No one likes to be uncomfortable. In fact, our brains are wired to avoid things that are unpleasant.
That being said, it is impossible to avoid all discomfort. Unexpected annoyances, negative emotions, and uncomfortable experiences are part of daily life. So, instead of trying to avoid discomfort, it’s helpful to practice tolerating it.
How do you do that? Here are three tips:
First, expect discomfort.
Research shows that the very act of expecting discomfort and “normalizing” it makes discomfort less uncomfortable when it happens. Expecting some discomfort also makes us more able to switch into solution-mode quickly instead of getting stuck focusing on how uncomfortable we feel. So, remind yourself that no one is immune from life’s unpleasantries.
Second, practice positive self-talk.
The things we say to ourselves matter. If we catastrophize – “This is the worst! I’ll never be able to handle it!” – we will not be able to think constructively or behave in an empowered way. In addition, whether we actually verbalize our self-talk to others or not, our attitude will cause others to feel demoralized.
On the other hand, if we take a beat and reach for the best-feeling thing we can believe about the situation – ”This is a huge bummer, but I’ve dealt with things like this before and I always figure it out.” – we will be open to solutions, and our attitude will inspire others to support us.
Finally, “Sink Into the Soul Space.”
There is an important skill we can use to tolerate discomfort. I call it “Sinking Into the Soul Space.” It’s using your breath to calm down and focusing your attention on the pool of inner peace and inner wisdom that resides inside of us all–whether we know it or not. When we can access this source of peace and wisdom we can tolerate discomfort and get a helpful perspective on the situation.
Want to try it? Click here to enjoy this four-minute guided meditation.
Comments