Are You Choosing the Right Kind of Hard?

Recently, I’ve noticed a theme…

When people find out I’m a coach they usually make a lighthearted joke about how they don’t workout. They’ll laugh about how they don’t enjoy doing things that challenge them in that way—they can’t find the motivation, they’ve never been someone that works out and never will be.

I’m not here to judge anyone.

I know how hard it can be to do something uncomfortable like working out.

But I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t make me a little sad.

The defeat (or lack of desire sometimes) when it comes to adopting an exercise routine. Something that I know without a shadow of a doubt would make anyone’s life infinitely better.

Here’s the thing: A lot of decisions in life are about choosing your hard.

• Working out? It’s hard.

• Learning how to cook balanced meals? It’s hard.

• Leaving a relationship that isn’t right for you? It’s hard.

• Starting a new, more fulfilling career path? It’s hard.

• Setting boundaries with toxic people? It’s hard.

• Going to therapy? It’s hard.

But you know what else is hard?

• Feeling uncomfortable in your body.

• Not having the energy to do the things you love.

• Disease. Illness. Body aches and pain.

• Being with someone who brings you down.

• Doing a job you hate for 8 hrs a day.

It’s all hard.

Everything’s going to have its own set of challenges.

It’s just about choosing your hard.

There are two kinds of hard.

There’s the discomfort you feel when you’re stuck. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin, or maybe you’re constantly feeling sluggish and low-energy. You’re not mentally fulfilled because you know you want a better life for yourself. This discomfort, will continue on, because nothing is changing if you don’t make a change.

Then there’s the discomfort of doing something new, of pushing yourself. At first, it feels awkward and difficult. You’re out of breath after the first workout. You feel like you have no idea what you’re doing in the kitchen and you burn toast. But here’s the catch, with this discomfort—you get better. Things start to change.
 

We all have a certain level of discomfort that we tolerate daily.

Whether it’s the ache of sitting too long at a desk, the stress from not sleeping well, or the nagging feeling that we’re not prioritizing our health—these are all forms of discomfort.

But we get used to them because they’re familiar.

We tell ourselves, this is just how it is.

But what if it didn’t have to be this way?
 

What if it could be…better?
 

Working out and improving your eating habits require facing a different kind of hard—the kind that forces you out of your comfort zone. But the good news is, it’s a temporary discomfort.

The first week you go to the gym, you’ll feel sore. The first time you experiment with a new recipe, it might not turn out the way you imagined. But this discomfort? It’s growth. It’s the kind of discomfort that changes you for the better because you’re learning, you’re evolving, and soon enough, you’re better for it—physically and mentally.

But you have to be willing to face that initial resistance. It’s like training your mind as much as your body—to be okay with the idea that things will be uncomfortable for a little while because you know what’s on the other side: confidence, energy, and a better sense of well-being.
 

The truth is: Both staying the same and changing will have their uncomfortable moments.

So, what kind of discomfort do you want to live with?

One that keeps you stuck or one that propels you forward?

At the end of the day, you’re always going to have to choose your hard—so why not choose the one that helps you grow?

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you!