> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://makoism.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable - URL: https://makoism.com/uncomfortable/ - Published: 2023-03-18T22:59:47.000Z - Updated: 2023-03-19T02:24:25.000Z - Description: "I'm not a psychopath, Anderson. I'm a high functioning sociopath. Do your research." - Sherlock - Author: Steve Makofsky - Tags: makoism, #newsletter-makoism, life, storytelling, thinking We all have different levels of comfort. With those comfort zones come lines that are imaginary boundaries many don't want to cross. They can take you to a scary place where you feel *uncomfortable*. I'm not sure where the expression '**get comfortable being uncomfortable**' originated from; maybe it's [Jillian Michaels](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Comfortable-Being-Uncomfortable-Motivational/dp/B019E8TVWQ), [Tony Robbins](https://www.tonyrobbins.com/limiting-beliefs-guide/get-comfortable-being-uncomfortable/) or the US Navy SEALs. But if you want to **grow**, **learn** something new, to push **past what expectations are**, you will need to develop a mindset of bypassing the easy road. Also, any good pirate will tell you it's *somewhat fun* to break a few of those invisible lines and do the unexpected. Rebel even. You need to get nervous. To get rejected. Understand that it's **ok** to avoid fitting in with the crowd and doing what others expect of you. [David Goggins](https://davidgoggins.com), ultramarathon runner, author, and NAVY Seal has a great talk on the idea of "what if" and why embracing being uncomfortable is crucial to any form of success: It's been a very long week, with little sleep and high stress. I often write about things here on [Makoism](https://makoism.com/) as my own self-therapy to right-size my thinking and get me back on course. I recognized that I was falling back into some old, stress-filled habits. And this little post was part motivation to snap me out of my comfort zone. Lastly, before I wrap it up this week, it's essential to call out that there's **a difference between being uncomfortable and being scared**. I'm not saying you should never be scared of something - I've been in plenty of situations where I'm fucking scared shitless, especially if something dangerous is going down. But: - Being **scared** is defined as 'in a state of fear, fright, or panic.' - Being **uncomfortable** is defined as 'slightly worried or embarrassed, and not relaxed and confident.' One tactic to getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is training yourself to **recognize triggers**. Ask yourself, "**what if I embrace this?**" and challenge, "*what if that assumption I have about this isn't true?"*. Notice what things push you into that zone, understand why they make you feel that way, and let go of them a bit. Safely step into the unknown. Flip off the status quo or 'business as usual.' Act bravely, face those fears, and lean in. If you enjoy these posts, you can [buy me a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/makoism) ☕️, check out [my store](https://cottonbureau.com/people/steve-makofsky) or just **share my work**. If you'd rather just keep up with my daily ramblings, follow me [via your favorite RSS reader](https://makoism.com/rss), via [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako) or keep reading [my posts on this blog](https://makoism.com/). Your support is much appreciated! ## Slow Tech I was excited to receive the latest edition (issue 3) of my favorite guilty pleasure, [The Southwester](https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/?ref=makoism). I've written about the publication before, but what makes it unique is that **none of the content is available online**. It's an entirely offline experience whose sole purpose is to '*bring people and stories together, but in a newspaper. for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home*'. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/61/8f/618f2076-e6a0-40dc-8037-06080661dee7/content/images/2023/03/IMG_0001.jpeg) **A newspaper for the *imagination*.** I hope you support them and enjoy reading it as much as I do. ## Brain Dump Here are a few articles and videos that resonated with me over the last week: - I enjoyed [Daring Fireball](https://daringfireball.net)'s podcast, [The Talk Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-show-with-john-gruber/id528458508?i=1000603757237) which covered [Kottke.org](https://Kottke.org)'s 25th anniversary. Kottke, known for 'fine hypertext products,' is one of the longest blogs in my reading rotation, and this retrospective on how he '*fell in love with the web*' is a fun look back at the journey. — \[via **[Kottke.org Is 25 Years Old Today and I’m Going to Write About It](https://kottke.org/23/03/kottke-is-25-years-old-today)**\] - '*Infrastructure has always influenced culture*' touches on the dangers of algorithms perpetuating non-facts, resulting in widespread bias. A good one to sit back, read, and re-read. — \[via **[Trapped in an echo chamber?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/03/13/trapped-in-an-echo-chamber/)**\] - One to sit back and digest (especially as a person who writes online frequently) why '*we were all fooled by the idea of turning our online presence into a brand*' and why '*brandifying my online life is a mistake*.' Lots of good tips here on building a more authentic self online. — \[via **[Minutes to Midnight](https://minutestomidnight.co.uk/blog/de-brand/)**\] - I geek out over '[mental models](https://fs.blog/mental-models/),' so when I came across Occam's razor, I was intrigued. Basically, '*it is futile to do *with more* what can be done with fewer*' — i.e., the simplest explanation is most likely the right one. Unbeknownst to me, this is something that I've been striving for for for a while now - making things [simple](https://makoism.com/two-simple-ideas/). — \[via **[How to Use Occam’s Razor Without Getting Cut](https://fs.blog/occams-razor/)**\] - More than you ever wanted to know about the name **‌**. — \[via **[Ernie Name Meaning: Why Does Baidu Want it for its Chatbot?](https://feed.tedium.co/link/15204/16015992/ernie-name-meaning)**\] - [GapingVoid](https://www.gapingvoid.com) is quickly becoming one of my favorite weekly reads. This post about company cultures is an ongoing '*battle of what you want to represent, and who you want to be; most importantly which wolf you want to feed*.' — \[via **[Feed the Wolf?](https://www.gapingvoid.com/blog/2023/02/24/feed-the-wolf/)**\] - An important one for anyone in a leadership position is that there are '*major disconnects between senior leadership and staff exist about whether innovation is supported within their organizations*.' — \[via **[3 Leadership Disconnects Around Supporting a Culture of Innovation](https://www.gensler.com/blog/3-disconnects-around-supporting-a-culture-of-innovation)**\] - Super fun 'happiness challenge' - the 8-minute phone call. The idea is simple: '*think of a person you love, someone you miss, someone you wish you connected with more often. Send that person a quick text asking if they can chat on the phone for eight minutes. After the eight minutes are up, decide when your next catch-up will be; honor your time commitment and sign off promptly.*' **I love this.** — \[via **[The Secret Power of the 8-Minute Phone Call](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/02/well/phone-call-happiness-challenge.html)**\] - I admit I've had a much better online headspace since moving from Twitter to [Mastodon](https://mastodon.makoism.com/@mako). — \[via **[God Did the World a Favor by Destroying Twitter](https://www.wired.com/story/god-did-us-a-favor-by-destroying-twitter/)**\] - If you have to give talks or present in front of others, I found these three rules from actor [Alan Alda](https://bigthink.com/people/alan-alda/) were great. 1) Make no more than three points, 2) Explain difficult ideas in three different ways and 3) Make important points three times. — \[via **[3 rules to express your thoughts so that everyone will understand you](https://bigthink.com/the-learning-curve/3-rules-express-your-thoughts-clearly/)**\] - The idea is simple: take care of your creative brain. — \[via **[Creating Time](https://ryanmulligan.dev/blog/creating-time/)**\] ## This Weeks Vibe With this week's grind, it seems best to repeat some classic Steely Dan. The song "Dirty Work" is a fun one, as it pops up all in odd places - from "[The Sopranos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNpMC4FslNk)" to "[American Hustle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am%5FMUnsaL-w)" to "[Suicide Squad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1EbSXxrZ34)" to, of course, The Simpsons. > Light the candle > Put the lock upon the door > You have sent the maid home early > Like a thousand times before > Like the castle in its corner > In a medieval game > I foresee terrible trouble > And I stay here just the same > I'm a fool to do your dirty work. Oh yeah. > I don't wanna do your dirty work. No more Be well. ✌🏻