Photo by: CNN
Change with impactful results rarely happens when everything feels comfortable. The greatest athletes separate themselves by pushing themselves physically and mentally, even when it makes them uncomfortable. Kobe Bryant embraced discomfort throughout his career through constant training and holding himself to a higher standard. Kobe once said, “If you are going to be a leader, you are not going to please everybody. You have to hold people accountable, even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable.”
While some others may have been satisfied with having the talent to play at the NBA level, Kobe worked tirelessly to push himself to the next level. This was far from easy; early morning workout and countless shots put up in practice. But these efforts separated him from other players. He realized that being in these uncomfortable situations led to his improvement.
One thing one of my good friends has always said is, “be comfortable being uncomfortable.” He stressed the point that nothing that’s worth it in life comes easy, so it’s best to be comfortable in those uneasy moments. That sounds like a complete contradiction, but it’s really not. It means that you need to be prepared to go through the hard moments to reap the rewards of your work.
This mindset will lead you towards success because most worthwhile goals are no easy task. No matter what you are striving to do, there will be moments that test your patience and discipline. Starting a business, going to school to be a doctor, or pursuing any long-term goal all require a lot of time and hard work in uncomfortable situations. The most important part of reaching any goal is to stay committed and push through the hard times, even when progress may feel slow.
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