Finding Therapy in Chicago: Opening up to Discomfort

We often avoid sitting in discomfort, and for good reason. Discomfort often feels unbearable, or like balancing on one foot. Learning to lean toward it, instead of away from it, can be incredibly transformative for your life.

One of the key benefits is a deeper sense of freedom from our habitual conditioning and automatic impulses. When we are no longer ruled by our old programming, we have many more choices, especially in relationships.

Think of a time you had an argument with your partner or a friend. You felt anxious, so you responded in the way you’ve always coped maybe by defending yourself, shutting down, or avoiding the conversation altogether. On the other side, your partner ends up feeling unheard or disconnected. And afterward, you might feel shame about how you showed up or some sort of regret.

Avoiding discomfort is a process that affects every area of our lives. When we’re unwilling or unable to sit with it, the impact shows up almost like a ripple effect on the quality of connection in our relationships.

From a contextual science perspective, learning to be with discomfort allows you to step out of habitual patterns, respond more effectively, and show up in ways that align with your values. Instead of reinforcing disconnection, you create the conditions for real, meaningful connection.

So what practices can you practice to improve your muscle of opening to discomfort?