No Pain, No Gain!
That quote is always a fun one to consider.
How hard do I push myself before it causes me so much pain I can’t continue?
That has been the question I have considered for the last (nearly) 2 months since a leg injury changed my life in an instant.
Having a controlled program for inflicting the good kind of pain – that is the secret to success!
For 11 days, I have joyfully experienced some of the most wonderful pain I can recall, as I have pushed my body once the doctors allowed me to begin bringing the pain to have all the gains.
I finally, gratefully, excitedly got to begin Physical Therapy (PT) on August 31, after 7 weeks in a leg immobilizer brace, which did not allow me to bend my knee even one little bit, it felt like absolute freedom to graduate to the hinge brace, forcing the achy bend of my surgically repaired knee.
Surgeon and Physical Therapists were surprised by my attack of the pain, since I had been prepped by all of my peers that PT is a torturous endeavor, I had meditated hourly for 49 days of pure immobilization, while staring at the ceiling fan in my bed, and made a Promise that I would thoroughly enjoy the process of leaning into the pain of PT once it began.
It has been incredibly freeing to have the program, know the steps to take, how far to push, how much to hold back, and receive the green light from the pros as to how to heal my body ASAP.
This is a process that can’t be cheated.
All I have to do is inflict a good kind of pain.
You either do the program and see results, or you don’t, and you literally can’t fool the body or therapist the following week, as you will be unable to get to the next level on a weekly basis if you don’t do this process fully.
The Promise is simply to show up for yourself every single day and never miss.
The Promise of consistency.
Don’t Forget Your Promise! That is perhaps the main key to every Promise you ever make.
What would you be willing to do, that would cause you literal pain, in order to gain freedom, success, progression and full function once again?
This metaphor of going through the good pain of PT has changed the way I think about daily tasks, the pain of doing the hard work first, and then doing the easy stuff later.
I am so grateful for all I have learned as a patient of a major surgery. It has opened my eyes to my tendencies of procrastination, my habits of doing the easy things first, cramming for the last minute exam or project, when all I had to do was a little bit each day to find the greatest success.
What one thing in your life could you Promise today that you will suffer a good pain in order to see freedom and joy in the next month, year, or decade?
One thing! Do it today! And then again tomorrow! Keep track, have an accountability partner, and remember: Don’t Forget Your Promise!
I’m headed back to the yoga mat.
BONUS Video – ICYMI – In Case You Missed It!
This was my first full performance after surgery, on Aug. 6, 2022 in Delta, UT with full leg immobilizer. A fun video for you.
~ Jason Hewlett
Husband, Father, Writer, Mentor, Hiker
- Speaker Hall of Fame * Award-Winning Entertainer * Promise Legacy Project Coach
- World’s Only Keynote Speaker utilizing entertainment, musical impressions, and comedy to Create Legendary Leadership through the Power of Commitment
- Author of “The Promise To The One”
4 Responses
Glad you are in PT. You are a trooper
Healing continues.
Many blessings
You are also a trooper my friend. My best to you with your event this week!
Go Jason!! You’re awesome (and pretty stinkin’ tough!) I loved the thought of ‘looking forward to the good kind of pain’. I’m going to remember that next time I have to face something hard!
I appreciate reading your posts each Monday and have worried about how you were doing! Hurry and get better and let’s get your family up on the lake for a weekend!
Oh my goodness! We were just talking about going up to the lake for Fall Break – or some time like that again. That was the best time ever, you and your family are so generous. We loved that wonderful day! Thank you for these encouraging comments my friend.