Michael Easter, a writer and professor known for his book The Comfort Crisis, discusses the necessity of embracing discomfort. He reveals how modern conveniences can hinder our mental and physical health. Easter shares his transformative experience participating in a challenging caribou hunt in Alaska, where he confronted intense hunger, solitude, and boredom. He delves into the Japanese concept of misogi, advocating for personal growth through facing life's difficulties, and highlights the evolutionary benefits of solitude and introspection.
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Sobriety's Impact
Michael Easter's family has a history of alcohol abuse, which led him to a similar path.
Getting sober was his biggest challenge yet, but drastically improved all areas of his life.
insights INSIGHT
Comfort's Double-Edged Sword
Modern life offers unprecedented comfort and convenience, minimizing effort and risk.
This comfort can negatively affect our minds, bodies, and spirits.
insights INSIGHT
Problem Creep
Prevalence-induced concept change, or "problem creep," makes us adapt to new comforts and look for new problems.
This leads to solving progressively hollow problems, like first-world problems.
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In 'The Comfort Crisis,' Michael Easter explores the idea that modern society's emphasis on comfort and convenience has led to various physical and mental health issues. Easter's journey takes him to diverse locations, including the Alaskan backcountry, Bhutan, and the labs of neuroscientists, to uncover the benefits of living at the edges of one's comfort zone. He discusses the concept of 'misogi,' a Japanese practice involving challenges that push individuals to their limits, and how such experiences can enhance creativity, reduce burnout and anxiety, and increase overall well-being. The book is a call to action, encouraging readers to break out of their comfort zones and reconnect with the natural world and their own potential[2][3][4].
Our world has never been more convenient and comfortable. With just a few taps of our fingers, we can order food to our door, access endless entertainment options, and keep our climate at a steady 72 degrees. We don't have to put in much effort, much less face any risk or challenge, in order to sustain our daily lives.
In some ways, this quantum leap in humanity's comfort level is a great boon. But in other ways, it's absolutely killing our minds, bodies, and spirit.
My guest says it's time to reclaim the currently-hard-to-come-by but truly essential benefits of discomfort. His name is Michael Easter, and he's a writer, editor, and professor, and the author of The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Michael first shares how his experience with getting sober helped him discover the life-changing potential of doing hard things, before digging into what fleeing from discomfort is doing to our mental and physical health. We then discuss the Japanese idea of misogis, which involves taking on an epic outdoor challenge, and why Michael decided to do a misogi in which he participated in a month-long caribou hunt in the backcountry of Alaska. Michael shares what he learned from the various challenges he encountered during his misogi — including intense hunger, boredom, solitude, and physical exertion — as well as what research can teach all of us about why we need to incorporate these same kinds of discomforts into our everyday lives.
The Art of Manliness 
