Why comfort will ruin your life | Bill Eckstrom | TEDxUniversityofNevada

After documenting and researching over 50,000 coaching interactions in the workplace, Bill Eckstrom shares life-altering, personal and professional development ideas through the introduction of the “Growth Rings.” The rings illustrate how dangerous it can be to remain in a state of comfort and how being in discomfort is the only way to sustain growth. You’ll be amazed at the world-changing outcomes discomfort can have on your life and the lives of others.

[fabiorachid]

I think there's a missing ingredient there: *purpose* . If you're just randomly making yourself uncomfortable, sure, you might grow, but you're likely to give up or go back to a deeper state of order/comfort than you were before. But getting yourself into discomfort *because* of something that actually matters to you, than you'll push through it. In Nietzsche's words, "He who was a why can bear almost any how".

Think of soldiers facing probably death going to battle because they have the high purpose of defending their country, their family and friends. Does most doctors in the middle of the pandemic are out there in total discomfort just because it may bring them growth? No, they are doing it *to save lives*, the highest person a human being can have. Such high purpose is the only way for them to go risk their lives every day to take care of their patients.

My biggest problem with TEDs like these is that they often leave out the details, the nuisance, the complexity of life and of human beings. The TED almost makes it sound like you should be throwing yourself into discomfort at all times, regardless of what, and that it's not too bad if you have breakdowns like his daughter, but it is bad. Growth and discomfort, specially if stimulated by other people, *must be made in a relationship with trust*, otherwise the person might feel bullied and even give up (chaos).

Also: you don't have to be in discomfort all the time and in all ranges of your life. It's ok to feel comfortable and safe in some, and it's ok if you are so discomfortable that you had to take a step back, feel comfortable so you can try again. We are each complex and deep so there's no formula and equation that will fit everyone. 5 rings can't even begin to describe everything involved in growth.

Put a certain amount of pressure on coal and it will make a diamond, but put too much pressure on the structure of a building and it will fall down. Life is just like that - there is no ready formula for it, each situation and individual require a different, perhaps unique approach.

That's why it's hard for me to get into self-help: 99% of the time it lacks or purposely hides the complexity involved in life and in human beings. And I know TED talks aren't meant to last an hour but hey the lecturers could explicitly show that the subject has way more levels and degrees than what is being shown.

[fearlessandfar]

Hit the gym hard, eat the chili sauce, say hi to new people, and as Michael said, take cold shower. You can find discomfort in everyday. Powering through it changes your life. Great talk Bill Eckstrom. I'll watch this again!

[graysonskweres]

My favorite quote ever is from a book called The Prophet. "The lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, then walks grinning in the funeral."

[navrajvir]

I've built this new habit of reading comments after watching every video on YouTube because I get amazed by the creativity and humour people around the globe pour into these comments.

[ImGoingSupersonic]

Need cloudy days to appreciate the sunshine.

[doubleplusgoodful]

"The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."
— Josef Ratzinger

[ZaWrldo]

One of my favorite Youtubers tweeted this and it hit me. "There is no comfort in growth and there is no growth in comfort"

[ethanbrunt]

The greatest explanation of this quote: “get comfortable being uncomfortable”

[armartin]

You need order and disorder. Comfort and discomfort. Too much of either is a bad thing.

[unitproductions]

Super Short Version: No pain, no gain.

[DreammLorn]

“Comfort will ruin ur life”
Mattress company’s: -_-

[daveclow]

I quit my safe job of 11 years, 1 week after getting the keys to our new house and whilst my wife was 5 months pregnant. That was uncomfortable, I questioned my own sanity many times. I left the safety zone to start my own business and it was the best thing I've ever done, a pivatol point in our lives. Ask yourself how safe your 'safe job' is when your boss can end it all tomorrow....

[c-fin]

Wow. This really set things straight for me. We can only reach our full potential by engaging in discomfort. I'm 18 and this is what I needed to hear before entering the world as an adult.

[mikety]

Discomfort vs comfort -- the real trick is not so much which one as how you _react_ to them. Discomfort can either be reacted to as a motivator, or you can become fearful and withdraw into depression, timidity, or neuroticism. Comfort can either be reacted to with complacency, or you can take charge of the happiness it provides to be productive with a clear head and peace.

[PhoenixCrown]

Thanks Bill! Discomfort was forced on me when I was pushed out of my first job after 2 years. After 3 more jobs, I also realized I'm a bad employee... so I triggered discomfort myself and started my own accounting firm. Now, I help small businesses with their bookkeeping and financial advising and am much happier (though maybe not more comfortable)!

[voynich]

Lately I have been feeling like the "comfortable life", meaning sitting at home playing video games, watching YouTube, eating whatever I feel like at the moment, etc. has made me actually sad. I hate it. I hate standing still. It's the absolute worst. I need need noise, I need unpredictability, I need stuff happening. I need to just yeet myself out of my confort zone to be actually comfortable in my life.

[AS-lugm]

i'm watching this video while comfortably laying in bed and eating some chips

[KalpeshMange]

Applauded alone in my room to this. THIS is what we need. Growth. <3

[SystematicImbaPh]

Watching this during my break while I'm about to get fired. Feels good!!!

[spacegirl]

His speech makes me to read more because when you read, you're actually challenging your comfortable mindset and that will certainly lead you to grow