How Pain and Suffering Can Lead to Confidence and Strength

Day Eight of the kickstart to my journey toward better health and wellness

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

I’m in the homestretch. Two more days and I’ve completed the 10-day experience I’ve been participating in. I’m happy to say that I’ve been more mindful about avoiding processed foods, exercising regularly, and making time to sit in the quiet and calm my mind.

That being said, I am exhausted. And sore. I’m tired of meal prepping, and my muscles ache after taking more yoga classes in the last week than I typically do in two or three months.

But has it all been worth it? Only time will well, which is why I’ve shifted my mindset to look at this as only the beginning — the kickstart I needed to fuel a much longer journey toward better health and wellness.

And as I rub my shoulders to relieve some of the pain I’m feeling, I’m struck by the irony of bringing myself to this uncomfortably low point in an attempt to feel good. Would have I been better off not embarking on this journey in the first place?

I’m confident that the answer is ‘no.’

By engaging in intense physical activity, you do damage to your muscle tissue, which leads to its subsequent repair and growth. While it’s tempting to stop straining your muscles when they’re causing you pain…