XXVI-Much Better — Embracing My Discomfort

When should I embrace feeling uncomfortable or otherwise out-of-sorts?

I’m afraid.

I’m feeling exhausted.

I’m feeling pressured by others.

I’m feeling angry.

I feel like I don’t belong here.

I feel too old (or too young).

As a man, it feels uncomfortable being among so many others who aren’t men.

If I don’t pay attention constantly, I lose track of what’s being said.

I complimented them, so why are they criticizing me?

Why am I being asked to leave?

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I face a lot of situations where I feel I’m an outsider. Others often welcome me. Sometimes I even feel embarrassed by their positive words about me which don’t feel deserved. In such situations I can feel “in” sometimes, and as an outsider at other times. Validation does feel good!

There are plenty of times where I feel like an outsider. Sometimes I deal with my discomfort being a silent observer. At other times it feels like I babble on endlessly. Often in such situations I recognize my discomfort, noting that I was talking “too much”.

Being uncomfortable can be really horrible in some situations! Hearing of horrific acts of others — cruelty — sadism — troubles me greatly!