Make Yourself Comfortable–It’s a Matter of Life and Death!

Stop! Before you read this, make yourself comfortable.

Straighten your back. Relax your shoulders. Take a deep breath. Here’s why–

When you make yourself comfortable, you’re smarter, safer, happier, and more efficient.

As an animal, it’s natural to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Yet, how often do we find ourselves, or put ourselves, into situations and positions that are uncomfortable? How many times a day are you tense, stressed, angry, or frustrated because you can’t get what you want?

That’s where self-defense comes in. The whole point of self-defense is to prevent pain, escape danger, and manage threats. And the most powerful way to accomplish all of that flows from one simple principle: Make yourself comfortable.

For example, in sparring, it’s uncomfortable to stand directly in front of someone. If you’re smart, you make yourself comfortable by moving to the side where you can hit your foe, but your foe can’t hit you.

In grappling, it’s uncomfortable to have someone lying on top of you. If you’re smart, you make yourself comfortable by staying on top where you can pressure your foe, but your foe can’t pressure you.

The same principle of positioning applies to building a happy life.

• If you feel uncomfortable at your job, find a new one.
• If you feel uncomfortable doing a favor for a friend, say no.
• If you feel uncomfortable taking a yoga class, try kickboxing.
• If you feel uncomfortable in crowds, stay home.
• If you feel uncomfortable using credit cards, save your money.

The strategy is clear–the more comfortable you are, the better your chances at being successful. The more you allow yourself to be uncomfortable, the more likely you will fail.

In self-defense circles, you often hear victims of crime say they knew something was wrong before a situation turned ugly. They could actually feel trouble coming.

The lesson? If you feel stress or discomfort and do nothing to change it, you are vulnerable to pain and suffering. My advice?

The next time you feel uncomfortable, make yourself comfortable. Change your position. Change the situation.

Do this wherever you go and whenever you can. That’s how you stay safe, save energy, maximize power, reduce stress, and get things done.

The good news is even if you make yourself comfortable in small ways, you can still make a big difference in your life…

Sit up. Pull up your socks. Crack a window. Stretch your legs. Drink some water.

No matter where you are or what you’re doing, keep searching for ways to improve your condition and position.

Make your body comfortable. 

• Wear clothes and shoes that don’t restrict circulation or movement.
• Eat smaller meals that don’t stuff you up and make you drowsy.
• Practice good posture so your back and neck don’t ache.

Make your mind comfortable.

• Prioritize your goals in life to make decision-making easier.
• Slow down and tackle one task at a time.
• Ask for help when you need it instead of suffering alone.

Make your spirit comfortable.

• Sit quietly and listen to your breath.
• Forgive yourself for making mistakes so you can learn from them.
• Do something just for you because you know it will make you a better person.
• Do something for someone else for the same reason.

To be clear–I’m not saying your life will be happier by withdrawing from the world, staying in bed all day, and eating ice cream. WRONG!

For a happy life, you’ve got to get out there and fight for it. As you fight, my best advice is to keep asking yourself, “How can I make myself more comfortable?”

Yes, in the article, Thank You, Pain, we discussed how being uncomfortable can be a good thing. And that’s still true. Growing pains are natural. But the pain and discomfort of change should always be manageable. Ideally, they should also be a matter of choice.

When you make the choice to step outside your comfort zone to try something new, you can prepare for discomfort. You might even enjoy the process and be proud of your pain! But the rest of the time, allowing pain and discomfort into your life is only going to hold you back and keep success out of reach.

So, from this day forward, pay attention to how you feel mentally, physically, and spiritually. Make a pledge to yourself to always be on the hunt for big and small ways to improve your condition and your position.

And remember the most powerful strategy for safety and success I have ever found–

Make yourself comfortable.