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Fitness requires being uncomfortable
This is the true athlete: the person in rigorous training against false impressions. Remain firm, you who suffer, don’t be kidnapped by your impressions! The struggle is great, the task divine — to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility.
-Epictetus
I have previously shared on social media that working out regularly in the gym has helped me combat and cope with symptoms of depression. On another layer of my life, becoming a gym rat has helped me practice and learn discipline in pushing my comfort zone.
Discomfort
Why do people stop going to the gym? It’s a decent survey question but I’d like to reflect here on reasons why I’ve wanted to quit: failure; backsliding (or losing progress); low self-worth/confidence; awkward interactions.
Ultimately, I would describe the pattern behind my desire to quit as evidence of a lack of intrinsic motivation. I wanted external benefits without appreciating the inherent benefits.
It took months of trying to make the habit, failing, and trying again to discover all the things that kept me feeling like I wasn’t making progress. The ebb and flow of motivation is something I expected and so here is what I can say I’ve learned: do hard things and make yourself uncomfortable.
