Human Tolerance… How Uncomfortable is Too Uncomfortable?
The topic of today’s article is human tolerance. The amount of discomfort that human beings can tolerate is a sliding scale based on personal history, personal experiences, and there is probably some genetics thrown into the mix somewhere.
The reason my mind is on human tolerance today is because of whatever that breaking point is… Tipping the scale to intolerable is the starting point to personal improvement.
Have you ever had a really bad job? The type of job that, inspiring yourself to get out of bed to “do it all again” is one of the hardest parts of the day? Being stuck in a dead-end job, or a job with toxic co-workers, a toxic boss, or toxic culture coupled with “just enough to get by” compensation is an extremely demoralizing and depressing situation to find yourself in.
How about relationships? Have you or anyone you know been stuck in a toxic relationship that is mentally unhealthy but cannot seem to find a solution to escape?
Traumatic and extremely uncomfortable life situations, while horrible at the moment, can actually be a good thing. When faced with a situation that is intolerable, a person will eventually hit their breaking point, which is the beginning of a new and positive journey.
Taking risks, trying new things, or putting yourself out there can be scary. However, the fear of change and discomfort in trying something new can pale in comparison to extreme life situations that a person feels a strong desire to escape.
I have worked with a ton of entrepreneurs in the past. Those who are escaping, or have escaped a horrible life situation tend to be more motivated and bold when taking on new challenges. They remember the pain, and the emotional discomfort of where they were, and use it as a motivator to keep pushing when others would slack off.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are individuals who have experienced, for the most part, a life of comfort and leisure. Motivation seems to strike in bursts, but there is not the constant desire for a better life to move things along faster.
Of course, I am speaking in generalities as it relates to the human psyche but based on my experience that is generally what you get.
Comfort is the enemy of growth.
I remember my first foray into entrepreneurial sales. I was as green and inexperienced as they come. I have always been wired to identify patterns, and I noticed that first-generation business founders were generally a very hungry/inspired group of individuals.
Many times, it was because they worked hard to escape something. It may have been a dead-end job. It may have been a sick family member without the means to take care of them. Regardless, they were driven and resilient. When encountering an obstacle they would use their natural advantages to overcome and annihilate obstacles.
Based on my experience, by the time a business was passed down to the third generation owner things were much different. Typically, the third-generation owner had grown up in an environment of comfort and did not have the desire to pursue dreams and goals like the original founder did.
(Remember the movie Billy Madison? Billy’s dad was an affluent hotel tycoon, affording Billie the opportunity to spend his life playing around and never taking anything seriously.)
Obviously, that is a Hollywood exaggeration for comedic purposes, but there is a hint of reality there.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. In order for lasting positive change to take effect, a person’s situation has to become more uncomfortable than the fear of trying something new.
That moment, when enough is enough, is a strong motivator. If a person can hold onto the pain and discomfort, once they begin to pull out of the situation, that is the beginning ingredient of how the “greats” are created.
Regardless of your upbringing, background, or life experiences, everyone has the power to change their lives for the better. It takes the will to succeed, the courage to try, and the ingenuity and motivation to keep going without giving up.
In a previous post, I mentioned that freedom can only truly be appreciated when a person has experienced life without it.
The lack of freedom can be something as trivial as working for someone else who asks things of you that significantly impedes your values or lifestyle. Or, something as extreme as a refugee who spent a portion of their lives living in an environment of oppression and mistreatment.
The specifics of a person’s circumstances are irrelevant, but the intolerance of bad circumstances is powerful.
The question then becomes, for us parents in the world, how do we make life comfortable for our kids. But, allow them to experience enough discomfort to motivate them to become an outstanding citizen in their adult lives?
My oldest child is in her early twenties. When she was going through her teenage years there was a lot of discomfort and angst in the household. While reading a study from a psychologist about teenage emotional maturity I realized what was happening.
Teenagers must manufacture discomfort to motivate and inspire them to leave the nest and take on the world for themselves. If things are too comfortable you get a teenager that is content staying at home with their parents and lack the drive to grow and succeed as an adult.
The same can be said with pregnancy. A pregnant woman nearing the 9-month mark of gestation must become so physically uncomfortable that they are brave enough to endure the pain of childbirth.
Hats off to all of the moms out there for that one! When my youngest son was born I thanked every woman I crossed paths with for months. I had to let them know how amazing they are!
So, do you find yourself living a life of comfort or discomfort? If your answer is the latter, rest assured that you have an advantage in life. As a reward for the hard life you have experienced, you are graced with the desire and motivation to do amazing things with your life.
You just have to get started.
Until next time…
Justin
Bootstrap Billionaire
Justin@bootstrapbillionaire.com
847.641.4028
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