Comments on: The virtue of discomfort

By: Jeremy Day

Jeremy Day — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:29:21 +0000

I would argue that ALL virtues become vice in their excess…

Something has virtue if it brings a good outcome…

Therefore, choosing discomfort over comfort can be very virtuous in the right circumstances, with the right outcomes…

Jacob is simply showing that comfort is the vice and discomfort is the virtue in these circumstances…

Cheers,
Jeremy

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:37:03 +0000

Just got back from jogging for the first time in over a month.

If discomfort is virtue, I must be a saint!

By: Yakezie Challenge « Green Panda Treehouse

Yakezie Challenge « Green Panda Treehouse — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:02:32 +0000

[...] The virtue of discomfort @ [...]

By: Surio

Surio — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:32:03 +0000

Interesting Jacob, It is near impossible for me to talk about this without involving spirituality and religion in some form or another. You've managed to be coherent on this topic, without touching on those aspects. Commendable!

By: Mariza

Mariza — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:13:32 +0000

Hi Jacob,

I started reading your blog last year and this is my first time commenting.
I’m currently going through A LOT of discomfort. We are a family of 4 and we are getting ready to move from our 2,500 sqft home to a 365 sqft RV. Getting rid of things is so much work! But I know it’s going to be great once we are done. This discomfort is totally worth it!

By: blah

blah — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:36:28 +0000

On the issue of food, I have been pondering this recently, because it is obvious to me that the typical American doesn’t need as much food as they eat, but there is also the reality of starvation or mal nutrition at the other extreme. So, I wonder what the optimal diet, quantity and frequency for eating is in order to achieve the best health. It is tricky to know how much to eat for optimal function and health.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:30:10 +0000

@kid – I agree. I should have phrased the first sentence/headline differently. It is the ability to endure discomfort that is a virtue.

By: kid

kid — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:22:13 +0000

Discomfort is not a virtue.

Being able to endure discomofort in pursuit of a value is a virtue.

And discomfort only makes sense if its positive outcome prevails over the negative one. Otherwise it’s called masochism (which can be a kind of comfort as well…)

The same type of discomfort (in pursuit of the same value) can give positive or negative balance depending on the individual.

(of course there’s an issue of timeframe within which we make the measurement, but acute discomfort can only last as much, if it is to last longer we must be able adapt, so it becomes less acute, but we may not be able, there is some limit to your mental capacities at a time)

By: Piper

Piper — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:21:58 +0000

A lot of people don’t know the difference between discomfort and danger. This makes them a little bit dependent or helpless and limits the things they can do.

By: no_more_ratrace

no_more_ratrace — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:43:46 +0000

no pain no gain!!!

By: Jason Phipps

Jason Phipps — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:33:03 +0000

Great post!

By: krantcents

krantcents — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:00:42 +0000

Discomfort is similar to being nervous. We are nervous, because we want to do well. Discomfort means we need to overcome an uncomfortable moment to excel, achieve or succeed!

By: Felix

Felix — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:44:52 +0000

Discomfort is not a virtue. Comfort is a good thing. Discomfort is only to be endured short-term for more long-term comfort. That’s what I take from this text. But apart from this, there’s no merit to it in and of itself.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:58:55 +0000

I really disagree that discomfort is a virtue. People do wrongly try to avoid discomfort which will limit them, but discomfort as a virtue?

I prefer to look at this comfort/discomfort issue is the same light that Helgi Páll Einarsson’s post bring up.

The basic premise of the post is that people will seek external comfort as a substitute for inner peace.

http://everydaywonderland.com/notes/your-own-comfort

By: Jan B

Jan B — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:59:28 +0000

Well said-thank you.

By: Executioner

Executioner — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:06:25 +0000

Best post yet! Sort of like “the Frog” part 2, but more broadly reaching.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:58:51 +0000

@Bill McCollam – Maybe “The Usefulness of Discomfort” would be more apt.

By: Jaime

Jaime — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:37:26 +0000

Hey Jacob
Read your article on discomfort then headed over to the Wall Street Journal this morning and found something similar.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123785033607519075.html

Very interesting.

By: gnikmas

gnikmas — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:27:23 +0000

You never cease to amaze me Jacob. Great stuff…

By: Bill McCollam

Bill McCollam — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:34:05 +0000

I take the point – but I don’t think discomfort really is a virtue. With the right mind set – many of the feelings you describe aren’t really discomfort – I like to substitute, “effort”, “discipline” or “persistence”. Now all those are virtues.