Do Hard Things

All too often, we shy away from things that seem too hard.

We convince ourselves we don’t have the time, energy or ability. Before we know it, we’ve spent another day safely inside our comfort zone—and somehow still feel unfulfilled.

What we may not realize is that we didn’t just miss an opportunity to challenge ourselves. We missed an opportunity to feel accomplished. To hit a goal, try something new, or look back and think:

“I did that!”

I see this with my personal training clients, health clients, friends, family—and sometimes myself.

We decide something will be too hard before we even try. If we’re willing to admit it, we’re often afraid of failing.

Thinking back to 14 years ago I was 100 pounds overweight and had undergone back surgery.

Left with one good disc in my lumbar spine, I was sick, tired, full of excuses—and terrified to try CrossFit.

I knew getting stronger would help me. I needed to lose weight, strengthen my body, improve my health and, most importantly, be alive for my daughter.

Knowing that didn’t make walking through those doors easy. I felt scared, ashamed and embarrassed—but I walked into Crossfit San Ramon and was immediately welcomed by an incredible community.

That one decision to do something hard changed the entire course of my life.

Doing hard things doesn’t have to be extreme.

Trying a new workout, changing the way you eat, making room in your schedule for your health, applying for a new job or walking into a room where you don’t know anyone.

Doing difficult things can be good for our brains, too. Learning unfamiliar skills promotes neuroplasticity, our brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. Manageable challenges can help build resilience as we learn that discomfort doesn’t always mean we need to stop. Progress and accomplishment also engage the brain’s reward systems, including pathways involving dopamine, which plays an important role in motivation and learning.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits comes when we prove our own fears wrong. Safely facing something that intimidates us gives our brain new information:

Maybe I can do this.

Then we do it again.

I can do hard things.

Our children need these opportunities, too. Trying a sport, auditioning for a play, walking into a party where they don’t know anyone or applying to a college they think is out of reach can feel enormous. We don’t always need to remove those uncomfortable moments. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give them is encouragement to try.

So here’s my challenge to you.

What have you wanted to do but convinced yourself is too difficult?

Before this year ends, promise yourself you’ll do something that seems hard.

Do hard things. Try new things. Believe you’re capable of anything.

You may succeed. You may fail. Every once in a while, one seemingly small decision to do something hard can change the entire course of your life.

I know, because it changed mine.