Wanna Succeed? Get Uncomfortable

[Rosdi Kasim]

Hi guys,

Interesting thing I read today... http://craigharper.com.au/2006/12/wanna-learn-wanna-grow-get.html

If you dont want to read at the URL above, can read below.. the same thing.

Rosdi.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Wanna Succeed? .... Get Uncomfortable.

As an Exercise Scientist and Trainer I have spent much of the last twenty-five years helping people change their body. Smaller, bigger, lighter, leaner, more muscle, more flexibility, speed, power... Athletes, non-athletes, kids, mums, dads.....whatever they were after; that's what I did my best to deliver.

Early in my career I discovered that whether or not someone achieved their desired goals had very little to do with what was possible, or their genetic potential, and everything to do with their ability to deal with discomfort.

They say that every decision we make in life is in an effort to avoid pain, or gain pleasure.

We choose to eat the cake because we associate cake with pleasure.
We choose to avoid the dentist because we associate the dentist with pain.
We choose to stay in a bad relationship because we associate more pain with getting out of the relationship than staying in it.

But the reality is :

1) we don't need the cake
2) we do need the dentist and
3) we should get out of that destructive relationship.

If only we would give up the cake, look after our teeth and deal with our relationship (i.e. get uncomfortable) we would discover that the short-term pain/discomfort would make way for a whole new world of possibilities and a whole new level of growth, understanding and achievement.

Some personal-power muscles.

Lesson 1.
Change is usually uncomfortable.

If you want an amazing life and you're all about creating positive change, then learn to deal with, if not embrace, discomfort.

Sorry Dude.
Just how it is.

In the science of strength training we talk about a concept called progressive resistance training or progressive overload.

In simple terms, the theory is this: If you want to get stronger and continue to grow muscle (hypertrophy) you need to continually manipulate the training variables (weight, sets, reps, recovery time, technique, program design) so as to constantly and progressively 'force' your body to adapt to the ever-changing stress (all exercise is a form of stress).

When we talk about changing a body, we're talking about physiological adaptation... and a body will only adapt when it has a reason to. Most people in most gyms train their body in a manner where there is no need for adaptation... that's why they typically look the same, year in, year out.
Or worse.

Rather than following a program or plan which is progressive in nature (causes them to get uncomfortable on a regular basis) they follow a 'maintenance program'... because it's easy and comfortable.
And they love 'comfortable.'

They don't want to maintain, or intend to maintain... but that's all they're doing.
They will continue on their cycle of frustration and zero results until they give their body a reason to adapt or until they throw in the towel altogether.

This adaptation/growth principle of exercise science can be applied to life and to our personal growth.

Lesson 2.
In general, a person's ability to succeed will be largely dependant on their ability to adapt (deal with discomfort and change).

Life, relationships, careers, emotions, business markets, technologies, philosophies, environments are all in a constant state of evolution. This is part of the problem; we are creatures of habit and we like familiarity; we like 'same'.

Lesson 3.
We like the benefits of change, but we don't like the process.
But it's the process, not the results, from where the real benefits come.

Whether it's physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, professional, social or financial growth your after.... be prepared to get uncomfortable on a regular basis and you will dramatically improve your chances of creating your best life.
By the way, the minute you make that uncomfortable decision, or do that uncomfortable thing you've been avoiding, the change process becomes instantly easier and your chances of success go through the roof ... because you got your head and heart (thinking, attitude, standards, emotions) where they need to be.

And you did what you needed to do.

Just like we work against resistance in the gym and we get stronger and grow muscle, those of us who work against resistance outside of the gym (problems, challenges, opposition, criticism, self doubt, insecurity, fear) get stronger and grow a different kind of muscle; emotional muscle, psychological muscle, self-control muscle, personal development muscle and spiritual muscle... and more.


Now go and get uncomfortable... and grow some muscle.