Deliberate Discomfort

COVID-19 has taught us many lessons and the first one is that disasters are neither far away nor fiction like in Hollywood films. They are real. It was fun watching all those disaster movies in state-of-the-art IMAX technology with mind-blowing sound and camera sharpness; but in reality, it is an extreme pain. We were unprepared to face the pandemic that shook the world, for we never experienced such prolonged confinement with dried up resources. Hence, it became an extreme discomfort in all aspects. The discomfort due to the pandemic was something we did not experience earlier, but now we know what it looks like and we are prepared to face it in case it repeats in the future because we have developed resilience. To thrive on unfavourable ground is the result of being resilient to pain and discomfort. Marcus Aurelius recorded in his book, ‘Meditations’ that one should set aside a day periodically to practice deliberate discomfort and, to start with, the Emperor suggests that a person should indulge in the scantiest and cheapest fare to remove the fear of such conditions. Marcus trained himself in the ‘Agoge’ regime of education during his younger days to develop resiliency, endurance and strength of will — the way the Spartans did. It was a mode of rigorous training at Sparta in 3rd Century BCE given to all the male children in the kingdom with the curriculum of the most uncomfortable routine to harden them.

Conscription is the mandatory listing of young male citizens in countries such as the USA for the services to one’s country by participating in the army, the regime which prevailed in the ancient Indian subcontinent too. It serves two purposes — one is that the state is prepared and ready to rescue itself against any national disaster such as earthquakes, floods, storms etc., and most importantly, to defend itself from the enemy during wars, and the second is that after the service tenure, the person is no more a stranger to any unfavourable circumstance, hence obviously he experiences least discomfort in case of adversity. As per the stoic philosophy, one should skip a few meals often to experience hunger. It builds perseverance and grit and, more importantly, demolishes the continuing want for comfort. Once a person overcomes the need for comfort, life becomes easier for setting goals and one can stick to them to achieve results without any painful experience. The best time to practice voluntary discomfort is in the morning and the Emperor recommends something like a cold shower which promotes fat loss, builds endurance, lowers stress and improves mental abilities.

To be ready with a blog every Saturday is definitely not easy as I deal with my briefs, especially in a profession where I am paid in measures of time. I ration every minute and think twice before I attend to any subject other than my cases. It is imperative that I improvise every case with a thorough research, for the results are unpredictable. I don’t have any commercial return by publishing my blogs but I do make it a point to post one every Saturday. My intention is to inculcate the readers to read at least 5-8 minutes a week with my experiences which I look at as life lessons now. The recurrent writing has added to my list of faculties that made me more disciplined and alert. Unknowingly, I had indulged in training myself to produce any subject at a short notice with all my observations and analysis pouring out with the right expressions. In the process, I have discovered an excellent opportunity to write books for commercial publication and I continue to manage time more efficiently than before and without compromising my professional duties. I remember the famous quote of George Bernard Shaw, “Life isn’t about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself.”

A few months ago, I had to travel by train, which I remember was after almost a decade. I flew to Bhubaneswar from Hyderabad for a client and, the next day, I had to see another client at Vizag. Only after reaching Bhubaneswar, I came to know that there were no flights to Vizag from Odisha’s capital. The train journey was a total discomfort. The client at Bhubaneswar could secure a reservation in the 2-Tier AC coach but after boarding the train, I was restless and requested the Conductor for a lower berth in First Class AC, which I could get only after midnight. Later, when I was going through the profound journal of Marcus Aurelius, I realised the lack of repose in me with the minor discomfort I felt during that train journey to Vizag, which in fact was a luxury. It was then that I had resolved to travel by bus or a train once in a while to evaluate the luxury I enjoy when I take the flight. Luxury vacations at timeshare resorts are also a ritual that I should defer to in the coming summer vacation.

To be grateful for the things we do have is necessary. We take them for granted. The more we seek to be uncomfortable, the more we become comfortable. I thought food is the most irresistible of all comforts of all the luxury one enjoys. Hence, I opine that detachment should start with food and then it is sleep and then the travel comfort. Recently I had a back pain and when I saw Dr Sukumar of the Asia Spine Hospital at Banjara Hills, he said, “Mr Prem, it is a lifestyle ailment, you can cure it yourself without any medicine.” He suggested, “Don’t be too comfortable in your chair all the time, get up yourself to take files or do small errands in your office instead of calling your assistant to do it for you.” I did exactly as he advised and I feel better now. So was the diet suggestion from my Ayurvedic consultant Dr Deepak at Bodhi Wellness Centre at Kavuri Hills. He suggested that I change my diet to hundred per cent vegetarian to support the ageing digestive system. GB Shaw who was a vegetarian, also said, “All animals are my friends, and I don’t eat my friends.” These are minor issues but it’s important to convey the message that whatever gives happiness to the palate and body might cause ailments in the long run. At this juncture, it is proved by science that reading is exercise to the mind, whereas watching social media is also one amongst the lifestyle ailments.

It is said that failures lead to success, but we should admit the fact that in many instances, we witness that the success of our ancestors is also the cause for the failure of their descendants. Most failures in modern families are also due to excessive or prolonged comforts, that’s when the reversal of fortune eventuates. The parent provides all the comfort to his progeny and expects his child to perform better in such a comfort zone, but usually, it doesn’t happen so — it often results in disappointment. Pampering children by keeping them away from even a minor discomfort may not be a good idea. Voluntary discomfort is a reminder of how invaluable are those comforts we are enjoying them as of now.