As I pushed against the pedals of my bike during a recent gym cycling (spin) session, I saw my personal pain increasing as the class’s intensity rose. Confronted with bodily and mental anguish, I became aware of two main options for dealing with my pain. Each of these answers would have a distinct effect on my outcome and outcomes. Therefore, what outcome can I anticipate as a consequence of going beyond my comfort zone?
When put under strain, my physical body responds by heating up. My breathing grew shorter and quicker, my legs ached, and beads of perspiration burst from my body, slowly trickling down my face and onto the floor below. As I grabbed for a towel to wash my face and temporarily regain my composure, I realized I was also feeling emotional pain.
As my physical pain increased, my mental anguish increased proportionately. I had doubts about my ability to continue at this level of intensity, as well as desires to detach from and/or stop the physical pain I was experiencing.
As a result of being pushed outside of my comfort zone, my two immediate options or reactions to this circumstance were clear.
One option was to ease up or slow down, thus alleviating and/or minimizing my pain. If I made this decision, I knew I could return to a level of physical comfort, where my body cooled and relaxed, as well as a state of emotional peace.
The second option was to acknowledge and accept my discomfort yet resolve to continue anyway. I recognized that by making this choice, I accepted the potential that I would continue to feel pain (at least temporarily) and may even face the risk that the severity of the discomfort would grow.
To help me make a decision, I asked myself the following question: Why am I attending this class? What are the desired outcomes?
Is it to exercise easily knowing that by not stretching or pushing my boundaries, my level of fitness and physical form would likely stay constant (or would be extremely minimal)?
OR Is it my goal to experience change and development in terms of my physical fitness and form, despite the fact that this will almost certainly require me to push my present physical comfort boundaries?
In light of my immediate and long-term objectives for the class (which, in this case, were to improve my fitness), choosing to push through my pain and continue with it temporarily was more likely to result in the outcome I desired.
I concluded that choosing the unpleasant option was more in line with my purpose, and so selected it over staying comfortable during the lecture.
In my view, there was no correct or incorrect response to the preceding options. Rather than that, it is just an awareness of whether the decision I made was consistent with the final outcome I desired.
Therefore, why would you want to go outside of your comfort zone?
When you’re next exercising, whether it’s walking the dog, working out at home, or going to the gym, why not ask yourself this question?
What am I hoping to accomplish by participating in this exercise?
If your primary goal is enjoyment or leisure, you may be very ready to create an experience that is both pleasant and painless.
If, on the other hand, you’re trying to improve your physical or fitness level, consider the potential that some pain may be required to accomplish your goals.
Choosing a state of pain or comfort is not a judgment call; it is just a decision you make in order to get a result that is more aligned with your intended goal.
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