Discomfort vs Pain
How knowing the difference can unlock new opportunities...
A Good Ole Gym Analogy
One thing I learned from going to the gym is that no matter what you’re doing (whether you’re lifting weights or running) you must push yourself to see results.
When I started walking out of the gym sweaty and shaking I also saw consistent results soon after.
With that in mind, normally, people either do one of two things when they first start going to the gym.
Either will reach for the lightest weights available. They’ll do a couple of reps, and walk out barely breaking a sweat.
This was me when I first started.
Or, they walk in, crack their knuckles, and slap a ton of weight on the bar. But when try to lift it…SNAP. Now they're out of the gym for six months because they injured themselves.
A lot of menfolk suffer from this.
Unfortunately, neither of them will see any progress in the gym because both of them are confused about what pain and discomfort are.
So what is Pain, and what is Discomfort?
A key difference between the two, in my opinion, is subjectivity and objectivity.
Discomfort is subjective, as it is based on how you feel. Some people wouldn’t mind getting on a plane, while others would shiver at the thought of being on such a flying contraption. The former probably has had pleasant flight experiences, while the ladder has experienced bad turbulence or has trouble relinquishing control.
Pain, however, is a statement of fact. If you are chopping vegetables and you cut your finger, the pain you feel is your body/mind telling you to stop and alleviate whatever is causing you pain.
You have to address pain when it shows up because failure to do so often leads to making things worse.
Say you keep cutting vegetables despite your finger bleeding (which is a large red flag in my opinion). Now you run the risk of bleeding all over the veggies and the cut potentially getting infected.
Ugh, just the thought of that sends my germaphobia into hyperdrive…I digress
Both are information. Pain advises you to rest or stop. While discomfort tells you that you’re that you are the precipice of breaking new ground.
Despite how uncomfortable someone afraid of planes would be on their first flight, their discomfort is a sign that they are facing their fears. Maybe if they didn’t get on that flight, they would miss an opportunity.
If you happen to be in a situation where people are causing you harm, whether (mental or physical), that is a sign that you need to set boundaries and leave.
Ok, Now What?
Introducing uncomfortable situations into your life builds your capacity to do more, just like how lifting heavier weights makes you stronger.
If you don’t like public speaking, put yourself in a situation where you have to. If you don’t particularly like working out, try a fitness class.
Don’t mistake the discomfort of those situations as pain, you’ll miss out on something greater.
However, look within yourself and understand what pain is for you. If you are physically drained from being around certain people, that’s a sign you need to separate yourself from them. Or if work is taxing on you, and you can afford to leave, you should.
Taking on too much pain breaks you down, and you can easily find yourself in a pit of discontent and suffering.
Now that we know the difference between pain and discomfort we can continue on a path of self-improvement and protecting one’s peace.
Inspiring and insightful