" We must face discomfort and manage it, or it will manage us."
feels less threatening in the moment. Even when, deep down, we know it’ ll make things harder for us later, we still tend to run away. In everyday life, it can look like this:
• men who skip doctor visits or ignore their health— putting their well-being at risk
• men who avoid opening up about what they’ re really struggling with— putting their relationships at risk
• men who cope with the pressure through hours of gaming, misuse of substances, or treating sex like a scoreboard— putting their futures, their jobs, and their sense of purpose at risk
Any of it, or all of it, puts our emotional health at risk, which then also makes life more difficult for the people in our lives, including friends, parents, coworkers, and significant others.
We can’ t avoid the little things, or the big things, and expect to win. We must face discomfort and manage it, or it will manage us.
A man who learns to face what lies before him not only alleviates discomfort but frequently preempts it. We need to channel our anger and impatience with discomfort in a way that enables us to face the discomfort head on so we can manage it rather than letting it scare us away.
Learning how to better understand ourselves— and how we can best respond rather than react— is vital, especially for men. Our egos and emotions can be fragile, no matter what we tell ourselves. And real toughness isn’ t about appearances or bravado; it’ s about inner strength— something we can learn, build, and grow over time— that comes from running through( not away from) discomfort.
Remember, everyone has a breaking point. But there is no limit to the resilience we can develop, which will take us almost anywhere we want to go. The key is learning how to run through the discomfort life throws at us— or we bring upon ourselves— so that we arrive healthier and stronger on the other side.
" We must face discomfort and manage it, or it will manage us."
In small and large ways, I’ ve been working on my approach to discomfort for as long as I can recall, and it has helped me better understand and appreciate areas in which I’ m not as strong. Hand me a water bottle, and I’ ll twist off the cap with my left hand instead of my dominant right because doing so is harder and more uncomfortable. I’ ll take the stairs instead of the elevator, or I’ ll do the extra rep in the gym when I want to quit. Alternatively, I will call it a day even if my adrenaline says keep going; I know my body has done enough and I need to rest. The little discomforts we move through prepare us for times when more significant
49