Comfort is synonymous with happiness.

 

Comfortable is the routine. Our culture tells us that when we feel comfortable, we are happy. What is so funny about all of this comfort is that it might just be making us miserable.

 

As a society, we find comfort for ourselves wherever we are. For many, that comfort resides in their smartphones.

 

Finding a source of comfort feel comfortable is about avoiding the discomfort that can come from being bored, or thinking about things that are going wrong, or dealing with anything that might be negative.

 

But really this comfort is everywhere - in our families, houses, hobbies, work, friends, loved ones – you name it .

 

There are many things that we can do in these contexts that are quite comfortable – and that is something great … but if that is all we have … then really, we don’t really have much.  

 

What I mean is that, everyone needs moments of comfort where you get to enjoy the fruits of your labors; where the end goal has been reached and you get your well-deserved "just desserts."

 

But, that’s not what this talk (and my book) is about. This is about the importance of feeling uncomfortable.

 

Feeling uncomfortable, for me, is a sign that you are moving through the unknown, achieving the difficult, and learning the new.

 

Feeling uncomfortable is fundamental for improving performance, enhancing creativity and deep learning.