1186: Michael Easter | Embrace Discomfort to Discover Your Best Self

Our ancestors thrived on struggle; we wilt from inconvenience. The Comfort Crisis author Michael Easter shows how embracing discomfort builds resilience.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1186

What We Discuss with Michael Easter:

Modern comfort crisis: • We've engineered physical activity and challenges out of our lives, leading to sedentary diseases and reduced mental resilience — but our bodies and minds still need discomfort to thrive. Discomfort as medicine: • Physical effort, hunger, and temperature swings protect against disease by triggering beneficial adaptations — 80 percent of eating today is driven by boredom or stress, not actual hunger. Transferable toughness: • Mental resilience built through physical challenges transfers to other life areas — like how overcoming a difficult hike builds confidence to tackle career or relationship obstacles. Nature's measurable benefits: • The "25-3 rule" — 20 minutes in city parks three times a week reduces stress; five hours monthly in wilder nature increases happiness; three days yearly off-grid resets priorities. Start with a two percent mindset: • Only two percent of people take stairs when escalators exist. Begin building discomfort tolerance with small daily choices — take stairs, walk during calls, sit on the floor while reading. • And much more...

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