Good Pain

One would think pain is never a good thing or sign, but I think this depends on the source or cause. Perhaps even the perspective. Pain can be a tool for our physical and mental well being, because as a law of physics states, for every action there is a reaction. What I mean by this is a broken heart will make you stronger and wiser mentally, and a damaged joint or broken bone will make you stronger and wiser physically. They will both hurt big time, but at the same time teach us how to adapt and progress and provide us with the ability to find the resources within ourselves to succeed no matter the challenge or situation. But the thing is, if you don't use pain as a tool, and perhaps a source of inspiration, it can remove so much of who you are and what you are. The point I'm trying to make here is never let pain win. This is from my own perspective in regards to training and how I deal with it, but I know people in my life that are in chronic pain and suffer a lot. The thing is they don't give up. They continue to push and fight and adapt and never use it as an excuse to stop, this inspires me so much to never give up and never let anything mess you around. I am humbled and inspired by these people, and excuses have no place, unless you let them.

Lately when I have been training I feel pain from sore muscles and parts of my body that have lost their flexibility due to my own neglect of discipline. Now right there I could just say, ah there's no point to this and I really shouldn't push myself like that anyway. I can't do this so perhaps I'll just go sit down and pound some unhealthy food into me and watch something stupid on TV.

Or I could be very excited about the fact that my muscles and joints are sore because that's progressing towards machine like awesomeness. I can teach my self that in order to overcome this pain, I need to discipline myself to stretch after my work outs and warm up properly beforehand to insure I don't blow out a joint or tear a muscle. I can eat certain foods, take vitamins and supplements, and hydrate properly to help keep that sore away and keep the equipment running smooth. Sure things still hurt at times, but sometimes it's better, for me anyway, to work through the pain and not use it to stop completely. Other times I have no choice, I have to stop. But when this happens, I use that disadvantage to heal properly and figure out another way to train because when you stop everything, you lose everything you worked through the pain for. It inspires me to educate myself on the bodies workings and push myself to get back on the horse and drive those spurs in. I just look at all of things I have accomplished in my Kung Fu, and to me a little pain goes a long way. I get excited when I feel that sore muscle pain and wise up quick when I feel those joints talking to me, because it's progress not a reason to quit or slack off. See you at the Kwoon.