We usually avoid emotional, physical and mental pain.
We seek out comfort.
Although for safety reasons that all makes sense, when we study the great folks who have achieved great success and wisdom they usually have something in common.
They went through a great deal of emotional, mental and physical pain. Some of it was unavoidable pain and some was self imposed.
Athletes put themselves through some unimaginable pain in order to learn, grow and adapt. It seems to be the only way to become great. Like Malcolm Gladwell points out, it takes 10,000 hours of practicing your craft before you can master it.
Some went through the emotional, mental and physical pain by no choice of their own like Oprah, Victor Frankl, Silvester Stallone, Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins and so many others.
Great salesman know that they have to be denied many times in order to succeed which is very disheartening.
Bodybuilders know they must put their bodies through unimaginable stress and pain in order for them to achieve the sculptured, chiseled body they seek.
Ultra runners often find themselves way beyond a reasonable pain threshold where if you look into their eyes you can see the same of their emotional and mental pain. But if they’re not willing to go through it, they won’t be successful.
If you want to live an average, ordinary life then continue to seek comfort and stay away from pain.
But if you want an extraordinary life, then you’re going to have to find the courage to do some scary stuff in life in order to achieve your desired goals.
Own Your Content is a campaign from WordPress.com & CreativeMornings, encouraging creatives to own their content, platform, and the future of their work.
Leave a Reply