Comfort Crusade
Courage Through Discomfort
Don’t you wish you had the courage to be able to do some of the wacky, exciting, heart-tugging things in life?
That’s why I’m embarking on a Comfort Crusade: to build up my foundation of courage that will allow me to shrug off judgement and criticism like a boss while giving me the experiential references to realize that many of the exciting opportunities in life are only a few inches out of our reach.
Right outside of our comfort zone.
The Comfort Crusade is all about getting out of our comfort zone to build experiential references that we can survive the things that terrify us.
This experiment was created out of a longing to have a chance at doing exciting, unique things in life while simultaneously building the courage to push through the fears that keep me from truly embracing life.
What’s Involved?
It’s preliminary, so it’s flexible. This is both a solo pursuit as well as an invitation to be a part of a group.
At the core, it’s about understanding what we’re afraid of, finding “comfort challenges” that relate, and doing them.
The comfort challenges chosen can either be something we’re excited to but is a bit unusual, and likely to garner a few weird looks or it’s something we know that is crazy terrifying but we also know will make a huge difference if we get through it. Better if it’s both!
Details, Details!
Again, it’s all preliminary. Here’s what I’ve got:
A 7 or 14 day “challenge” of doing at least one “Comfort Challenge” per day.
These challenges (if you embark on your own) should be designed to be able to accomplish (or attempt) by yourself. If they involve other people, make sure they are structure in a way that puts value on “getting out there,” not a result.
If we get a group (i.e., at least 1 other person), we’ll work together to do a combination of:
- solo challenges
- group oriented challenges
I’ll provide some examples down below.
Generally, the idea is 1 challenge a day for 7 – 14 days, or however many we want to take on. But initially, the smaller the better.
We could…
- Meet each day for the 1-2 weeks or,
- Be mostly “remote” and share experiences via video/writing about what we did and/or,
- Focus on solo challenges and meet once a week to do a group oriented challenge or,
It doesn’t need to be daily. The numbers aren’t concrete, just a starting point. If I find someone or a group of people that seriously want to give this a try – we’ll work out what’s ideal for everyone.
Who Can Get Involved?
You. Your response is likely either, “Hell naw,” or “Hell yeah,” or something fuzzy in between. If you’ve made it this far and you’re like, nah, then cool.
If you’re like, hell yeah this sounds awesome – email me or send a message on facebook (m.me/austin.pranger). Let’s chat.
And if you’re somewhere in the middle, you’re probably intrigued but aren’t sure if it’s something you really want to do. Cool. Facing fears isn’t an easy thing to do. But if you’re sticking around still, there’s probably something that has captured your interest in some way.
It’s worth exploring what that is! It might be your mind’s way of saying, “hey, there might be something here – pay attention!” If you’re on the fence, search “comfort zone challenges” online and get a feel for it. Jia Jiang and Till are great places to start.
Comfort Challenges
A few examples of what I might consider “uncomfortable” and by accomplishing would also help to strengthen my resolve in many of life’s situations.
Eye Contact
Maintain eye contact with everyone you pass by and interact with.
For me, this is a challenge because my default habit is to look away and avoid eye contact.
This typically stems from a sense of lacking self-worth.
Maintaining eye contact even when it’s “uncomfortable” will help to condition me to hold my own.
Offer Help
“Openly ask if anyone needs help with anything. Post on Facebook. As people in person. When out and about, if you see someone who seems like they might need help, go and offer your help.”
The Luxurious Atmosphere
“Spend some time in an environment that you normally wouldn’t, particularly a ‘wealthy place’ to help desensitize yourself to wealth and wealthy people. How do people behave differently?”
The Floor Is Not Lava
“Lay on the ground in a public venue for at least 30 seconds and then take a picture of your feet.”
Inspired by X.
Remember that some challenges will be easier than others, but many of them can still be useful for you in the long term.
The way I like to think of Comfort Challenges: you can stair-step them, working on easier ones and working your way towards more challenging ones.
And now it’s at the point that I’m actually excited to accomplish the “big scary ones” because I know that the impact of getting through it will be immense.
Impermanently Daring
Dye your hair. Try a new hairstyle. Get a tattoo.
It doesn’t need to be as permanent as a tattoo, but something with at least a medium-term consequence like dying your hair or getting a haircut.
External Advice
Ask for honest advice from someone. A friend, a family member, and/or a stranger.
About your style, something that you can improve, etc.
Dashingly Differently
Wear something you normally don’t.
This could be dressing up all fancy-like, especially during a day you wouldn’t normally be expected to.
Or this could be wearing a certain kind of accessory that you’ve always like, but just haven’t worn.
Break the norm.
Daringly Thrift
[Group Challenge]
Go to a Thrift Store with at least one other person. Set a maximum budget (e.g., $20) and let your friend(s) pick out your outfit for the day. Now go out to lunch or some other public venue!
Right now, I’m focusing a lot of my “Comfort Challenges” on either 1 of 2 things:
Specific fears that I want to overcome.
Or overall “conditioning” to being judged.
Rejection Therapy - Lightning Round
Create a list of bold “asks,” things you know that are very likely to get denied when you ask someone (friend, family, stranger).
Make it a mission to make 5 absurd asks as quickly as possible. Public venues are great for this.
“Can I wear your hat?” “Can I get a discount?” “Can I get a burger refill?” “Want to trade shirts?”
Train to Nowhere & Back
Book a ticket on a train to take you somewhere a couple hours away with no itinerary. Make a day out of it and let spontaneity and curiosity drive you.
Or simply take the train there and back and take work with you.
#FreeHugs Day
Create a sign that says “Free Hugs” and go stand in a public venue.
Better yet: get shirts/hats/capes made and wear them all day!
Public Truth or Dare
Go play Truth or Dare in a public venue. The stakes are much higher to opt out of a truth!
Above all, this “crusade” is all about building the courage to do things that not many people will do.
By doing these “unusual” and “uncomfortable” things, we set ourselves a part from a part of the world that’s too afraid to grab it by the horns.
And these realistically aren’t that grand. We “should” all be able to do these kinds of things, right?
Deep Conversation Game
Ask strangers to join you in a game of deep/uncomfortable/funny questions.
The idea is to have a list of questions that you put in a hat and take turns with participants to ask questions that come out.
Whoever you participate with can add questions of their own!
The Impromptu Photoshoot
Ask strangers to be in your “photoshoot.”
Have them pose. Ask questions about them. Etc.
But more than anything, it doesn’t have anything to do with trying to improve ourselves compared to others or society in general.
The true value is in creating courage within our foundation that we can embrace some of the crazy things in life that we want to do.
For me, I always stopped myself short of doing something because I cared too much about what someone thought.
So by crusading against the comfort of “not being seen, and therefore not being judged,” it will build a habitual foundation for me to do things because I want to do them, regardless of what people think.
My goal is not to do “all of them,” (as I have a massive list of these).
My goal is to do one, and then one more, and then one more.
I’d rather start small and actually start, then go big and overwhelm myself into never starting.
So now that you’ve seen a “few” of my challenges…
What are some of the fears you’d like to overcome?
What are some of the exciting or fun things you want to do, but just keep putting off?
And do you want to join me in crusading against comfort and fears?
As a final layer of accountability, here are my deadlines, consequences and rewards.
I must POST about the Comfort Crusade and share it by EOD Monday 11:59 PM.
I must START and COMPLETE my first Comfort Challenge by EOD [FRIDAY, July 21st, 2017] 11:59 PM (including a video or written summary of the experience).
Failing: $50 to XYZ
Succeeding:
Undefined: is it daily, weekly, monthly, what? Depends on whether or not there is interest or not, then I will re-evaluate.
This “accountability” is strictly for myself and not for anyone that wants to join. If you want to add accountability or want me to get involved, I’m more than happy to.