I’m working on sticking with what is happening in front of me to get to the other side. 

The other side of discomfort. 

Where a reward is. 

I’m working on thinking and reflecting. 

Staying in my own values, especially through times of extreme discomfort. 

I’m working on listening to myself. 

Discerning the voice that comes from ‘shoulds’ put there by society. 

I’m working on checking my blind spots for times I might be an a**h*le, because I am too afraid to be vulnerable about my true feelings on a matter. When I can’t figure out my feelings in a moment, I might try and defend myself.

I’m working on finding out why I am uncomfortable when I am. Not assuming it is because the other person is wrong. Or is a bad person. Or is doing anything on purpose.

I’m finding out more and more that when I am uncomfortable, it is not always due to my environment.  

Discomfort is a sign to pay more attention to the details inside myself and become curious for a solution. 

The solution might be a simple fix inside of myself, instead of a radical change that needs to happen outside of me in order for life to be Okay. 

Okay?!

Okay. 

Sometimes discomfort is calling patience to the playing field. 

Sometimes, it’s like this:

Someone is talking to me, it feels like for too long, and I am not interested. 

I want to turn and run. 

Leave. 

Run out of the room while screaming how important my life, my time, is.

Run into the other room, keep shouting and punching my fists around and having a dance party, and then drop to the ground and give myself ten pushups. 

Well I might want to for a moment, but I don’t. I don’t do that, but I recognize the urge. I watch the urge, and instead, I find the resolve to feel uncomfortable for a minute or three instead of throwing punches.

That is phase one. 

Hopefully, quickly, I will deepen into phase two and find the part of myself that can gain expanding awareness at this moment, starting with my feet, maybe, and the ground they are on. 

Then, perhaps, I’ll move that awareness up to a source of power in my sacral center, and onto the next source of power closer to my solar plexus, and onto another source of power, my heart, which can hold my divinity, and onto my throat that can speak up for truth and hold myself accountable to my boundaries, and onto the center behind my eyes in the center of my head that has solutions to mysteries and life problems that I don’t readily have access to unless I believe in powers outside of myself, and onto the spaces above and around my whole body. Back in, into my heart and my root, because maybe I’ve gotten carried away. 

Or maybe the version of awareness I use is different. Each time for me is unique. 

But in moments like these, when I remember my tools, the amazing part is I can expand this awareness to the blabber face in front of me, and also the whole room or building or block or city or planet I am in, and I can do this in an instant, and I can smile, and I can nod my head, and I can find the right next move for myself in that moment.   

I’ve distanced myself from the agitation, I’ve put the focus on myself and my power, and from here I have found more choices. 

The above kind of awareness is something I’ve been doing for a really long time. Though, longer than I’d like to admit because there have been SO many times I’ve not used my tools, reacted badly, and suffered from my poor communication. Lack of emotional control has set me back many times.

The Other Side of Discomfortable Feelings

Let’s keep going with this.

In the moments we encounter, when our ego is hurt, when we think we hate our circumstances… It can take WORK to use the subtle tools within. About as much work as abstaining from your favorite habitual drug or food or drink. 

As they say, “with practice,” it gets easier. 

And the rewards become tangible.

And the rewards become a new way of life.

So, what is on the other side of accumulating some hours of real time awareness of your energy and not assigning the first uncomfortable feelings you have to any one thing? 

MAGIC. 

That’s right, MAGIC, folks! 

It’s here, and it’s on the other side of your very own inner awareness of mind, body and soul.

end showman voice

Here’s an example:

My inner voice talking:

This, uh, woman, who is talking to me, what the hell is her deal? Why is she so dumb and selfish?

Oh, that can’t be the truth, let’s see…. Oh: Awareness. 

I’m also breathing, and listening, and breathing and listening at the same time. 

Now, I’m even relaxing and listening at the same time, relaxing with every breath more and more.

Relaxing my face muscles and adjusting my body as needed, while listening. 

I’ll keep doing this, and relaxing and distancing myself from this situation more and more. Watching my breath move in this moment. 

Wow. She’s saying something that really resonates with me. I don’t agree with her, but she just pointed to a truth that I do relate to. 

Even though I don’t relate to her thoughts about this topic, I do relate to her passion, and it’s reminding me of something.

You know, I feel inspired by her words.  

Hark!!! An opening: “I relate to that feeling. I’ve felt that before too. You’ve really reminded me of something, and I want to go write about it now! Thanks for the inspiration as always, BYE!!”

And with that I’ve given myself a graceful exit.

I don’t have to wince as I politely crawl out of the room, defeated, at the end of her selfish monologue.

I’ve stayed in my power and found a way for us to connect, found a point of agreement. 

I can be proud, for defending my boundaries without self-righteousness. 

And with so many opportunities that I’ve taken to React instead of Respond to circumstances – it is nice to notice that on the other side of discomfort, there can be MAGIC. 

That’s right, MAGIC, folks!