Growing Pains: Why Change Feels Uncomfortable but Necessary
Have you ever noticed how your old self cannot achieve your new goals? You dream big, set ambitious targets, and envision this future version of yourself. Future you is more confident, more successful, more fulfilled (has a hell of a lot more money). But in order to become that version, you have to change. And there is absolutely nothing comfortable about change.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that growth hurts. Not physically (although sometimes it does), but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
We crave improvement, yet we resist the discomfort that comes with it. We want the results without the growing pains.
The Discomfort That Comes Before Growth
Letting Go of the Past to Make Room for the Future
Change often requires leaving behind people, habits, or mindsets that once felt safe and familiar. I’ve gone through the pain of a breakup, and I like to pretend to be a heartless man eater sometimes but that breakup HURT LIKE HELL. But through that pain, I learned what it truly means to love and respect myself, to set boundaries, to make the hard choices that align with the better version of me and to never settle for less than I deserve. Heartbreak taught me self-worth, and that was worth every tear. (I’m still a thug and will deny boo hoo crying after that breakup and I hope he never reads this blog post…)The Physical Struggle Before Transformation
Waking up early, pushing through sore muscles, resisting cravings, it’s all painful. Changing your diet and workout routine isn’t just a test of willpower, it’s a battle between who you were and who you want to be. But on the other side of that struggle is the body you’ve dreamed of, the energy you longed for, and the proof that you are capable of more than you think.
The Fear of Failure and the Fight Against Imposter Syndrome
When I started putting myself out there, committing to modeling, sharing my dreams publicly here and on social media, I felt sick with doubt. Every post, every step forward came with a voice in my head whispering: What if you fail? What if people laugh? What if you’re not good enough? But what if I succeed? What if I’m better than I ever imagined? Fear and doubt will always be there, but they don’t have to control the narrative. (I wrote a whole blog post about this. You can find it here.)
How to Embrace Discomfort and Keep Moving Forward
Reframe Pain as Progress: Every challenge is shaping you into the person you are meant to become. Instead of focusing on how hard it feels, ask yourself: What am I learning from this? How is this making me stronger?
Detach from the Outcome: Sometimes, we resist change because we fear it won’t work out. Instead of obsessing over the end goal, focus on showing up every day and trusting the process. This isn’t always the easiest feeling, but you learn to push through it anyway.
Remind Yourself Why You Started: It’s so important to have a “why” for anything that you set out to accomplish. The discomfort is temporary, but the growth is lasting. Whenever you feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place.
Discomfort is not a punishment. It’s proof that you are evolving. So the next time you feel like quitting, remember: The pain of staying the same is far greater than the pain of growth. I hope to look back on my life with no regrets and to be appreciative of all of the hard work that present day me is putting in now and all of the risks that I am taking today.
What’s one uncomfortable thing you’re pushing through right now?
K, Bye!
