Two Kinds Of Pain

I got a new round of workouts last week. They are a little challenging as they always are at first. And boy, am I sore! I’ve had a dull ache in my arms and legs. But I know this pain and it’s good. It hurts because I’m growing. So, even though it’s not comfortable, I’m ok with it. Even though it hurts I keep going.

The other day, however, I did some sort of squat or lunge and felt a lot of pain in one of my inner thighs. I immediately stopped. Because I recognized that pain also, and it wasn’t a good thing.

That kind of pain was because I wasn’t warmed up yet and my muscles were straining. If I had kept going I would have pulled something and then been sidelined for a few days while it healed. I warmed up for a few minutes then resumed my workout without pain.

There are two kinds of pain: Some pain is good but some is bad. It’s important to know the difference. If you are experiencing pain because of growth, keep going, it’s part of the process. However, if the pain is caused by something else, figure out what adjustments you need to make to avoid serious injury.

That might mean adjusting your schedule, reallocating responsibilities, changing some relationships, or creating new habits and rhythms.

You learn from both kinds of pain. The good kind of pain teaches you to push through and overcome. The bad kind of pain teaches you what not to do in the future.

If you are experiencing pain, evaluate which kind it is and determine what you need to do to either keep going or what you need to change!