In a recent article I talked about the challenges I faced overcoming a herniated disc and some related nerve damage. That article was called How to Avoid Insanity and Stay On Course. Today I’d like to share another episode from that same challenging period of time.
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When it rains, sometimes it pours!
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While I was dealing with those issues, my wife was diagnosed with the torn rotator cuff tendon. This wasn’t just a small tear. It was a 1-inch hole right in the middle of her rotator cuff tendon. We’re talking about some serious PAIN here.
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During her surgery they found a huge bone spur, which was the cause of the torn tendon. The surgeon also discovered that the proximal tendon of her long bicep head was shredded beyond repair. So he cut that tendon loose, which means that part of her muscle would no longer be usable. More pain!
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As you can imagine, physical therapy was required to rehabilitate her shoulder and arm. And if you’ve ever been through physical therapy, you already know that it means… that’s right, more pain.
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You can pay now, or you can pay later
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Do you think that she let that PAIN stand in her way?
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Not at all! She consistently did every single exercise, every stretch, and every movement that was given to her, regardless of how much pain was involved.
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Why was she willing to endure that kind of punishment?
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What was the motivation behind her efforts?
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The thought of limited mobility and restricted function represented more pain than the temporary discomfort of rehabilitation.
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She was willing to embrace short-term pain as a means to her intended outcome.
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What would you have done?
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In speaking with her physical therapist, I was curious. I asked him, what percentage of his patients actually follow through to on the exercises that he gives them? You know, the stretches and the different progressive moves that will help them fully recover.
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His answer was disappointing, but not surprising. As it turns out only a small percentage of his patients are willing to push themselves into discomfort zone in order to continue making progress. Consequently many, many of them never fully recover.
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They wind up impaired, but not because recovery was impossible. Simply because they were not willing to experience a little temporary discomfort in order to regain what they would otherwise lose.
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What’s the lesson for us?
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Sometimes, making changes in our life, or overcoming adversity involves discomfort, even pain. If we remain in the comfort zone we lose. We may lose something we formerly had, or we may lose something that could have been.
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It might be an opportunity to gain some new knowledge, cultivate a new relationship, multiply our income or regain the use of a shoulder or arm.
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Whatever it is, sometimes a certain amount of discomfort is involved.
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In the area of personal development, we might call these growing pains. Learning new things, letting go of long held beliefs, and adopting new habits can seem uncomfortable. Change can be scary.
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Part of the growing process, is learning to let go of our old, familiar ways.
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Sometimes, No Pain = No Gain
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Or, as a friend of mine likes to say, “First comes the fear, then the blessing.”
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When you fall off the proverbial horse, do you get back on, or do you just lay on the ground and lick your wounds?
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When you try something new, and you and fail to get the results you wanted, do you give up or make adjustments and try again?
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If you where involved in a relationship that ended on a sour note, did you allow that to prevent you from ever having another close relationship?
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Life has its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows. The way we view such things and how we respond to them, has a great deal of influence on our quality of life.
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How do you see it?
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With the right mindset, adversity can even come to represent opportunity. Instead of a stumbling block we will see it as a challenge. When we embrace these challenges, we grow. When we see learn to constantly see opportunity in adversity, and to reach outside of the comfort zone to grasp it, we grow as a person.
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This form growth is not one-dimensional; it actually involves many aspects of our lives.
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We will grow emotionally, which is always a good thing. Our attitude will become more positive as we realize that some of the greatest benefits start by being willing to move outside of our comfort zone.
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We become better partners, whether it is in business relationships or personal relationships. We become more sympathetic toward the challenges faced by others, which puts us in a position to encourage them to see the opportunity as well.
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Don’t fear the discomfort zone!
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So how did things turn out for my wife? In only three months she has made an amazing recovery. The physical therapist cut her loose and verified that she was making excellent progress. He said she is in the top 1% of those who try to rehabilitate from such an ordeal.
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Is she still in pain? Naturally, as she resumes her former activities she continues to experience some discomfort. But she has her life back and the pain decreases with each passing day.
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Don’t let the thought of entering the discomfort zone stop you from having the life you want. Remember, first comes the fear, then the blessing.
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PS. There has been a shortage of comments lately. Why not step outside the comfort zone for a minute and leave one?
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You may also enjoy:
Release the Fear to Get Motivated
Are Self-Esteem Issues Holding You Back?
What Do You Think You Deserve?
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