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You Can Get Used to Anything

Psychological Principle

Short Definition

Humans adapt to repeated conditions over time, often reducing discomfort through exposure and normalization.

Expanded Description

Adams credits his mother, Virginia Adams, with this principle: experiences that begin as difficult or emotionally intense often become more tolerable when repeated long enough.

He applies the concept to public communication, risk-taking, adversity, and skill-building, where initial discomfort fades as exposure increases.

Quote card: You can get used to anything. - Scott Adams
Quote card for this entry.

Interpretation

The phrase is intentionally extreme in wording, but its practical point is resilience: adaptation often changes what feels possible.

Related Concepts

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