I often say that, while struggle is entirely optional in creating the life we want, effort is a requirement.

Taking action means effort. Doing things differently means effort.

There’s two ways to approach effort:

The first is the begrudging, this-is-SO-hard-and-uncomfortable way that makes us procrastinate, plan endlessly, tell ourselves we don’t know our next steps, and has us taking more and more classes and doing more research before we actually DO something.

The second is the joyful, roll-up-our-sleeves-and-get-down-with-it way that allows us to do things badly, figure it out as we go, master skills by making mistakes, do only the amount of learning and research that we need to take action in this moment, and create actual results.

The difference between the two is about embracing discomfort.

Imagine you want to increase your fitness level, lose a few pounds, and build some muscle tone.  Obviously this will require some exercising, so you head to the gym.

If you are trying to build your fitness level, do you stop exercising at the first sign of fatigue? Do you stop lifting weights as soon as you feel a little burn? Of course not.  We know that, in order to expand our fitness level, we have to go to the edge of our capabilities, or at least very close to it. Going to that edge in our workouts is what helps us grow stronger and fitter. If we stay comfortable throughout every workout, our fitness level plateaus. We never create new results.

In other words, no-one expects a “good” work-out to feel good all the time. A “good” work-out hurts a little.  But afterwards we relax and feel amazing. We even embrace any soreness we feel the next day as the fruits of our labors, because we know that, in the healing, we are growing stronger.

Does it take will, determination and discipline to go to the gym again and again, knowing that there is going to be a measure of discomfort? Yes! And when we begin seeing results, we learn to relish the discomfort for what it is:  The precursor to positive change.

If we want to create positive changes in our lives, we have to explore the fullness of our current capabilities, so that we can then move beyond them. There will be discomfort. There’s no avoiding it. But lots of us try! We strive to be fearless, confident, and aligned to our purpose as we plan new endeavors and contemplate taking new action.

Somewhere in all the teachings on the Law of Attraction and spiritual growth, we’ve gotten the impression that discomfort – which comes in the guise of fear and self-doubt – is BAD. In reality, it is often the precursor to positive change.

If you want to make positive changes in your life, effort will be required.

You will feel fear and self-doubt.

You will not have all the skills you need before you start.

You will not have all the answers on how to get where you want to go.

You will have to plant yourself in front of your computer or desk or work area and engage in activities that are tedious and frustrating because they are new to you.

You will make tons of mistakes.

You will fail at half the things you do.

But here’s what’s also true:

Fear and self-doubt only stop you from taking action if you decide to let them.

You will acquire skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.

When you take one step, the next one will reveal itself.

Activities that are tedious and frustrating at first will quickly become second-nature.

You will learn from every mistake you make.

Every failure will teach you how NOT to succeed, and will thus teach you success.

Every time you embrace discomfort and effort, it gets easier. The effort remains the same, as does the fear and self-doubt. There will always, always be discomfort. But what you come to know is that on the other side of discomfort is the life you’ve always wanted.

Scratch the surface of any person who has created a life you respect and admire, and you will find someone who doesn’t just embrace discomfort and effort. You’ll find someone who SEEKS OUT BOTH, joyfully and enthusiastically, because positive change is on the other side.

Blessings,

Andrea

Filed under: Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!