Do something uncomfortable

We all know that when we are challenged we grow even if it makes us uncomfortable. The Lord puts us in situations to learn and grow all the time, but do we really learn anything or continue in the same bad habits?

Years ago when I played High School football (Go Tempe Buffalos!) I learned to lift weights. Coach taught us proper technique, but I did what I wanted (t-shirt muscles) and only gave the minimum on those exercises I didn't like. Years went by and I began college and I continued to lift weights the same way I had "learned" in High School only now I was going to be a bodybuilder so I exercised even harder doing the same old things.

I pretty much continued this way for many years, then life caught up with me. I found that I would do yard work and wondered why my back hurt, I had neck problems, I couldn't do normal "man" tasks as well as I would have liked. I thought "What is wrong with me? I work out all the time and read fitness magazines, but I can't do this?".

Then I discovered Crossfit (www.crossfit.com). Crossfit totally changed the way I looked at fitness and weightlifting. In a nutshell, Crossfit is about functional fitness, overall total body fitness. It works you out like nothing else I have ever done and I can say that I am stronger now than I was in High School, and coach was right. All those exercises I should have done and didn't want to are incorporated in Crossfit. I learned my lesson quickly and am never going back.

I think many of us get caught in the same "thinking habits" on many issues. One that  I used to have is my relationship with the Lord. I thought I was doing the "steps" I needed to do to be in relationship. I prayed (irregularly) I never fasted, I went to church, I volunteered and I studied many books, however my relationship with the Lord and consequently my life was not in sync with God. After much prayer and talking to some great people who cared enough to challenge my way of doing things, I changed my habits. I spend regular time with the Lord now in prayer and even just listening and I have a dedicated study time for the word.

What a difference changing your way of thinking makes! I am so much more fulfilled and happy in my relationship and consequently in my life! Just like my coach in high school, I should have listened to those that told me how to live a fulfilled Christian life earlier!

Now I am well on the road to fundamental physical and more importantly spiritual fitness!

How about you? Do you have any negative thought patterns? Does your life continue to disappoint in specific areas or in general? What could you change to get you to the next level? I challenge you to spend some time seriously considering your life and then push forward and make changes.