What are we so scared of?

So, I was at the doctor this morning for a check up. All is well, thankfully!

After the doctor took blood, she asked me whether I wanted a band-aid or medical tape to put on my arm.

I asked her what would hurt less.

"Why is everyone so afraid of pain?!" she said. "Pain means you're alive!"

"We all need to enjoy pain more! Too many people are dying and would love to feel pain!"

I was thinking about that for a while after I left and it's so true. We fear pain. We fear that little prick a needle makes so much. We avoid it at all costs.

Yet in that moment as the needle is penetrating my skin I feel ALIVE alright!

And what is there to fear but fear itself?

Pain is good. Unless it kills us, it helps us grow. It helps us become stronger. "If I was able to deal with that, I can definitely deal with this!"

That perspective and that foundation and that insight is with us for the rest of our life.

Talk to someone who has faced some pretty tough things in their life and they'll have more depth and perspective than the person who hasn't.

Talk to someone who has lost a loved one and they'll have more depth and perspective about what it means to appreciate your loved ones now.

And on and on...

In every case, and the countless examples I can think of, the person who has experienced more pain and more discomfort has more to offer than the person who hasn't.

Which leads us to our everyday life. We get to experience and enjoy pain each day.

Yet, we'll do anything to avoid it.

When there is junk food and we say, "Heck no! I don't want that crap!" that's a type of pain. That discomfort makes us stronger. Yet, we're so scared to face that pain. To feel that discomfort.

When we're running or walking and our legs start hurting. Our feet hurt. Our mind wants to quit so badly. But we're only at 15 minutes. Or 25 minutes. Or 45 minutes. And we still have 15 minutes left. Are we going to avoid that pain? That discomfort? Or are we going to embrace it, and enjoy it?

When we're faced with a decision on whether or not to eat healthfully. What do we choose? The easy way out where this is no discomfort now? Or, the one where we face a tiny bit of discomfort up front and get to feel great later on for making the decision we really wanted to make!?

So today, I want us to seek pain. And when it's present, enjoy it. Be mindful of it. Crave it.

Because after all, feeling pain and discomfort means we're ALIVE!!!

-Adam