You'll Be Fine In An Hour
I don't know about you, but my workouts can get downright grueling. I get sore. I get tired. I get out of breath. Even after I'm done, it takes some time for me to stretch, recover, and get back to a resting state. But one thing that I've noticed is that inevitably, I'm in a perfectly functional state within an hour of finishing my cool down. This got me thinking about how most hardship we face is temporary, and that we eventually do recover. So let's talk about gutting through temporary hardship.
It Won't Last Forever
When you're in the midst of an intense workout session, it can be difficult to think about how you'll feel even a few moments from now. The same applies to any kind of strain you place on yourself in order to accomplish something.
The important thing to remember is how amazingly resilient human beings can be. If you've never seriously worked out before, you might feel like you could never possibly return to full strength during or immediately after that last rep or few seconds. But I'm here to tell you that you can, and you will.
No matter how hard you push yourself, you will recover. And the best part is, you'll recover faster and faster each time. You'll see what so many others throughout history have: That not only does the hardship, the struggle, the pain, make you better, but that it truly is temporary. That the sweat and strain not only strengthen you, but that in most cases you'll feel just fine by the time you get out of the shower afterwards.
It Makes You Better Each Time
Fighting through and even learning to function normally in the "vomit zone" is a skill that most serious athletes force themselves to learn. This isn't just for people training for the Olympics or a UFC match. This is a skill everyone can and should make use of.
Regardless of what kind of hardship you are experiencing in the pursuit of your goals, pushing through it inevitably makes you a better person. Refusing to give in to the pain is not only a skill, it is a habit. Once you start programming your mind to tell your body not to stop until the other side of the finish line, it gets easier and easier each time.
And because it gets easier each time, that means you can go further each time. Just remember: You'll be fine in an hour.
How Hard Do You Push Yourself?
As always, I want to hear from all of you. Tell us about what you put yourself through in your workouts, in your careers, in pursuit of your dreams.