Have you ever worked out so intensely that, within 24 hours, your body is screaming at you in utter revolt against the misery you bestowed on your person?
I have (usually following a leg workout), and I’m sure many of you have as well.
If you’re like me, talking about the agony of post-workout soreness flows like water from the sink faucet. But when it comes to our willingness to share our fears, anxiety and angst, the words get stuck in our throats.
Sure, letting a friend know your legs are trashed trips off the tongue, while we swallow down our emotional pain otherwise.
Many men lack the experience or the innate comfort to acknowledge when problems arise. After all, we’re supposed to be tough, able to withstand the trials and tribulations of whatever life hands us. Right?
Well, the way I see it, being the ‘strong silent type’ is a potential formula for disaster. Life is challenging enough without having to stuff all the fear, anxiety, and panic (did I just say panic?) inside to fester and keep me up all night.
What sense does it make to live in misery when there are pathways out? What if we normalize and accept that, sometimes, we don’t have the tools necessary to manage new experiences?
I’m a big fan of hiring experts to help me face new challenges. Throughout my career, I’ve elicited the help of several coaches to help me pioneer avenues that were uncharted for me. I’ve also sought the help of therapists when I felt I needed the support and lacked the ability to do so on my own.
And when I decided to resume playing trumpet after nearly 50 years away, I could have just grabbed a copy of Arban’s (the trumpeter’s bible) and began at page one. But instead, I sought out a teacher to help me avoid bad habits and get back in an appropriate manner.
Feeling the burn is ok. In fact, it’s our body’s way of letting us know we are not in a happy place.
The question is, what are you going to do about it?
