Glutton for Punishment

I’ve learned over the years that being comfortable can be a dangerous thing. I try to find paths to discomfort to push me out of my realm of “safety.” However, I have noticed my ability to develop comfort zones amidst discomfort. I’ve found ways to be comfortable in uncomfortable circumstances. I wonder, do I need to be stretched beyond those areas as well?

One of the areas in which I have adapted to the discomfort is the gym. I don’t go to the gym to exercise, to get stronger or even to be healthier. It’s grown beyond that. Now, I go to the gym to clear my head by testing my will and resolve. I do it to see how hard I can push my limits and I strive to outwork everyone else there. I may not be the strongest, the fastest or the fittest. I may not lift the most weight or even do the most reps – I can’t control any of those variables – but I can control my effort. So one of my goals for each workout is to unleash more effort than anyone else at the gym.

But along with this goal often comes setbacks in the form of injuries. I beat myself up. A lot. My kids wonder why “I go to the gym to hurt myself.” I try to explain to them there is pain that comes along with pushing limits, but that is a conversation for another time. For now, you just need to know I recently pulled my hamstring during a workout. Two days before we scheduled to move houses. Great timing. Anyway, the trouble with hamstring injuries is they are very hard to work around. They affect so many critical movements and exercises I typically engage in to test myself. It’s been very frustrating to not be able to “grind” like I want to. I can’t push it like I am accustomed to during my workouts.

The result of this is I have not been able to find my comfort zone in my discomfort. I have had to try to find new ways of grinding. I’ve had to become creative in seeking discomfort. Maybe this sounds crazy to you, but I hope some of you reading this can relate. I would say many or most people you meet have no desire to truly grind, or even have an idea of what that might look like. But for those of you who seek out difficulty and maybe even adversity, for those of you who desire to grow as a person and be stretched, I’d like to challenge you to find new ways to be uncomfortable. Seek out a fresh way to grind.

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