Is the preoccupation with the comforts of life hurting us?

A lot of people these days are hedonists or pleasure-seekers. They organize life around obtaining the most fulfilling experiences possible of food, drink, travel, and leisure. They even hope to find their work so satisfying that it feels like play.

One of the things that’s interesting and valuable about philosophy is that it challenges us to consider different points of view. If you are not sure; philosophy means ‘love of wisdom’. And it (philosophy) has guided people to explore the fundamental questions of who we are and why we are here. These different points of view include unusual ones that we wouldn’t otherwise even have thought of. In taking this perspective, philosophy challenges us to become more conscious or mindful. By being mindful, we begin to understand the reasons why we do what we do.

By thinking philosophically, it is normal to ask: Are there alternative viewpoints to the one according to which life should be lived in pursuit of pleasure?

In the service of living a life of virtue, Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius exemplified a willingness to shun worldly comforts.

Aurelius wasn’t just a philosopher who sat in an armchair, becoming lost in a world of ideas. Instead, he used philosophy for life. He was the ruler of the Roman Empire between 161 and 180. His famous work, the Meditations, it is the private thoughts on giving advice to himself on how to make good on the tasks and commitments of his position in life.

Marcus Aurelius was a ‘different kind of cat’. It is my understanding that when he was 12, he chose to sleep on the floor and wear a rough wrap or coat. As with any mother; this was against his own mother’s wishes. But even at this young age, he knew that there was something to be gained through such intentional nuisance or discomfort. This would enhance his character, allowing him to focus on refining the virtues that mattered most.

Compare this with our present-day obsession with the comforts of life.

Marcus Aurelius stated: “If your distress has some external cause, it is not the thing itself that troubles you, but your own judgment of it—and you can erase this immediately.”

This idea has fit well in our own times. This can teach people to manage distress in life by re-framing the way they think.

This reminds me that there are two types of mindsets or ways to think;

• The fixed mindset is an aspect of the judging mind that evaluates outcomes and often determines that you’ve missed achieving your goals.
• The growth mindset is a belief that as life unfolds it is a process or progression. And, in the area of growth, frustration happens because, I’m attempting new things.

So how can we embrace the kind of frustration that leads to growth, while avoiding the kind that holds us back? Here are a few tips:

1. Embrace a mindset that views life a process or progression. With this view we know that frustration or setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and you can work past them.
2. Seek out challenges or difficulties (things that stretch you). This is because if you’re always sticking to what if familiar and avoiding the difficult or uncomfortable, you’re not going to strengthen your inner abilities.
3. Get support! If you are going through a phase where the frustration is overpowering don’t be afraid to seek support from others. This might mean working with a coach (including me), finding a mentor, or just talking things through with a trusted friend or colleague. The key thing to remember is that you want to work with someone who is going to challenge you, as if you are not challenged that person is not really interested enough to help you long-term.

Aren’t these suggestions the best way to overcome the preoccupation with the comforts of life?