Review

I read the book because the title resonated with me, I really enjoy pushing my limits. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I won’t be recommending it to others. The author told the story of the comfort crisis and (how to snap out of it) interlaced with tales from an Alaskan hunting trip. Sadly I didn’t find it all that relatable – although there was plenty of food for thought and interesting references.

Key Takeaways

The 20% that gave me 80% of the value.

• We rarely step outside our comfort zones and feel the sensation of discomfort. We lack struggle. We’re never bored.
• Over time we lower our threshold for what we consider a problem. We end up with the same number of troubles. What’s comfortable is an ever increasing moving target
• We evolved to seek comfort. In a hostile world that keeps you a live. In a comfortable world it limits your potential.
• We need to get uncomfortable and ditch the comfort blanket and learn new limits.
• Misogi is doing something so hard once a year → that it has an impact on the other 364 days. An emotional, spiritual, and psychological challenge that masquerades as a physical challenge
  • Rule 1: it has to be really fucking hard. Pitch it so you have a 50% chance of success if you do everything right.
  • Rule 2: you can’t die
• Misogi should also be adventurous, have a clear goal and be quirky or uncommon.
• People who face some adversity report better psychological well-being. Facing challenges makes people feel more robust and resilient
• These challenges are beneficial for obesity, heart disease, cancers, diabetes, depression, and anxiety
• Only you are watching. Are you important enough to see it through?

Other takeaways of note

• Silence is more calming than most products that claim to be relaxing
• Exposure to nature drops blood pressure, heart rate and stress
• Beware of eating for reasons beyond hunger (eating for dopamine and not for fuel (comfort food and stress eating))
• Track what you eat. Close the gap between what you think you eat and what you eat.
• Stress is inevitable – you need to change the response
• Eat foods if medium energy density
• Fast occasionally
• Connect with the concept of impermanence. Think of death 3 times a day.
• Exercise-induced fatigue is a psychological state (not a good indicator of your physical limit)
• Breath rhythmically to take your mind of exercise. Focus only on the breath
• Exercise often performs better than the best medications for treating issues
• Put yourself through a big challenge and you’ll be impossible to rattle – and you’ll be grateful for the little things, and become more aware of time passing
• Rucking is strength and cardio in one. Causes 6x less injuries than running. Use weight as a handicap and make rucking social