Discomfort is a badge of honor in most areas of life. People grind through sleepless nights for their careers, endure grueling years of education for a degree, and even sit through mind-numbing family gatherings without blinking. But when it comes to fitness? Suddenly, a little muscle burn or inconvenient time is too much to handle. Why?
Let’s unpack why we accept struggle in most parts of life but avoid it when it comes to our fitness—and why flipping that mindset is the key to unlocking real progress.
We Worship the Hustle—Just Not in the Gym
We live in a culture where working overtime, pulling all-nighters, and “grinding” is seen as a mark of dedication. No one questions why a lawyer stays up until 3am preparing a case, or why an entrepreneur sacrifices weekends to build a business.
Yet, the moment someone suggests pushing through a tough workout, people start mumbling about “listening to their body” or “not having time” (which, let’s be honest, is usually just code for I don’t feel like it). You’re not always motivated in your job, but you show up and do it well anyway.
The truth is that growth—whether mental, financial, or physical—always comes with discomfort. The gym is no different.
Immediate Reward is a Myth
In work or school, people accept long-term payoffs. A student doesn’t expect a diploma after one week of classes. An employee doesn’t expect a promotion after one good project.
But in fitness? If someone doesn’t have a six-pack after 6 weeks of working out, they start questioning if it’s all worth it. Fitness operates on the same principle as any other success in life: consistency, struggle, and delayed gratification. If we applied the same patience to our fitness goals that we do in our careers, we’d see real results.
Our obsession with avoiding physical discomfort actually makes life more uncomfortable.
Skipping workouts leads to health problems, sluggishness, and chronic pain. Choosing convenience food over whole foods makes energy levels crash. The “easy” route feels good in the moment, but it costs us down the road. Meanwhile, those who embrace temporary discomfort (lifting heavy, sprinting hard, training even when motivation dips) get stronger, leaner, and ultimately, more comfortable in their own skin.
Rewiring the Mindset
So how do we shift our thinking? The answer is simple: stop treating fitness as optional discomfort. Instead, recognize it as a necessary form of growth—just like every other challenge you embrace in life. Stop looking for reasons why you can’t do it—you can’t do anything you don’t make time for and stay consistent at.
Quit looking for a way out of working for it.
Expect discomfort. Just like your job, relationships, and personal growth require effort, so does your body. Detach from instant gratification. Progress happens in months, not days.
Reframe pain. That burn in your muscles? That’s progress. That sweat? That’s your body leveling up. Work around limitations. That bum knee you got playing basketball 2 years ago? Not a good excuse to stop (and do I really need to say there’s a difference between the pain of discomfort and actual injury?).
What If We Stopped Making Excuses?
Imagine if we treated fitness the way we treat work deadlines. Imagine if we accepted soreness the way we accept stress. Imagine if we saw workouts as non-negotiable instead of optional.
The truth is, discomfort is the price of progress, no matter the field. The only difference is, in fitness, the rewards aren’t just external—they’re internal, long-lasting, and life-changing.
So the next time your brain tries to talk you out of a workout, remember: you’ve endured worse. You’ve pulled all-nighters, sat through pointless meetings, and dealt with rush-hour traffic. A 60-minute workout? That’s nothing. Embrace the burn. It’s the only way forward.
If you do feel confused about what to do for fitness, that’s ok. A lot of people do. Find a good coach that can teach you the skills you need, just like you went to school for your career. Confusion is not a reason to quit though.
Now go to the gym.
