As I pushed against the pedals of my bike during a recent bike (spin) class at the gym, I observed my own discomfort rise as the intensity of the class increased. Challenged with both physical and emotional agony, I became consciously knowledgeable that I got two primary choices in response to my discomfort.
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Put under tension, my actual physical body responded by ‘heating up’ – my breathing turned not so deep and faster, my thighs began to hurt, and beads of sweat erupted throughout my body, slowing dripping off my face in steady drops on to the ground below. As I attained for a hand towel to clean my face and momentarily recover, I realized that I was now going through emotional discomfort at the same time.
As my physical displeasure intensified, so did my emotional agony. I experienced feelings of doubt as to whether I could keep on with the level of intensity, and feelings of wanting to disconnect and/or stop from the physical discomfort I was suffering from.
In reaction to getting pushed outside of my comfort and ease zone, my two options or reactions to this situation became instantly clear.
One choice was to ‘back off’ or slow down, and thereby reduce and/or minimize my discomfort. If I took this selection, I knew I could encounter returning to a place of physical comfort and ease, exactly where my entire body ‘cooled’ down and relaxed, and also to some place exactly where my emotions would return to some calmer state.
The other selection I faced was to notice and accept my discomfort, but to decide that I would continue regardless. In this decision I understood I could continue to encounter discomfort (for a temporary period), and perhaps even face the possibility that the intensity of discomfort would increase.
To determine my choice, I asked the question: “What is my intent in taking this class? What are the outcomes I’m searching to accomplish?â€
Relative to my short and long-term goals for the class, (which in this instance was to increase my fitness), making the selection to ‘push’ through my discomfort and persist with that temporarily, was more likely to produce the outcome I was after.
I decided the ‘uncomfortable’ selection was more in alignment with my intention, so I chose this in preference to remaining ‘comfortable’ throughout the class.
In my opinion, there was no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer faced using the above choices. Rather, simply an awareness of regardless of whether the choice made was in alignment using the end outcome I wished to encounter.
So why would you wish to step out of the own comfort and ease zone?
When you’re next exercising – be it walking the dog, exercising at home or at the gym – why not ask yourself this question to provide you using the answer.
‘What is my intention by participating in this specific exercise?’
If your own intention is purely for pleasure or recreation, then you may be quite willing to produce the experience where your exercise is comfortable and painless.
If however you’re looking to create change at a physical or fitness level, think about the possibility that experiencing some discomfort may be necessary in order for you to achieve these results.
Choosing a state of ‘discomfort’ or ‘comfort’ is not a judgment exercise, merely a choice you make relative to creating an outcome more in alignment with your desired outcome.
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