Via Basel: Desire Comfort? Think again.
On the surface that’s a silly question. We are more interested in and favor comfort for the simple reason that it feels better, is more pleasurable, and accepted by our conscious cognitive part of our brain. Yet, practically, we do a lot of uncomfortable acts intentionally and voluntarily because we believe in their benefits. A couple of common examples: we exercise even if it hurts so that we become stronger and healthier; same with dieting or fasting, and we submit our bodies to painful interventions, surgery, injections, drugs, etc. to treat diseases that harm us presently or in the near future and shorten our life span. In fact pain is essential to life; otherwise we can damage our physical bodies without being aware of it, an early warning system that prevents further destruction. Mental or emotional pain works in similar ways to assist us in limiting or avoiding harm to our psyche.
On a deeper level, this avoidance of pain/discomfort has major implications. Biologically we are programmed to survive and thrive by being exposed to repetitive trauma of low intensity, such as impact activities leading to stronger bones, or vaccination bolstering our immune system, or getting used to ingesting bacteria in contaminated foods periodically resulting in a more resilient digestive functioning. Our ancestors developed and evolved to modern humans because of all these traumas, some subtle, others severe. The pain and discomfort they endured we can only imagine now and stand in awe of it all. They were, however, equipped, I believe, with coping mechanisms that Homo sapiens have lost over thousands of years. Mostly related to their being in the moment with low expectations for comfort and more concern for survival.
Now let’s fast forward to our present day and evaluate in general our standards of comfort and more important our expectations of how comfortable we should be. Without minimizing all the disasters in our world today in general and wars and famines in particular, at least on a material level of living, shelter, food, and safety, we’re probably in better shape than our hunter/gatherer ancestors or early agricultural ones. Yet, and that is my point, I am not sure we are happier, more satisfied or fulfilled, or even healthier in body and mind than they were. In our unequal world the more advanced and comfortable societies such as the USA are less happy and exhibit more rage and anger than others less so. I am not going to provide references and scientific articles which do exist; anyway people these days are doubtful of science even though they’re selective about what areas they believe or disbelieve based on their biases. I am not suggesting we chase discomfort and pain. All we need is to just wait and let life happen. It will inevitably arrive and then we are tested.
This coddling and high sensitivity to any trauma, even minor physical or emotional discomfort, has limited our abilities to deal with and solve complex personal and societal problems of our times. We overprotect our children, denying them the experience of dealing directly with pain and loss, managing and overcoming their difficulties. As adults our sense of entitlement grows and our sense of responsibility shrinks. We are occupied with our own petty grievances and blame, ignoring major cruelty, injustice, and prejudice to others: in short, self-centeredness. Add to this mixture the disconnect of the digital age: [It] takes embodied things and offers virtual substitutes, moving entire realms of human interaction and engagement from the physical marketplace to the computer screens. (Ross Douthat, opinion columnist, New York Times, April 20,2025, print version; April 19, electronic version) In it he describes the myriad of ways civilization is entering a bottleneck and extinguishing the many aspects of our lives today that we cherish and which sustain us. Survival will depend on intentionality and intensity, both of which need a training of the mind as in mindfulness. Laziness, passivity, and comfort will be detrimental qualities.
Next time you encounter a setback, bodily or emotional pain, or any discomfort, pause, be grateful, for it may have been dispatched from beyond to assist and strengthen your mind, body, and spirit for a better tomorrow.
Basel Al-Aswad, father of EIL founder Christopher Al-Aswad, is a yogi trapped in an Orthopedic Surgeon’s body. His loves in life include reading, writing, hiking, enjoying nature, meditation, and spending time with his large Iraqi family; now, semi-retired, he is exploring new avenues in medicine, education, public speaking, teaching, and social engagement.
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