The Power of Voluntary Discomfort

 The Power of Voluntary Discomfort

Comfort culture in modern life

In today’s busy life, there are lot of things to help us live more comfortably. The startups are making life increasingly comfortable for everyone by building businesses which don’t just reduce effort but also provide instant gratification - from faster deliveries, to doorstep cabs / autos, easy access to a lot of things and services sitting at home, etc.

While these are making life easier, should it really make our life comfortable? These services and products are good for times when one really needs it. But too much comfort can make one complacent.

Hidden dangers of too much comfort

Getting used to being comfortable actually is not so good - not just for physical health but even more for mental health. Complacency obviously makes us physically unhealthy, but mentally it makes us impatient. Problem with too much comfort is that we start taking things for granted, and we start expecting everything to be easy and comfortable. But life is not unidirectional, and there are times / situations when we do not get the same comfort, which makes us angry.

Wisdom from the past

Around 2 decades ago, people did not have so many comforts, and yet, they were content. 

Why? - Because they were closer to their true self. 

How? - Because of the fewer things to get attached to.

Spirituality teaches us that we are a soul and not this body, and the sole purpose of human life is to realise our true self. You can realise your true self only if you detach from the physical self. That is also the reason why many Rishis and spiritual seekers in ancient times used to do a lot of tapasyā (physical hardships) to detach themselves from material world and realise the true self.

Living with too much comfort makes us too dependent on the physical body, making it difficult to detach from the physical self. In Bhagavad Gitā, Bhagavān Krishna says that there are 3 gates to Hell - Desire (Kām), Anger (Krodh) & Greed (Moh). The comforts of physical life, give rise to desire for more. If these desires get fulfilled, it gives rise to greed and if it is unfulfilled then it gives rise to anger. In any case leading us to Hell!

Practical ways to adopt discomfort

But in today’s fast paced life, when everyone around us is living with these comforts, how do we detach ourselves? 

Answer is simple, by practising voluntary discomfort.

Voluntary discomfort is exercising restraint, where indulgence is easy. It is important not to misunderstand discomfort with being uncomfortable. What this simply means is be conscious of the comfort and indulge with control. And one can start this by practising discomfort in daily routine tasks. 

For example, 

• If you are used to taking the lift, then occasionally take stairs, atleast for a few floors. 

• If you are used to eating 4 chapatis in every meal, try eating only 3 and keep the stomach empty of 1 chapati. 

• If you are used to bathing under hot shower, try to take bath in bucket with luke warm water. 

• Try getting up an hour earlier than what you usually do. 

• Consciously refrain from using social media / mobile phone at least for an hour every day. 

• Donate some amount to charity every month. 

• Occasionally take public transport or walk instead of using personal vehicle. 

And so on.

Adding a physical activity in the daily routine, not just helps stay physically active and healthy, but also adds the discomfort. Point is to have a little discomfort in the daily routine.

However, caution is needed — discomfort in one area should not become an excuse to indulge elsewhere.

Conclusion

By practising these discomforts, mentally we start appreciating the comforts that we have, and yet stay disconnected from them. This discipline builds mental strength, humility, and resilience. Over time, we start using comforts only when we truly need them. Moreover, by practising discomfort in our daily life it also helps us stay closer to our true self, which is untouched by luxury or lack.

In a world chasing ease, choose a path of awareness. Live with simplicity. Live with clarity. Live with a little discomfort — and walk freely towards joy.

This article is part of a 5-part reflection series inspired by the Panchakosha — the five sheaths that veil the soul, as explained in the Vedantic tradition. I'm not attempting to explain the concept, but to live with it. Each article emerges from understanding the scriptures, applying that in daily life, and gently uncovering what these layers hide.

This article reflects on uncovering the fifth layer — Annamaya Kosha, the sheath of the body — and how embracing voluntary discomfort reconnects us with the deeper purpose of the body, rather than using it only as an instrument of comfort.