K(no)w Pain, K(no)w Gain

“So, keep working, Keep striving. Never give up. Fall down seven times, get up eight.

Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship, Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. So keep moving, keep growing, keep learning. See you at work.” -Denzel Washington

“Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, or an hour or a day, or even a year. But eventually, it will subside. And something else take its place. If I quit, however, it will last forever.” ― Eric Thomas

“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.” -Tony Robbins

Today, pain has a negative connotation to its name. People see pain as something to avoid. May actually make a large effort to never feel pain. They want their life to be painless and low stress. However, most people do not realize that pain is an essential part of life and growth. In fact, most successful people have a history of painful experiences:

-Tony Robbins grew up in poverty

-Eric Thomas found himself homeless at 17

-Michael Jordan got cut from his high school basketball team

-Batman lost his parents as a child

-Spiderman lost his uncle in his arms

-Anne Frank hid in a secret annex from Nazis for two years

People experience pain when they move outside their comfort zones. Your body can detect discomfort. We all experience discomfort and stress in different ways- sweat, headaches, upset stomachs, blushing, rashes, soreness, embarrassment, physical pain all for example. There are two kinds of pain: growing and injury pains. Growing pains consist of challenges, stressors, and failures. Growing pains allow your to improve yourself and your abilities. They stretch you to your limits and allow you to pass them. Any time you feel discomfort it is important to identify how you are improving yourself.

Now, injury pains are quite different. These occur when the body goes far past its physical limits. You know the terminology: broken bones, torn muscles, cuts, bruises, or getting sick. It’s important to differentiate these two kinds of pain. Growing pain is dull and bearable and due to a new experience. Injury pain is sharp and quick. Pay attention to your body and comfort level when you spend your day.

To improve your health, it’s key to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Going out of your comfort zone will make you even more comfortable in your skin and improve your ability to take on stressors and challenges. When looking to make health changes, Moving past discomfort will improve your body, mind, and mood. So, next time you notice an opportunity that will make you feel discomfort, embrace it! You will be surprised how far you can go. As Always, Eat, Move, and Improve!