In a world obsessed with control and certainty, Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön offers a radical alternative: learn to become comfortable with discomfort. At 89, Chödrön continues to teach that the path to wisdom lies not in escaping anxiety but in leaning into it with warmth and curiosity.
Chödrön’s book "Comfortable With Uncertainty" has become a touchstone for many, including New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, who recently interviewed her about her new work, "Another Kind of Freedom." The conversation explored how to relate to the physical sensations of fear—the tightness in the chest, the knot in the stomach—rather than trying to make them disappear.
"The only way out is through," Chödrön said. She emphasizes pausing, noticing where the discomfort lives in the body, and meeting it with unconditional warmth. This is not about acceptance or surrender, but about being fully present with what is.
Klein noted that it took him years to see how reflexively he fled from that physical contraction. Chödrön’s advice? Start by letting go of the storyline—the mental drama that amplifies the fear—and simply abide with the raw sensation.
For those new to this practice, Chödrön recommends a simple step: when you feel anger or hurt, instead of rehearsing grievances, pause. Feel the energy in your body. Smile at it. That small shift can transform a fight with a partner into a moment of self-understanding.
"It’s not about getting rid of the feeling," Chödrön explains. "It’s about making it workable." And in a time of global uncertainty, that lesson feels more essential than ever.