Discomfort Razor, Fearful Procrastination & More

Author

Alex Brogan
July 26, 2023 • Read Time: 6 minutes

Good Morning. Welcome to all the new readers of Faster Than Normal who have joined us since last week!

Here’s what we’ll cover today:

Mental Model: Discomfort Razor.

Insight: Fearful Procrastination.

Quote: Nature's Vitality.

Question: Revealing Self-Discovery.

Visual: How Psychotherapy Sees You.

Cheers,
Alex

| Mental Model

Tim Ferriss Discomfort Razor

”Your success in life can be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations you're willing to have.”

Consider this: you're standing at the edge of a vast lake, its surface as smooth as glass. There's a small island on the far side - a place of progress and growth. To reach it, you have to dive into the cold, unnerving water and swim across. That water is the metaphorical equivalent of the uncomfortable conversations you have to undertake. The more of them you're willing to brave, the closer you get to the island - to success. This is the essence of Tim Ferriss's Discomfort Razor.

Your success in life, as Ferriss suggests, can be gauged by the number of uncomfortable conversations you're willing to have. The simple chats, the easy discussions - they may be comforting, but they seldom lead to real progress. It's the challenging dialogues, the awkward interactions, that truly push you forward. You're familiar with the saying "no pain, no gain"? In a way, it applies here too. Discomfort isn't just an occasional side effect of growth; it's a necessary prerequisite.

Think back to a time when you needed to have an uncomfortable conversation. Let's say you were unhappy with your current role at work. The comfortable thing to do would be to stay quiet, go with the flow, avoid any confrontation. But you knew that if you wanted a change, you had to speak up, talk to your boss about your concerns, express your desire for growth. That's a clear example of choosing discomfort to foster progress. It might have been nerve-wracking, but by being brave enough to face that discomfort, you pushed open a door to potential opportunities.

Remember the words of author Neale Donald Walsch, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." You could live comfortably, keeping to the smooth path and avoiding any rocks. Or you could dare to step off that path, embrace the discomfort, and see where it leads you. That's the choice Ferriss presents us with his Discomfort Razor.

Growth and comfort rarely coexist. If you seek progress, prepare for discomfort. Embrace it. And act accordingly.

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| Insight

Procrastination is often a symptom of fear or uncertainty.

Challenge: Identify a task you've been putting off and write down the underlying fears or uncertainties preventing you from taking action. Then, create a plan to address them.

Example: If you're avoiding a difficult conversation, you might fear damaging the relationship. Prepare by practicing empathy, choosing the right time and place, and focusing on finding a resolution.

| Quote

Florence Williams, a journalist and author, on the healing power of nature:

"Nature is not a luxury, but a necessity for our physical and emotional well-being."

| Question

When was the last time I made a decision that surprised myself, and what did that reveal about my growth and evolution?

A Visual I Enjoyed

Have a wonderful Wednesday, all.

Until next time,

Alex

| P.S. — My Weekly Picks