Embracing this one thing will completely change your life

I’m not a big fan of absolutes, friend, and I try to avoid hyperbole as much as possible. Know that when I say that “Embracing this one thing will COMPLETELY change your life,” I wholeheartedly believe it.

So what is this magical thing that when embraced has the power to completely transform lives, you ask?

Discomfort.

I can all but guarantee you that your life will only become harder and less fulfilling over time until you are willing to embrace discomfort. The shortest distance between where you are now and where you want to be next is the path of discomfort. (It’s just math.)

Pigeonholed in a dead-end job and you want to make a major career transition?

Embrace the discomfort of cold outreach.

Tired of feeling like crap, having no energy, and always battling brain fog?

Embrace the discomfort of having to exercise, eat broccoli instead of ice cream, and sleep 8 hours a night instead of binge-watching Netflix or YouTube until 3am.

Battling a nasty case of imposter syndrome, and you’re a recovering perfectionist afraid of failure?

Fail spectacularly on the most public stage imaginable (with as many cameras watching as possible).

If you follow me on Facebook then you may have seen that I posted this about how after 4+ years of intense physical & mental training and having the opportunity to compete on American Ninja Warrior – TWICE – I failed to have my run air. Again. And the producers made the right choice because my performance just wasn’t that good. (If I were editing the show I would’ve cut me.)

But at least I got this cool (but blurry) picture out of it. 😉

There is nothing further outside my own comfort zone than being in front of the spotlight with hundreds of people watching live in a flippin’ Superdome with all the lights on me, my name in giant letters right behind me, and at least 30 cameras trained on my face while I perform one of the hardest sports on the planet for which I had no background until just a few years ago. I’m supposed to be the guy BEHIND the cameras putting it all together.

Oh yeah…I’m also more than twice as old as most of the competitors. So there’s that.

Embracing this level of discomfort has completely changed my life. However, this journey to transform From Dad Bod to American Ninja Warrior didn’t begin January 1st, 2018. This journey actually began way back in 2012 when I signed up for my very first Tough Mudder.

At the time there was nothing further outside my comfort zone than an obstacle course race in the mountains where I had to crawl under barbed wire, swing from ring to ring over muddy water, dunk myself in ice water, or a myriad of other crazy obstacles along the way (not to mention actual electrocution). Yet making the decision to run that single race is one of the most clearly defined ‘Sliding Doors Moments’ in my life.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a ‘Sliding Doors Moment,’ it’s a seemingly inconsequential event that ends up becoming a major fork in the road for the future trajectory of your life. The term was popularized by the (mediocre) Gwyneth Paltrow film of the same name back in the late 90’s. (The concept is way better than the film, trust me.)

What has completely defined the last decade of my life – and not just actions or events but what has defined who I am at my core – all boils down to the single moment I was asked if I wanted to run a Tough Mudder…and I responded with “yes.”

Despite not having accomplished my ninja warrior goals (yet!), I can confidently say that my life has positively changed in so many incalculable ways because I chose to set a difficult goal that forced me to embrace discomfort – and more importantly transform my mindset around the concept (and fear) of failure.

I’m better at what I do as an editor, writer, and podcaster because I embraced discomfort.

I’m a more energetic father and a role model to my kids because I embraced discomfort.

I’m a more present spouse because I embraced discomfort.

And I’ve literally landed better gigs, dream jobs, and made more money because I embraced discomfort.

Because embracing discomfort ultimately leads to you becoming more CONFIDENT.

And once you have confidence, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

If you had told me 10 years after running my first obstacle course race (and roughly 25 races later) that I’d confidently be giving the motivational speech at the starting line of a Tough Mudder (off the top of my head with no script or rehearsal), I would’ve laughed you out of the room.

Yet just a couple months ago I found myself on the starting line giving the motivational speech.

Me giving the motivational speech at the starting line of a recent Tough Mudder.

This 77 second speech might appear simple at first glance, but it took me 10 years to develop the ability, the experience, and most importantly the confidence to give a speech like this in front of a bunch of strangers.

Searching For a Challenge (and a Community) That Can Change Your Life?

I shared all of this with you friend because I know transformational change is possible for you too.

I realize that an obstacle course race might not be your version of discomfort, but how do you know until you’ve given it a try? The good news is if you do want to give it a try, you don’t have to do it alone.

Over the next five months (July through December) I’ll be assembling a small group of those willing to embrace discomfort who want to train for their first (or next) Spartan Race or Tough Mudder. 

Here are some of the details:

• We’ll be training every other Sunday morning at various outdoor locations around the Los Angeles area
• The training sessions will last anywhere from 1-3 hours and mimic a lot of the conditions and obstacles on an actual course
• You will be pushed thoroughly into your discomfort zone, but in a safe environment surrounded by others supporting you along the way (Pro tip: This is an AMAZING way to build your network)
• The training will be designed and led by a 4-time American Ninja Warrior and 100-time obstacle course racer, so there isn’t a question about training or racing that we won’t have an answer for

There will be countless times during the training sessions where you’ll ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?!” But when you cross the finish line of your first Spartan Race and hang that medal around your neck, you’ll know.

And you’ll never be the same person after that.

Interested in learning more about joining my small group of Spartan trainees this summer and fall?

→ All you have to do is respond to this email saying “I want to learn more.”

This single email response could end up becoming your ‘Sliding Doors Moment.’

BTW…You Don’t Want to Miss Tomorrow’s Episode

If you’d like to hear a whole lot more about my own story discovering (and running) my first Tough Mudder, but more importantly if you want to know how these races have transformed millions of lives all over the world just like mine, keep an eye out for tomorrow’s brand new podcast interview with Sean Corvelle, a former actor & comedian turned motivational speaker who discovered his true calling as the starting line MC for Tough Mudder.