By: Nick Niedzwiecki
When was the last time you were a beginner at something? Not something you were already pretty good at. Not something comfortable or familiar. I mean something you genuinely didn’t know how to do.
When was the last time you had to ask questions? When was the last time you failed at something, tried again, and slowly figured it out?
For many of us, it’s probably been a while.
As we get older, we have a tendency to build our lives around things we’re already good at. We develop routines. We establish careers. We find hobbies we enjoy. We surround ourselves with familiar people and familiar places.
And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.
The problem comes when comfort turns into stagnation.
I believe we need to do something physically and mentally challenging every single day. That doesn’t mean you need to destroy yourself in a workout or completely change your life every morning. It simply means there should be moments in your day when you have to struggle a little bit. Moments when you’re uncomfortable. Moments when you have to figure something out. Moments when quitting would be easier than continuing.
We spend so much of our lives trying to eliminate difficulty. We want faster technology, easier transportation, more convenience, and fewer obstacles. But there is a point where making everything easier stops improving our lives.
Humans need challenge.
Think about the last time you learned a new skill. Maybe you tried to play an instrument, learned a new movement in the gym, started gardening, took up woodworking, ran your first 5K or tried something completely outside your comfort zone.
At first, you probably weren’t very good.
That’s the point.
Being a beginner forces us to be humble. It reminds us that improvement takes time. It teaches us to listen, learn, practice, and fail without immediately giving up.
Physical challenges teach many of the same lessons.
There is tremendous value in doing something hard when nobody is forcing you to do it.
Pick up something heavy. Walk farther than you normally would. Learn how to squat properly. Try your first pull-up. Sign up for a race. Go on a hike. Take a CrossFit class even though you’re nervous about walking through the door.
The specific challenge matters far less than the decision to challenge yourself.
Because the goal isn’t just to become physically stronger.
