2026-09-28
My life is currently stable for the immediate future, foreseeably for at least the next few months. I don't have major stressors. I do approximately the same thing every day. There's nothing that I'm particularly fighting to change about my life.
Am I content with being content? I'm not sure. The messaging always seems to be that we need to be constantly improving ourselves, constantly changing, which makes it feel wrong to just exist as we are.
Having gone through plenty of struggles in my life, I do want to just rest and be. I also know that if I get too complacent, the world will pass me by.
I've been watching the most recent episodes of the Yes Theory Podcast1 and, as expected, they were talking about seeking discomfort as a way to become strong in the face of challenges. Doing the hard work of being present and trying to do the things that are hard results in more fulfilling long term effects than spending time mindlessly on screens.
I wonder if there's a way that these two things don't have to be contradictory. Contentment and growth don't have to be opposites of each other, but often are, as growth often comes with pain. Seeking discomfort mindfully might be a different experience than having discomfort thrust upon you.