On a bit of a boring flight, having finished most of the urgent things to work on, I started to reread “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter where he makes a very important point. As humans, we have always sought comfort. Comfort gives safety and puts minimal stress on the body in terms of keeping its core temperature, moving and spending energy and mental stress in terms of existential risks. For most of the history of humankind, this was an important and powerful driver as most of our lives were lived in great discomfort. We lived in cold or hot temperatures, walked for many kilometers per day, often loaded with heavy weights and there was the constant fear of being attacked by predators or fellow humans from other tribes. Modern humans, however, live in a state of constant comfort. We live in houses that keep us dry and at 20 celsius at all times. We transport ourselves with cars, trains, buses or planes. We spend most of our working time sitting in comfortable, ergonomic chairs staring at screens at 70 cm from our eyes, typing away at a keyboard. The point Michael Easter makes is that many are suffering from illnesses caused by living in a constant state of comfort. Our bodies need discomfort. We need to be hot and sweat or cold and shiver. We need to move and get our heart rates up. As our bodies are wired to seek comfort, so we need to intentionally seek discomfort. It requires overcoming the resistance that your body will put up and simply seek discomfort. Whether it’s a workout in the gym, sweating in a sauna or a long trail run that leaves you winded, put yourself in a state of discomfort. So, as a daily reflection, when did you last experience discomfort? And what can you do to seek it out more often?