There’s no growth in comfort. As I sit here thinking about my aches and pains, I think about why we put ourselves through things that hurt. I’m talking about voluntary, physical discomfort. What’s the opposite? Being sedentary brings on a different type of pain.
This type of self-inflicted discomfort and suffering helps us become better. I am guaranteed to let myself down all the time. I learn from mistakes. I learn from injuries. I learn what needs to be done and when. What happens when I don’t take the lesson learned and apply it? More shit happens.
When I set out to achieve a physical goal, I can’t focus on the pain. I cannot let myself think “I’m going to die.” I can’t let thoughts like that have real estate in my mind. That thought is just going to continue to grow. It may not stop me now but it will stop me from making progress down the road.
Pain helps us grow. It teaches us. I can’t say that I’ve never dreaded doing things to reach my goal. Don’t focus on the negative. It will always be there. We tend to let that get in the way. Instead, focus on the end result. Pain is inevitable, growth is not.