What are you doing to feel uncomfortable?

A non-sequitur. I assumed this was another "Joel on Software" blogpost, because of the name... I read the article, all seemed inline with something Joel would write, then got the end and though "Goddamn... the last 2 weeks at the gym have been kind to Joel."<p>Then I realized it was two separate Joel's.<p>As for the article, any commitments on the diet front? Do you find if you commit to too many new routines (gym, eating, sleeping, working, being productive) you run out of will-power-gas before the day is out, making it harder to pickup the commitments the following day?<p>This relates to the "How to get important things done" article from a few weeks ago: <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2582913" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2582913</a><p>and the ensuing willpower discussion I think. Would like to hear your thoughts on that.

interviewing at startups despite past rejections, bidding on and winning freelance projects despite flakey clients in the past, competing in coding competitions despite the fact I'm not highly ranked, quitting a lucrative full-time job to pursue my own interests and grow as a person. Sometimes the above lead to uncomfortable feelings. However the mental and spiritual growth upsides always out-weigh the downsides.

Mixergy has an interview this week with James Altucher who coincidentally provided some of the same advice. When his company crashed after the bubble he started an exercise routine and forced himself to start getting up at 6:30 am every day as he started a new business.<p>He also spoke of making himself uncomfortable as he reached out daily to people he didn't know in search of customers.

Devil's Advocate:<p>What if I keep trying new things that make me uncomfortable but all I do is fail with no sign of improvement?

Fiona Apple's song <i>Extraordinary Machine</i>, off the homonymous album, tells the same story:<p><i>"he's no good at being uncomfortable, so he can't stop staying exactly the same"</i><p>I don't think I've listened to a more instructive lyrical album than that one. But your mileage may vary.

I can really identify with the sentiments lined in this post as one of the things I've added to my life is trying to learn the piano, an instrument which seemed all but impossible since I'm not a very coordinated person, especially when playing with both hands.<p>So far, I'm two weeks into it and progress has been surprising. Sure, I have difficulty getting both hands to work together, but it's coming together rather nicely and my brain is getting a workout as it's trying to coordinate the two hands. Add to that the confidence it gives me in not only approaching a task where I can potentially fail, but transforming those failures into the grit and determination to succeed. I can definitely see this learning process paying back through the confidence it gives me.

I did my first (short) triathlon today! I was pretty nervous getting there this morning, but everyone involved was awesome, and some friends showed up to cheer me on. It turned out great, and now I'm looking for the next big challenge.

Absolutely agree with this. If you aren't scared, you're being too comfortable and not reaching for heights that are incredibly difficult but radically rewarding.

In agreement with the article. Without bringing about an internal conflict, there can be no mental or spiritual growth.

I completely agree with this statement. True intelligence is self-discipline, and it takes discipline to understand that you won't grow unless you try out new things. And oftentimes, these new things will make you feel uncomfortable.

Nice ideas, but I feel that the examples are a little too basic: speaking and exercising are what I consider to be indispensable for everyone, almost something like brushing your teeth in the morning.

Scrappy broke startups are uncomfortable, not so much by choice, but necessity.

don't feel uncomfortable because you just want to feel uncomfortable... feel uncomfortable because you want to win the big prize... train like Rocky!

I didn't shower today or yesterday, or the day before. I really need to shower, but I'm hacking now.