Pain vs Discomfort

https://unsplash.com/@nikkotations

I used to do yoga every day. It was a big part of my routine and how I stayed healthy. In yoga, discomfort is okay. It means you’re growing; you’re pushing yourself in the right way. When you sit in the discomfort eventually your body adjusts and you are able to do new things you never could before.  

In yoga, discomfort is good, pain is not. Pain means something is wrong and in yoga it’s pretty easy to tell the difference between pain and discomfort. You can feel it right away - something’s wrong. It’s sharp. It hurts. Your instincts pull you back because you know it’s not good for you.

In life, it’s not so easy. I believe we have the same instincts but it is so much harder to pull back. We feel it. It’s sharp. It hurts. Yet - at least for me - it’s so much harder to pull back so I sit in it thinking I’ll adjust. Thinking. Waiting. I’m only now realizing that I’m not adjusting because I’m not meant to. 

I’ve talked to a lot of people this week who are tired and overworked. In 2020 it seemed like the world slowed down and we remembered what was important. We took walks. We did puzzles. We made a point to connect to the people who were most important to us. In 2024, it’s like it never happened. We’re back to the corporate grind and for what?

I used to do yoga every day.

I used to run every day.

I used to drink coffee by the fire in the morning.

I used to hang out with my friends.

I used to be happy and healthy.

In yoga, if you feel pain you pull back (sometimes I’ve literally said out loud nope, that’s not going to work). You change positions. You try something different. If you’re in a class, you ask the instructor for help. If it is still painful, you stop. I don’t know if anyone needs to hear this today, maybe I’m just talking to myself and that’s fine, but if you are also in pain…

Say no.

Pull back.

Change positions.

Try something different.

Ask for help.

And if all that fails… quit.