19 1 / 2012
#11: Intentional Discomfort
Who else wants to shake things up a bit this year?
I made a painful observation about my self this past year. In fact, its one that I haven’t even fully come to grips with just yet. To explain, I’ll first say that I’m a huge advocate for “putting myself in situations that spawn opportunity”. That usually means trying new things, meeting tons of new people, and getting a little creative in breaking up the ole’ daily routine. It also means inflicting a bit of intentional discomfort upon myself from time to time… All in the name of creating the opportunity for new relationships and partnerships to formulate, flourish, and take shape.
Ok, so back to my painful observation… I noticed that I’ve been passing up some pretty juicy opportunities because I was discounting them with a number of lame a** excuses like, “that’s weird.” My advice for you and mainly to myself, comes in the terms of a very conscious attitude adjustment… Let’s trade in that cozy pair of sweat pants for a thong. Yup, prepare to be emotionally exposed and fully expect a feeling of utter vulnerability in 2012.
Below are three situations I wish I had not passed up, each in the past 30 days… What I can’t tell you is what may have come from them because I’ll never know. Nor can I promise that anything great would have come, just that something great could have and most likely would have. So go boldly forth into 2012 and wish a highly unpredictable and at least slightly uncomfortable forecast upon yourself. Take a mental note when you start to write things off and then, hopefully, take a leap from the high dive into a pool of chance.
UNO: Dylan Jones, when I asked if you would come play Monday night basketball with us and you said you couldn’t because you were planning to play a game of Magic with some friends… I wish I had found a sub for myself and asked you if there was room for a newbie, or at least asked you to teach me how to “build the deck”, even if I only tried once.
DOS: Brady, when you left my yoga class and asked if I wanted to enter that weekends handball tournament in the novice category and I said no thanks, I wish I would’ve not only came but invited my buddy Dane. We used to play racquetball together and I think I could’ve beaten him in handball. I would’ve gotten to know you better and surely a few other great Des Moines’ians.
TRES: Unknown “weird dudes” sword fighting with brooms in a driveway on 42nd street… I wish I had parked the car, and run in with my ice scraper screaming “For Narnia!”
YES, I risk having been a little (or a lot) weirder for having done these things, but for that I’d be all the more interesting, connected to my community, and genuinely open to spawning a bit of unscripted opportunity.
PS, Here are my top three suggestions for intentional discomfort incase you need them:
- 1. Stop by the library and make plans to go solo to one of the events promoted on any of the posters you see hanging up.
- Organize a small group of people (especially ones you don’t know well) to participate in an upcoming Des Moines Event.
- Go to a meditation class. (My first time was just yesterday! :D
You’ll probably find that the discomfort really was just in your head.
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Drew Maifeld is a land architect, yoga instructor, and founder of thebravoscope.com . He’s also a tree hugger, an idealist, & URBAN AMBASSASOR ! Find him at www.drewmaifeld.com or @landmatters on twitter.
