I did NOT want to go to the gym on Tuesday! 

We had a nor'easter, and it was gross outside, and I was very comfy on my couch under a blanket.  

However, when the time came, I put my sneakers on and headed out.

Why? 

Because on Sunday, I put my gym time in my calendar. 
The Steph, who made my plans for the week, wanted to get her 3 lifts in. 
The Steph , who put those workouts on her calendar in bold letters, knew she could do it.
That Steph was working towards her goals. 

Yesterday's Steph was trying to tell herself that it didn't matter if she didn't go. 
Was trying to tell herself, “fuck it…just stay home!” Was trying to convince herself that it was way too yucky to walk to the gym (it's literally right around the corner from my apartment! LOL!).
Was trying to tell herself that she was too tired to workout.

Thankfully, through life coaching, I have learned that is what our brains do.

It’s that darn motivational triad!
*Seek pleasure
*Conserve energy
*Avoid pain

Yesterday morning, my brain was trying to convince me to continue with the pleasure of sitting on the couch under a blanket. 
It was trying to protect me from the "pain" of going out in that awful weather.
It was trying to convince me to conserve my energy.

It was trying to keep me from feeling uncomfortable.  

However, I know from doing this work that I would be uncomfortable either way. 
I was going to be uncomfortable when I came out from under my blanket. 
I was going to be uncomfortable outside in the yuk.
I was going to be uncomfortable in my workout.

BUT, if I had allowed myself to miss my workout, I still would've been uncomfortable!

I would've been annoyed at myself.
I would’ve been disappointed when I looked back and saw that missed workout.
I most likely would’ve told myself I had been a big baby, lol!

It’s not like I was sick or anything. (If that had been the case, I would’ve changed my plan.)
Nope, that wasn’t it at all.

I reminded myself that I get to choose which uncomfortable feelings I want to have.  
I reminded myself that I could 100% do the things I committed to doing when feeling uncomfortable. 
I reminded myself that the feeling was just a sensation in my body.
It would not kill me. 

So, off I went…

And, lo and behold, I was only uncomfortable for a very short period of time….because like I said…LITERALLY right around the corner!
Once I got into the gym and started, I had a fucking amazing workout!
Yes, I was uncomfortable because I really pushed myself, but that was a good uncomfortable feeling!!

Choosing the uncomfortable feeling that we want to feel shows up so very often in our lives, but we usually don’t have the awareness to recognize that.  

We aren’t taught to recognize it.

Times like-
*Getting out of bed when the alarm goes off or hitting snooze multiple times-
Uncomfortable because you didn’t sleep well or uncomfortable because you start off the day later than you planned.

*Staying in an unhappy marriage or figuring out ways to leave it-
Uncomfortable because your day-to-day life is not what you want or uncomfortable because you have to have hard conversations and make hard decisions. 

*Going to college because that’s what you’re “supposed to do” or telling your parents that you don’t want to-
Uncomfortable because you are going against what you know is right for you or uncomfortable because your parents may be mad at you.

Selling your family home of 20 years (because it's way too big for 2 people and your husband wants a short commute..I’m just saying. LOL!) and move to a new city or stay put because that’s what you know- 
Uncomfortable because you move to a new area and have to learn how to live in the city or uncomfortable because you know you are being selfish and scared. 

Reaching out to me for help or keep putting it off-
Uncomfortable because you don’t know how to make changes in your life or uncomfortable because you are going against your comfort zone and asking for help.

I hope this has helped you to gain some awareness!
I hope you recognize that you have choices!
I hope you recognize that you 100% can continue to move towards your goals even when feeling uncomfortable! 

Because being uncomfortable is just a way of life! 

It doesn’t have to stop you!!     

Feel free to respond with questions or to let me know what uncomfortable feeling you are going to choose today!  I’d love to hear from you!

Also, let me know how I can help you by responding or clicking on the link to schedule your free 30-minute (no obligation) consultation today.