Postive Discomfort

We have all heard of peer pressure and it is normally associated with a negative influence. Positive peer pressure is your peers encouraging you to do good and amazing things. Positive discomfort falls under this same type of thought process. I heard of this phrase from David Lincoln – he is the descendant of the owners of Lincoln Electric, Lincoln Welders, Lincoln Laser, and John C Lincoln hospitals. One of his families lesser known business ventures was the one I worked for; Arizona Oxides, a pigment manufacturing facility. He was essentially my bosses, bosses, boss the entire time I was at Arizona Oxides. We would have meetings in which he presided and he’d sometimes get frustrated with a stubborn employee, customer, or supplier and he would mention applying positive discomfort. What he was trying to say was we are going to supply some pressure on all those that need to provide the needed growth or action. His intent was to bring about a positive response for all.

I am grateful for positive discomfort and what it has done in my life. School gave me much discomfort from kindergarten to my final graduate level class. My parents applied lots of discomfort through out my youth. My wife, kids, church leaders and God have all supplied plenty of discomfort. Now what I did with that discomfort was my choice – for the times I chose to make a positive situation out of it I am thankful. The growth I have received in my life has always been from positive discomfort or from having an example to learn from (and usually both).

Now I am in no means done with my share of “positive discomfort” experiences; however, I am no longer just a recipient of positive discomfort . . . I have learned that I love to dish out positive discomfort (smile).

My kids experience a lot of this – and honestly I’d have to say that I have some pretty good kids. My current ward youth view my positive discomfort with much apprehension (according to Chase my Teacher aged son). My Bishop has informed me that I’m like a “nice swift kick in the shins” in regards to my attempts to get folks on board with the missionary program. I may be a bit over zealous in my attempts to make others appreciate positive discomfort – but only because I’m grateful for the achievements in my life and I owe it to positive discomfort have provided my much of these opportunities. Some examples are:

-Serving a mission, knowing there is no way for me to comprehend what I am signing myself up for and leaving what seemed to be a perfect life
-Proposing to the love of my life before I had any idea how I would support her
-Deciding to have kids as soon as possible despite still not figuring out how to support a wife
-Going to school and sacrificing our lifestyle for a “feeling” I received from a prayer
-Buying a house after a late night conformational prayer and realizing it is right while still having no idea how the finances will be

These are just a few examples, some faith promoting, others caused intellectual growth and character growth. All of the experiences I am grateful for and I look forward to more experiences to come . . . and yes, I still look forward to causing a little positive discomfort for others along the way – after all I’m not selfish.

Andrew “causes discomfort” Brown