The Formidable is Family Show: January 6th. Learn how to be grateful for the hard things in life. It’s a free skill you can’t lose.

Gratitude, Growth, and Why Working Out Matters

Gratitude. When you’re truly grateful to be alive, it’s hard not to extend that gratitude to everything around you. In that state of mind, it feels natural to appreciate life in all its forms. Of course, we’re grateful for the obvious blessings: family, friends, and loved ones. We treasure the comfort of good food, the shelter over our heads, clean drinking water, and the simple luxury of warm showers. We marvel at the convenience of modern transportation, from cars to planes that can take us almost anywhere. And let’s not forget the miracle of grocery stores stocked with nearly everything imaginable.

We have access to an unprecedented amount of knowledge—nearly all the information humankind has gathered over millennia is at our fingertips. When you really stop to think about it, it’s almost mind-blowing how good we have it.

And the entertainment! Endless forms of storytelling, art, and expression, available whenever we want.

The Duality of Life

Like all things, life has two sides to every coin. Perhaps this duality—good and bad, yin and yang—is a universal truth. Or maybe it’s just a human perspective, our way of interpreting the world. Regardless, we tend to categorize experiences as good or bad, pleasurable or painful, comfortable or uncomfortable.

What becomes interesting is when we realize how the game of life works. And yes, life is a game—a game of improvement. Stagnation feels unnatural to us. We need purpose and progress. These can take many forms: physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and more.

And here’s the thing: the best way humans learn is through failure. Growth is almost always accompanied by discomfort. When things go wrong, when we’re angry, upset, or disheartened, that’s often when the seeds of progress are being sown—if we’re paying attention. That discomfort signals growth. At that moment, we face a choice:

  1. Push forward: Recognize the discomfort as purposeful and continue down the challenging path, knowing it will lead to improvement.
  2. Adapt and adjust: Understand that the discomfort is telling us to change our approach or environment, and learn from it.

Both paths lead to growth, and that growth is often impossible without the pain and discomfort that come with it.

Finding Gratitude in Discomfort

In this light, we can find gratitude even in our pain and discomfort. Not all the time, of course. That’s not realistic. But in the quieter moments, when we reflect on what our struggles have taught us, there’s peace to be found. Growth comes from embracing these moments of discomfort, understanding their purpose, and allowing them to shape us.

So how does this tie into working out? Exercise is one of the most tangible examples of this principle. Physical discomfort—the burn of a hard workout, the ache of sore muscles—is a clear signal of growth. It’s progress we can feel in real-time. Fitness challenges us, pushes us out of our comfort zones, and shows us the value of perseverance. It’s a microcosm of life itself: a process of continual improvement through effort, failure, and adaptation.

When we approach fitness with gratitude, it becomes more than just a way to stay healthy or look good. It’s a practice that mirrors the deeper journey of life—embracing challenges, growing through discomfort, and finding strength in every step forward. That’s something to truly be grateful for.

If your in need of some discomfort in your life… Just the right amount. And want a community of coaches, trainers, and people who will help you through it. Just reach out!

We’ve been hear in Canby over a decade helping people grow, be healthier and happier and enjoying it!

Personal training, nutrition, and group CrossFit classes; we’ve got it all. We’re on a mission to be the best gym in Canby. Let’s make this the year you stop waiting and start thriving. Your journey begins today—and we’re ready to walk it with you.

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