Discomfort Builds Results

Discomfort Leads to Growth

       by Tony Gentilcore

Outside of majoring in “Humanities” during my first few years in college, and taking the obligatory Introduction to Philosophy class to fulfill my course requirements, I don’t consider myself much of a philosophical person.

Point blank: I’m not one to sit around and contemplate the meaning of life, why we’re all here, or to argue about which came first: the chicken or the egg?

I tend to leave those sort of things to people who drive Priuses and/or take yoga classes (I keed, I keed).

Start a conversation with me on Star Wars mythology or the writings of Kurt Vonnegut (or boobs) and you’ve got my attention.

So, yeah, I don’t consider myself a philosophical person per se. I put my socks on like everyone else. But something struck a chord and jostled my thought process yesterday as I was sitting in my car listening to sports talk radio. And it was this one simple quote:

“Discomfort builds growth.”

Think about it. Let it sink in for a moment.

The easy analogy here – and most fitting – are the things we do in the weight room.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t go to the gym day in and day out because it tickles.

I do it because I want to feel strong, look strong, and have pecs that could deflect bullets.

However, how many times have we noticed someone do the same routine, with the same exercises, in the same order, with the same amount of weight,routinely, who look exactly the same now as they did three years ago?

Hell, I’m sure everyone reading knows a friend, family member, colleague, arch nemesis (I’m talking to you Megatron!) who falls under this umbrella.

Maybe it’s even………YOU!?

I’ve worked with countless numbers of people in my ten years as a personal trainer and strength coach.  98.5% of them “get it.”  Meaning, they know they have to put in the work in order to get the results.  They don’t just expect muscles to magically appear or to walk underneath a rainbow and lose five dress sizes.  They have to EARN it.

They’ll do what they’re told – throw some barbells around, push the Prowler, swing some kettlebells, perform endless numbers of push-ups and chin-ups, call me every swear word in the dictionary – and love to hate it.

Simply put: they’re comfortable with being UN-comfortable.

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