Be Uncomfortable

 Who on earth would be joyful about struggles in their lives? Crazy people right? 

More like crazy successful people or crazy happy people. 

In order to appreciate this concept, you have to have a different frame of mind. We hear the word troubles and that could mean struggles, inconveniences, pain, suffering, boredom, overload…anything that makes us feel uncomfortable. 

And we don’t want to be uncomfortable, but uncomfortable is really a character builder. Uncomfortable tests our fortitude and strength. It calls out our weaknesses  and helps us fix or improve ourselves. 

I think of myself as an athlete (not at the top of my game these days, but I’d be at least competitive…just let my body warm up). As an athlete, I know that I have to challenge myself if I want to see development. In my football days, we had to run sprints past exhaustion. We had to do hitting drills knowing pain will be present. I had so many injuries, but when we beat a team, it was worth it. 

These days it's about fitness for me. I’m a 45 year old with a 3 year old. I need to be in good shape to be active in her life and if I want to see grandkids. That means I need to do more cardio. I hate cardio. My body hurts and it's a struggle to do it. But I know if I make it part of my routine, it will get easier. I will get stronger. 

Right now I’m in sales which means I have to make cold calls. They are uncomfortable, soul-killing and often not fruitful, but I have to do it to find that one connection that will lead to a sale. 

While I don’t like doing many of these things, I can take joy in the fact that they are building my character and endurance. Challenges and obstacles can do two things to us. They can either destroy us or grow us. 

Those who are lazy and want the easy button will never be leaders. They will never go far in life. They will never accomplish much. Those that do the minimum will never find their dreams and will look back someday and say I should have tried harder. I already do this as I look back at my college football days.

It’s the struggles, the hardships, the obstacles that help us grow. Even when we fail at overcoming some of those obstacles, we are gaining wisdom. Then when you take it on again, you’re a little more prepared and ready. Your endurance grows, your character grows, your confidence grows. 

Successful people find joy in the failures, the challenges and obstacles because they know that without experiencing them, they wouldn’t be the people they are. As you live your life, take joy in the challenges. Smile when you are facing them and find the will to overcome them.