The point is, he became comfortable with all of those situations. They felt tough, but that's just something to overcome.

Now he uses discomfort as a heuristic. If he's uncomfortable with something (for no obvious good reason), then he should do that thing, because it will make him a better person.

The post probably could have been called "grow, grow, grow", if that helps.

I'm personally about to start something that makes me uncomfortable, but I think it will be a good thing. It was nice to read this.

This is common sense. No need to expand too much on this, but there is a flipside on the experiences that Derek Sivers did not talk about. When you do unusual things, when you go deep enough into another culture, you will be changed. You must leave a part of your (cultural) luggage at the door.

For instance, for any Westerner, going into China for some time will change you own vision of the world, and sometime not only in a superficial way. Your political beliefs will probably be shaken (in China left is right, and right is left, compared to France). Your values will be questioned (confort, friendship, professionalism are different).

What is interesting is that there will still be some invariants. Even after many years in China, I am still French. My political beliefs have changed. My values have changed. What have not changed is probably what defines me the best.

I like reading stories of my peers and heroes that are doing life-expanding things I'd never considered. Then I realized I'd never shared mine.

I can't believe some of the "I don't get it" comments that seem to pop up now on every single article.