“It doesn’t feel good. I don’t like it because It’s painful. I am uncomfortable and I don’t like that. It hurts. I don’t like to exert myself. It’s too hard.”
What do all of these statements have in common? They are all excuses. While I don’t want anyone to get hurt or be hurt, there is a difference between injury pain and growth pain. In addition, muscle soreness or inflexibility discomfort is much different than true pain.
Some of the most common excuses that I get for not changing ourselves physically are listed above. The most common one being “It’s too hard” and next to it is “I 
don’t like to push myself or exert myself.” These are so annoying to me many different levels. Growth, change or whatever you want to call it, is going to be uncomfortable. Here is what Theodore Roosevelt says about this subject: “Nothing in the world is worth having or with doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
The truth is that change is painful, difficult and takes effort. We need to be uncomfortable in order to experience growth. During our workouts, if we are uncomfortable we are doing it right. The more uncomfortable we are the faster we will change. However, it goes both directions if there is little effort there will be little change.
Look for uncomfortable feelings in these areas.
1) Breathing. You should be breathing hard and fast.
2) Heart rate. Your heart should be racing. However, don’t go over your max heart rate. Ask me what your maximum heart rate is, I can help you with it.
3) Muscle fatigue. When doing strength exercises, you should be exerting yourself so the last couple of repetitions on each set are difficult. Repeat this a couple of days a week, and you need to work until failure.
4.) Flexibility. Pain is not good here at all, but a little discomfort is good, it means you’re stretching and improving your flexibility.
In essence, keep your heart rate up, your breathing rate up, and work till your muscles are fatigued.
A quick note here on change. The law of uncomfortableness is universal when it comes to change. If you need a mental change, spiritual change, attitude change, etc. it will take effort, so be aware that if it is hard you’re on the right track. Keep at it.
Yes, growth is difficult, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual it takes effort – extreme effort. So if you say to yourself “It’s too hard” you are on the right track. Push harder, give more, do more and soon you will achieve your goals whatever they may be.
