02 Feb Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
By: Danny Bellmore
Our very own human nature seems to direct us away from anything that sends us out of our comfort zone. Discomfort has no prejudice and it will approach you from all angles with varying intensity. What I have found through years of trial and error is this:
When I do things that I pretty much suck at, or I am very uncomfortable with, I seem to get better overall. Being uncomfortable can and will make you better.
[wa-wps]When I received my first program from Brian Carroll, I had noticed that he programmed conventional deadlifts. I emailed him back immediately and told him, “I pull sumo.” Brian’s response was, “I know.” I knew what I had to do, especially because I sought out Brian’s programming and had to trust that he had a plan that would make me better….and uncomfortable, but definitely better. At this point you should take into consideration that I totally suck at conventional pulls. I have had no desire to even attempt a conventional pull since my very first training cycle in the early 90’s. I followed the plan, endured the discomfort, and improved my pull from 622 to 661 with a back that is less than 100% (spinal fusion on 3 levels). Thirty-three pounds made me a believer.
I am a big advocate at doing what you suck at and often. Dealing with that adversity will make you better at the things – all things….powerlifting and beyond – that you want to attain success in. There are a few reasons why people will not follow this path.
1. Laziness – People tend to be on the lazy side. I’ve overheard people say that if they must work “that hard” then the sacrifice is not worth it. I am here to tell you things that come easily are less respected and taken for granted. There is a sense of satisfaction knowing you busted your ass to achieve and EARN your goals.
2. Ego – There is a huge ego problem and I witness lifters that hesitate to take a step backwards to move three steps forward. They don’t want to be seen in the gym doing less than their best. The gym is where you set goals for yourself, and with yourself rather than worry about what anyone thinks. Ego will never make you better or stronger. Complacency is the foundation of ego. For the person not wanting to improve, in every way possible, at every opportunity possible.
3. Fear – Fear can become debilitating to the point you never progress. I’ve seen the fear of failure limit so many lifters and people alike. Let me tell you – we ALL fail, learn to deal with it. You do not have to accept failure, but it will forever be the best teacher. You will produce the best results if you can grow from these failures and apply what you learned from failing, the next time around. Fear of injury can hamper progress as well. If you plan smart, train smart and implement best self-care practices you will be less prone to injury. Have a good plan and stay compliant.
From what I have witnessed the people who are willing to take a risk and try new things are the ones who succeed. The success may not come overnight, but in time you will gain momentum little by little and achieve your defined goals.
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