Why We Seek Discomfort

The Yes Theory Podcast

Yes Theory

Society & Culture, Personal Journals

4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 19 October 2020

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

From climbing up snow-capped mountains in our boxers to running marathons with no training, one of the core pillars of Yes Theory is seeking out the big heart-pumping, mind-bending physical experiences that force us beyond our limits. But what’s the point of doing all this? Are big challenges effective at helping us build daily exercise and wellness habits? Or is it more for show? The science -- of extending past our physical limits -- is layered and complex. But at the most basic level -- the real reason we take on challenges outside our comfort zones is to prove to ourselves that we can. When you do something you thought you couldn’t do, you get to tell yourself a new story about who you are. And that story is priceless, or more precisely the cost of pushing through the challenge itself. In this episode, we hear from Matt, Thomas, and Ammar about various experiences they’ve had -- pushing themselves physically, and committing to daily habits -- in the pursuit of re-writing their own stories. For each of them, the scope and nature of the challenge is different, and it provides a unique perspective into the obstacles we face in our physical lives. We also hear from Dianne Bondy, an acclaimed yoga teacher and social justice activist, who shares how Western culture impacts the way we think about physical discomfort, and helps us question some of our most basic assumptions. And Aaron Ferguson, a decorated celebrity physical trainer, shares his experience training and competing in an Ironman alongside Matt. He helps us question when we’ve gone too far, and what the purpose of the pursuit really is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's one experience that stands out as the pinnacle of my discomfort seeking career.
0:05.0	Last stretch, you're almost there baby.
0:07.0	And while finishing the Iron Man may have been what I initially set out to do, to borrow a
0:15.8	cliche, it was the journey, not the race that really set my experience apart.
0:21.2	It was about overcoming that mean voice in my head. We all have one. We usually can drown
0:26.0	it out by turning on Netflix or scrolling through our phones. But Iron Man training requires
0:31.0	me to spend hours alone running riding swimming with no
0:35.8	headphones and so my only company was that voice and now I'm alone in this apartment talking to a camera and I have to go for a
0:49.7	40 minute run after that five hour and 15 minute bike ride. That's my day. That's my full day is that ride and now this coming run.
0:59.0	But luckily I had a mentor to get me through those dark moments.
1:04.0	But these are the moments, right? These are the moments where you don't want to do it, you do it anyway.
1:10.4	Yeah. That's Aaron Ferguson, a celebrity trainer, notably Will Smith's coach. But he's so much more than that. He's my training partner and more importantly my friend.
1:26.7	I'm just afraid of so many things of like having put in this much work in my tire popping you know on the race. Yeah it's like for what
1:31.2	fucking six months and then this shit happens kidding me
1:35.6	So I think about that a lot like yeah, what if it's not worth it? Well, it's always worth and it's just you won't want to get attached to the result.
1:45.3	The result for us is who we get to be because of it. It doesn't matter if you finish or not, it matters that you
1:56.1	put in the work to prepare yourself as best you can. What happens on the day happens on the day,
2:01.8	on the day, mate the day, right?
2:03.6	Aaron taught me that striving for personal excellence is worth the effort no matter the costs.
2:08.9	In terms of having fun, going out with your friends, doing all these things.
2:13.0	You kind of lose that.
2:14.0	And over the last five months,
	...

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