How To Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable - Ben Aldridge - #352

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello, friends. Welcome back to the show. My guest today is Ben Aldridge. He's an author, musician and a teacher. We're talking about how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. After finding himself increasingly anxious and suffering regular panic attacks, Ben purposefully spent an entire year doing things which really pushed the limits of his comfort in an effort to regain control of his mindset. Today, expect to learn what Ben's missus thought of him sleeping on the floor next to the bed, what he discovered when he climbed Everest up and down his house's stairs, why acupuncture in the face can be useful, how exposure therapy spills over into regulating your daily emotions, and much more. So yes, obviously this is a bit mental, but what I really like about Ben's approach is that he's taken theories from Stoicism and Buddhism and then hasn't just sat in an armchair, learned them off by heart, and hoped that his mindset is going to improve. He's used the theories as the springboard to take action, and the action is the thing that has influenced his life. And that underlying principle of having an action-first mindset of taking theories that you think could impact you and applying them to your daily existence is super important. That being said, it's quite nice that Ben's gone and done a lot of these because now there's a lovely sort of menu that we can all pick from. You know, maybe you don't fancy the acupuncture in the face or the nudist beach, but perhaps going and climbing some stairs, you'll feel good with that or learning the longest train station in all of Wales. But yes, lots to take away from today. I really hope that you enjoy this one. In other news, this episode is brought to you by Pure Sport CBD. The world's first nootropic infused CBD oils are here and their unwind blend has just been restocked, which is my favourite product from them. If you're struggling to sleep and switch off on a night time, this is a great place to start. It'll help you to wake up less throughout the night and feel more rested and revitalised in the morning. It's got CBD and valerian root and an all-natural mix that has camomile and lavender and vitamin B complex. All combined, it helps to reduce stress and enhance your mood. They have every batch of products, double, third-party tested by two separate companies to ensure it is all of the highest calibre. There's over a thousand reviews on Trustpilot, an average of 4.8 stars. They ship worldwide, so no matter where you are, you can get the first nootropic infused CBD oils direct to your door. Plus, you get 20% off all full-priced items site-wide, no matter what it is that you need, by going to puresportcbd.com/modernwisdom and using the code MW20 at checkout. That's puresportcbd.com/modernwisdom and MW20 at checkout. In other, other news, this episode is brought to you by DW Aligners. Diamond White's Aligners can get you the perfect straight smile that you have always dreamed of in under six months, 70% cheaper than other invisible align methods. It's an easier, quicker and cheaper way to get the smile that you've always dreamed of while still receiving all the support and expertise that you would traditionally. Plus, they also offer great finance plans. They have custom-made invisible aligners, they're unobstructive, you can wear them throughout the day. You change them regularly and they incrementally adjust your teeth to create a straighter smile. They've got a digital system that means you skip regular trips to the dentist and you can get it at a fraction of a price compared to other invisible align methods. You get a treatment coordinator that guides you through every single step of the way and you track your progress using a self-scan unit which uses artificial intelligence and a team of registered dentists to ensure that you're moving forward correctly. There's half a billion scans on this system and counting. If you've been thinking about straightening your smile, this is the first place that you should go. Head to dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom. You can check out everything that they offer. You can book for a consultation and it is 70% cheaper than other Invisible Align methods. dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom. And now it's time to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable with Ben Aldridge.
Benjamin, welcome to the show.

**Ben Aldridge** (4:27)
Hi, Chris, great to be here. Thanks for having me on.

**Chris Williamson** (4:29)
It's an uncomfortable day, right? We're both sweltering, we're both too hot.

**Ben Aldridge** (4:33)
Yeah, absolutely, but we've got to embrace it.

**Chris Williamson** (4:36)
Well, that's the lesson that we're gonna learn today. So you decided to spend a year doing a bunch of challenges at physical stuff and mental stuff and social stuff. What was the impetus? Why bother putting yourself through hell for a year?