Choose Discomfort

What principles define how you live?

Discomfort is unavoidable, either you choose your discomfort or your discomfort chooses you. By that I mean you can choose the discomfort of a strict diet, exercise and challenging exercises that make you think and take you out of your comfort zone. Because you will eventually become physically and mentally stronger and fitter. However if you always choose the life of comfort; the couch, comfort food and never go out or challenge yourself to learn new things. I believe discomfort will come for you. Sometimes in the form of sickness and sometimes in the form of mental health challenges.

I’m not saying that I always choose discomfort and I’m a fitness freak who is currently learning 10 languages. But I definitely feel that if you don’t choose your challenges, challenges will start coming for you anyway. So you may as well be in control of the pain, the discomfort you choose.

I’ve experimented with the Wim Hof method that uses cold showers, ice baths and breathing techniques. It intentionally stresses the body in a way that boosts the immune system, improves your mental health and many other benefits. It’s really uncomfortable but it has an end point and the benefits I find are very good.

I have also begun blogging everyday. It’s another thing that is often hard to do, even tho I love writing. But I find the idea of creating daily habits is massively beneficial for your mental discipline. And the act of writing your thoughts out in a blog is a great way to gain some clarity and focus with your thoughts and ideas.

The same goes for my 5min art rule where I’ve committed to creating art for a minimum of 5 minutes a day. Something that sounds easy, but is even easier to skip. And if I’m to become a thriving artist I believe that I need to be creating art every day, even if I only manage 5 minutes.

Other principles include treating everyone as you would want to be treated yourself. After all we are all one in a way, we are all part of the same universe. And to be nasty or hateful to others is essentially being nasty or hateful to yourself. I feel I need to create positive energy and help build each other up and I also believe that spreading positivity creates more positivity. It’s a little bit woo woo ‘law of attraction’ stuff, but I definitely think there is something in that. Not sure that it’ll get you a Lamborghini or an infinity pool tho.

So I think as a thriving artist you need to embrace discomfort. That means experimenting with and exploring different mediums, styles and subject matters. Learn new skills, teach skills. We also need to embrace the discomfort of promoting yourself, putting yourself out into the world. Because if nobody knows you exist nobody is going to buy your art. You also need to stop caring what others think of your art. You make your art for you, if people love it that’s great. If they hate it that’s great. Either way your work is creating an emotional response and that’s better than not getting any response. Be unapologetically yourself and you’ll find your true fans. It will be very uncomfortable… but discomfort is good for you.