To get what we want, we must embrace the feeling of discomfort. I propose that discomfort is a state of growth and those who surrender into feelings of comfort reverse this process.

Turn Right to Go Left


The First Principles Method

Elon Musk on The Law of First Principles

Simply put, the Law of First Principles is a methodology of boiling evidence down to their fundamental truths and reasoning back up from there. This thread will seek to establish a fundamental truth and extrapolate upwards.

Example: "You are either growing or you are dying." - Lou Holtz

This is a fundamental truth because its applicable throughout many facets of life. The stock market is either going up or its going down, it never maintains status quo. Your relationships are either getting better or they are decaying. You are either building up savings or you are depleting it.


This following line of reasoning will be set in a pre-society era because the evolutionary psychology that guides our primal instincts was hard-wired with millions of years of evolution. The environment of modern society and the technology with it exist only as a thin slice of human history.

To achieve reproductive success a woman must first find a mate whose traits reflect desirable genetic potential. In this first step towards reproductive success, the woman is the gatekeeper by virtue of her power of selection. The opportunity cost of pregnancy for her is high, so strict screening is required. She has a better chance of reproductive success by having a few high quality children with a man who will protect and provide.

A man's reproductive success is diametrically opposed. He has a better chance of reproductive success by having many children with a variety of women compared to a few children with a single woman. If he chooses to give commitment to a single women, equally stringent screening is required because of the opportunity cost associated with doing so. He is the gatekeeper to commitment.

Men who give their commitment away too easily (ONEitis) are not acting in congruence with their biological programming. Women provide sex, men provide commitment. To give away commitment so freely is equivalent to a woman giving away sex just as freely.

Human nature is to desire that which we cannot have. This emotion is intensified when we see others with the object of our desire. We will pursue the object of our desire until we decide it is completely out of our grasp.

Friend-zoned beta men pursue sex with women who dangle it in front of them. These men pursue harder when the woman flirts with other men. Women pursue commitment from men who dangle it in front of them. These women pursue it harder when the man is desired by other women.

By being a man desired by other women and denying a woman commitment, but not to the point of being unobtainable, she will pursue your commitment. This pursuit provides temporary loyalty and is the basis of dread game. Deny commitment to obtain commitment.

When a man gives commitment to a women by entering a relationship/cohabitation/marriage, he will undoubtedly become more comfortable. For a short period, he has both the feeling of comfort and the woman's commitment. This short term happiness gives way to long term pain as the comfort inevitably decays the relationship.

Conclusion 1: The short term discomfort of refusing commitment promotes long term happiness.


Exercising has proven health & psychological benefits.

Laziness entices us with short term happiness by refusing the discomfort associated with strenuous exercise.

Conclusion 2: The short term discomfort of strenuous exercise promotes long term happiness.


Benefits of Cold Showers include:

  • Improved Circulation
  • Relieves Depression
  • Burns Fat
  • Improve Sleep
  • Increases Fertility
  • Improve Emotional Resilience
  • Increase Testosterone
  • Speed Up Muscle Recovery

Conclusion 3: The short term discomfort of cold showers promotes long term happiness.


Benefits of Fasting

In a complimentary way, the act of binge eat will provide short term happiness in exchange for long term discomfort.

Conclusion 4: The short term discomfort of fasting promotes long term happiness.


"There are two kinds of pain. The sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain. The sort of pain that's only suffering. I have no patience for useless things." - Francis Underwood (House of Cards - Netflix Show)

The type of discomfort I am advocating for is the first variety. "The short term discomfort of X promotes long term happiness" is a fundamental truth that we should embrace and pursue. Paradoxically, the pursuit of discomfort will afford us the temptation of comfort. We are allowed to taste this comfort without indulging in it.