Painful
January 17th, 2006 by Laura Moncur in MotivationIt’s the middle of January. If your New Year’s Resolution was to exercise more, then you’re probably hurting right now. You might even be considering throwing in the towel. Exercise is one of the most vivid examples of painful experiences that are good for us.
Of course, there are other things that are painful that in the end are good for us: divorce, death, moving, having children, sickness, and the list goes on. It’s hard to look at them like that, but the truth of the matter is we come away from those experiences stronger and better people. If we are strong enough to survive that list of pain, then we are better people for it.
If you are dealing with muscle aches right now, focus on your desired outcome. Imagine what your life will be like when you reach your goals. Vividly envision what you will look like and how it will feel when you cross that finish line. You are worth it.
If you are dealing with pain of a more serious kind, my advice is the same. Focus on your desired outcome. Imagine what your life will be like when you survive this difficult time. Vividly envision your new future after you have surmounted this barrier. You are worth it, so you will survive it.
January 19th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
At first I thought this quote meant something like “Do not consider good what is painful.” I think I like it better. Yes, painful situations are good for us in the end – they build character. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” However, divorce might make you a stronger person in the end but it still isn’t ‘good’, a ‘good experience.’ Yes, maybe it’s good to be out of that marriage but is the pain good?
I am the mother of two children and I have endured all the hardships of pregnancy. Focusing on the desired outcome helped me get through it, but was that pain any less for it? If somebody had said to me “Do not consider painful what is good for you” in relation to my physical discomfort I would’ve clocked them. I will fight for the right to say that something is painful. Maybe someday I will think I’m stronger since I survived that painful time in my life. But will I consider it good that it happened to me? No way!