“Comfort is an illusion, a false security, bred from familiar things and familiar ways. It narrows the mind, weakens the body, & robs the soul of spirit and determination"
“Arms bend…. and…. stretch,” this phrase was repeated as the Troop of Royal Marine recruits did press-ups with me whilst we waited for the ranks that were adrift (late for parade)[1]. With all finally present, and now stood perfectly still at attention they were asked “what is comfort?”, in unison they shouted out lines from the above quote in reply.
As a Recruit Troop Team Leader (Sgt), it was my job to turn a group of diverse individuals from civilians to trained, unified, commando soldiers. Capable of taking their place as a Royal Marine in 3 Commando Brigade, able to march off the parade ground from their Kings Squad Pass Out to deploy anywhere in the world and fight when they got there, just as many of their forebears had done in the past. This generation was no different, in fact from the beginning they had my full admiration, each had joined up knowing they would face fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was responsible to make sure they were ready in all respects for those combat conditions, professionally, physically, and mentally. Why would comfort be so detrimental to them?
We are comfortable when we understand something, or the conditions are familiar, when nothing has changed. Being comfortable isn’t necessary a bad thing. After all it’s where many of us are at our most productive, earning a living to provide for ourselves and family. It’s where we can relax, reflect, and learn from our experiences. When finding ourselves in new situations we can harness the security of comfort by doing something familiar, something we’re good at to build confidence prior to pushing ourselves to improve, but here’s the illusion. Nothing remains the same, every situation is slightly different. Even if you do the same thing your opposition wont, the surrounding environment and conditions may be the change. The lack of familiarity, the larger the change, the greater the chance of feeling overwhelmed. Affecting our ability to react and deal with a problem.
If different should be embraced, then why do we invest time and energy into processes. The recruits were stood in formation, the same haircut, the same clothes, each of their bed spaces a mirror images of the next. They were getting taught drills and standard operating procedures. Told what contents should be in each pocket, how and where to pack their kit. What action to take in each scenario. Why not make it more chaotic, combat is chaotic! These procedures aren’t to make them robotic or easy to manage, it’s simply to make soldiers more efficient, to bring order to the chaos. Commando soldiers must have an autonomy to be effective. If we can keep that which we control the same then it frees up more capacity to deal with what we don’t control, something less to think about when adversity hits. To instinctively react whilst improving cognitive ability.
The Comfort Illusion quote was printed on this recruit Troops T-shirt. One morning, shortly after successfully passing a criteria room inspection and given permission to exchange their wool blankets and bedsheets for duvets quilts and covers. One of the recruits approached me to ask if they could have their blankets back. The duvets didn’t fit with their Troop mantra, some of the other Troops in training had been making fun of them now. They were missing the point. They didn’t have to always deprive themselves of every possible comfort. Even the minor point of changing bedding type had a purpose. They had proved themselves by maintaining Monday bed blocks and Wednesday bed configurations[2]. Using duvets was a simpler routine which allowed time to be spent on more prevalent training for that stage. Also, they needed to learn how to maintain a standard with duvets as that is what they would be issued with at many of the UK Battle Camps and when onboard ship. A necessary change.[3]
If we never expose ourselves to change voluntary, then it will be harder to accept and respond when it is forced upon us. Experiencing discomfort makes us better prepared for the unexpected. I am no longer Serving but I still expose myself to discomfort. It might be venturing into the mountains in adverse conditions or publishing an article online for public comments, criticism, and possible ridicule. That’s something I need to accept, it’s good for me. If you’re not prepared to do something, then someone else will. By staying comfortable we risk missing out on new experiences and meeting new people, good and bad. How we respond depends on our own attitude. We could tell people that we push ourselves but that won’t pass the mirror test. By never taking a chance, never taking a risk, or standing up for your beliefs means you are less likely to do so when chaos and uncertainty hits, and it will hit at some point in our lives. I’ve wrote previously about the Royal Marines saying of “Being comfortable with uncertainty…”. None of us truly are but we can become accepting of discomfort, comfortable being uncomfortable.
Operate in your comfort zone, you’ve responsibilities to meet, there is no shame in that. Keep in mind though that it’s an illusion. Your situation can and will change in an instance, nothing stays the same. You can either continue to grow and develop by seizing opportunities when they appear or actively seek them out, to learn from failures and successes. Gaining the confidence that comes with being tried and tested. Or you can simply hope you’re not found wanting when the test comes. Hope is rarely a good strategy.
[1] In military operations timings are vital. Failing to keep to a timing can mean others could suffer, in the worst way. This is a lesson taught and reinforced from day 1.
[2] Initially Recruit Troops had to make their beds in different ways on certain days of the week to ease checking of cleanliness. It also adds an element of self-discipline and attention to detail.
[3] Duvet quilts & covers are now issued from day one. This doesn’t mean Basic Training is easier today, it’s simply evolved as it always has. Royal Marines Basic Training is still hard, and it requires the correct mindset and attitude to earn a Commando Green Beret.
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