When it comes to changing a habit that continues to keep us stuck in a cycle of self-defeat it’s necessary to develop a tolerance to discomfort.
Most likely the idea of this is making you uncomfortable. Me too.
However, if we can’t find a way to normalize discomfort when it comes to making changes in our life we will fall back into old patterns time and again.
Think about it. Why do you abort the effort you are so determined to make when discomfort surfaces, be it physical, emotional, or mental? Because you are trying to change the way you feel.
Research shows us that most of us develop unhealthy habits or allow anxiety to run us rampant because we are trying to alleviate our feelings of discomfort by seeking pleasure or avoiding pain. Truth is we just don’t like the way it feels. And yet, discomfort is often the indicator that we are on the precipice of change.
Capitalizing on this moment by making peace with our discomfort positions us for the change we want to make. Our goal is to name it, normalize it, and make peace with it. Doing so will put us back in the drivers seat.
Naming it—not judging it or ourselves for feeling it—validates that we are headed in the right direction. Expecting it during the process of change normalizes it and fosters a higher tolerance. And finally, making peace with discomfort disarms our impulse to get rid of it by any means possible so we can navigate it in new and better ways.
Here, at Beyond The Craving, we use THE CRAVE COACH, a digital app to help us change a habit, manage anxiety, or overcome impulsive thoughts and behaviors. By design, this tool uses five simple prompts to stop the downward spiral of negative patterns in less than a few minutes. Try using it this week to stop the spiral of unhealthy habits and help kick-start new and better ones.
“Endurance produces character, and character produces hope.“ (Romans 5:4)
- Are you more likely to seek pleasure or avoid pain in response to discomfort?
- Practice the three strategies of tolerance—name it, normalize it, and navigate it.
- Download THE CRAVE COACH App and start using it today.
Prayer is just a conversation with God. Talk to Him about what you learned and what you need from Him today.
Be bold. Be brave. Be free.
Dori
Get THE CRAVE COACH App today [FREE download] Real-time help for right-now cravings!