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Pain: The Unexpected Teacher
With age comes experience, wisdom, and pain.
Emotional pain : like losing a loved one.
Physical pain : like dealing with a nagging injury.
Mental pain : the realization that yesterday isn’t coming back.
(Okay, that sounds dark, so let’s lighten the mood.)
While we physically cannot change the results of the past, we can affect the results of the future. Use your wisdom and experience to alleviate the pain you’re currently experiencing. It was former (fictional) champ Clubber Lang who predicted “Pain.” And the great philosopher Google explains, “Let the past be a lesson, not limitation.”
Someday today will be the past, and it’s time for the future stories of triumph to be written now. Don’t get lost in the timeline, the point is today is the day you can start the next phase of your life.
Your wisdom tells you that taking 15 minutes to read a book you’re interested in is a good idea. For example, check out Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience — a powerful read that teaches you how to unlock happiness and productivity.
Your experience informs you that if you slightly alter your workout routine, you’ll improve your nagging injury. Supplement your recovery with Dymatize Elite Whey Protein for muscle repair, or Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate to improve endurance and strength.
And your past pain? That’s an invaluable education on how to move forward.
Use your time to experience life and increase your wisdom. You’ll know it’s working if it’s a little painful. Growth always comes with resistance.
Competition
Yes, you’re in a competition. Someone else out there has the same goals, desires, and dreams as you.
But here’s the truth : your real competitor isn’t them, it’s you.
Football champion coach Pete Carroll once said:
“The only competition that matters is the one that takes place within yourself.”
The biggest obstacle in your way isn’t another person. It’s your own self-doubt, inner critic, and fear of failing.
Their success has nothing to do with your progress. Good for them. But better for you, because your journey is yours.
Here’s a simple strategy to keep winning against yourself:
Set realistic goals: Write them down. Reflect on them. Try tools like a habit planner or journal to stay consistent.
Perform better today versus yesterday: Wake up on time. Prepare your meals instead of ordering out. Use supplements like EVL Pre-Workout to power through your training and stay consistent.
Pay attention to what works for you: Track your progress, and don’t be afraid to tweak routines.
Remember that failing at a new experience is good for you: We only improve after actually trying.
Practice forgiveness: Be kind to yourself when you fall short, then get back at it.
Here’s a link to a great study on the effects of self-talk: The Science of Self-Talk.
Don’t compete with the man next to you. Compete with the man you were yesterday.