Growing Pains by Doug Grady, Author, Speaker, and Coach

Do you remember experiencing growing pains as a child? Not the TV show, the physical pain in your body. As I recall it was very uncomfortable, usually in my lower legs, and lasted for what felt like forever. Making a commitment to personal growth is similarly often accompanied by pain. But why is it painful and what is there to do about it?

Personal growth:

requires progress. Pain can come from comparing where you are to to where you think you should be (or to other people or to where you used to be). Stop this comparison game. Focus on where you are now now versus yesterday, or last week, or whenever you committed to this aspect of growth. If you are not present to progress, you may need to expand your definition of progress. Celebrate small wins, look for the lessons, and ask yourself better questions. For more on this refer to The Ripple Effect.
requires change. This may be a change in mindset, actions, environment, people, or all of the above. Change is hard. Hard is painful. As my colleague Les Brown says, “Nobody said it would be easy. If it’s hard, do it hard!” Remind yourself of where you are going and why you started. Get around others who share your growth goals.
requires discipline. One of my favorite definitions of discipline is “doing what you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do it.” Developing your discipline muscle is critical to an extraordinary life. This is at the core of 40 Days of FOCUS. Use the code ALLIN for a 50% discount. Click here.

“You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” -Jim Rohn

requires getting out of your comfort zone. And being in our comfort zone is, well, less painful. It also minimizes the potential of significant growth.

“Are you sore? That means it’s working!” -personal trainers everywhere

This is a favorite quote of many personal trainers. My wife and I recently joined a gym as part of a recommitment to health and fitness. Our 7am workout this morning was particularly challenging for me. I am still feeling the effects of the workout well into the afternoon. Pain can be a sign but you’ve done something differently to move you toward your intended growth.

Speaking of pain, I recently opened for the Atlanta screening of Rise of the Sufferfests, a documentary of the international phenomenon of obstacle challenge racing. It’s now available on iTunes, check it out here: Rise of the Sufferfests.

Finally, stay the course. Growing pains mean you’re growing. Embrace the struggle and know that it too shall pass. As the (unoffocial) Tough Mudder Song says,