Don’t Run From Discomfort During Conflict…Allow It

As we began the kriya, my yoga teacher said, “If you feel pain, stop. There are no points for pain. But be sure to distinguish pain from discomfort.

“Discomfort may seem painful, but when you consider it, you realize it’s not real pain. It’s more like ‘I don’t know if I like this.’ Or, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ Or, ‘I think maybe I’ll stop.’ Try to stay with discomfort. Breathe through it, release it, try to go beyond it.

“Discomfort is your body and brain telling you there’s something there worth working through.”

It’s not the case only in yoga. It’s true in conflict, too. Real pain is rare, but discomfort is familiar. We notice it and dislike it and want to get away from it.

Instead of caving to the discomfort, allow it, for it’s the gift of a hint there for your taking. The discomfort is a whisper in your ear. It’s saying, There’s something here worth working through.

                       

Tammy Lenski

Dr. Tammy Lenski helps individuals, pairs, teams, and audiences navigate disagreement better, address friction, and build alignment. Her current work centers on creating the conditions for robust collaboration and sound decisions while fostering resilient personal and professional relationships. Her conflict resolution podcast and blog, Disagree Better, are available at https://tammylenski.com/archives/… MORE >