Discomfort seeking

Discomfort seeking involves intentionally placing oneself in challenging situations that may involve the risk of failure, negative judgment, or embarrassment. This concept is explored in depth by Adam Grant in an episode of the Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris. Grant discusses how stepping out of one's comfort zone can significantly enhance learning and personal growth. By engaging with tasks and environments that are not naturally comfortable, individuals can concentrate more and stretch their minds, leading to greater personal development. He also mentions the psychological research debunking the myth of learning styles, suggesting that people do not learn better according to their preferred styles and might even benefit from learning in ways that feel less natural to them 1.

Additionally, seeking discomfort is linked to embracing imperfections and learning from mistakes, as further discussed by Grant. He highlights how those who grow the most are able to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable mistakes and find a balance between striving for excellence and accepting imperfections 2.