfortable in life, we need to buzzer ourselves with a red flag!! This means we aren’t being challenged enough. This means we are cut out for bigger things.

Tapas – The Concept of Voluntary Discomfort

Choosing to be outside the comfort zone is an attitude that can be cultivated.

In Sanskrit, there is a word called ‘Tapas.’ Tapas in a literal sense means heat or energy. In Patanjali’s Yogasutra, Tapas is mentioned as one of the five Niyamas – five Personal Practices and techniques. Tapas is a self-affirming practice. It is a technique to channelize the fire and energy within.

‘एकस्तपो द्विरध्यायी’ – Learn in a group, but practice in solitude. In older times, many people took to this practice of Tapas to develop focus, concentration, confidence, and self-awareness. They performed Tapas in extreme conditions to win over their physical, mental, and emotional limitations. These people were called तपस्वी (Tapasvi) – meaning someone who is brimming with positive, affirming, and life-giving energy.

Let’s dig deeper into this concept of Tapas.

In the Bhagavadgeeta, Lord Krishna clearly defines what Tapas means. He defines Tapas as austerity/discipline. He bifurcates this into three categories: Austerity of Body, Speech, and Mind.

Discipline of any kind leads to clarity. When there is clarity, the fear of the unknown is reduced, and anxiety automatically comes down. Without anxiety, we are able to focus and perform better. This simple rule applies to any discipline.

Given below are the types of Tapas mentioned in the Gita:

Discipline of Body (शारीरं तपः)

(Behavioral discipline)

• Keen endeavor to learn from the wise.

• Purity in actions.

• Cleanliness in body, habits, and surroundings.

• Honesty and sincerity.

• Self-restraint in not acting on temptations.

• Causing no intentional harm to anyone.

  Discipline of Mind (मानसं तपः)

(Mental & Emotional discipline)

• Maintain mental calm and a cheerful, positive attitude, thereby gaining clarity of thought & perception.

• Kind-hearted under all circumstances.

• Good-natured inner stillness.

• No cunning tricks & intentions to cheat self-discipline and self-control.

• Purity in all motivations.

Discipline of Speech (वाङ्मयं तपः)

(Behavioral & Mental discipline)

• Self-affirming self-talks, combined with concentrated repetitions of the eternal truth. (Known as chanting)

• Speaking truthfully and wisely.

• Having pleasant and beneficial conversations.

• Devoid of harsh or irritating connotation.

• Being kind, even when being forceful.

The above-mentioned disciplines are required for any person to be successful.

Further, Lord Krishna mentions2 – If a disciplined person works:

• With no desire for the fruit of actions – It is called Sattvika Tapas. (Spiritual endeavors)

• With desire for recognition, honor, and respect – It is called Rajasic Tapas. (Material endeavors)

• With desire for self-torture and injury to others – It is called Tamasic Tapas. (Corrupt endeavors)

Let’s bring these explanations to the current context of life outside the comfort zone.

Discipline involves a certain rigor. Waking up early in the morning is a discipline. Exercising is a discipline. Learning is a discipline. Body and mind continuously revolt against discipline. This is because discipline is not comfortable. However, it needs to be cherished because discipline is what your soul needs. This is why, after hours of practicing any rigorous discipline, although the body and mind are exhausted, we can feel our joyous soul expanding! We have all experienced this at different junctures in our lives.

Therefore, breaking a lifestyle of comfort with such soul-stirring disciplines is what life is all about. And all of these experiences blossom outside the comfort zone. Hence, this is where the true magic unfolds! Pushing ourselves into the zone of discomfort voluntarily means taking steps towards self-realization, liberation, and limitless expansion.

No one has ever heard of a baby butterfly! The story always begins with a hungry caterpillar. There is no butterfly without a cocoon. The caterpillar destroys itself completely before turning into a butterfly. Dancers, singers, poets, warriors, kings, sages, artists, advisors, rulers, yogis, monks, scientists, doctors, aghoris, or athletes – every single person who wished to excel in their field of choice has always had to pass through this grind of discomfort time and again.

Progress lies outside the comfort zone. Volunteering into this electrifying zone of discomfort for the very purpose of transforming self changes the game entirely. Pushing oneself into this zone may not teach you to change your circumstances, but it surely changes your response to the situation.

Source:
Bhagavdgeeta, Chapter 17

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्। ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते।।17.15।।
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः। भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते।।17.16।।

2. Bhagavdgeeta, Chapter 17

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रविधं नरैः। अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते।।17.17।।
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्। क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्।।17.18।।
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः। परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.19।।