Comfort vs. Results

"I need to ask you right up front--what's more important to you: being comfortable or getting results?"

These were the words spoken to me by my personal trainer when I was reporting the outcome of my latest cardio workout.

It was a tough question.

Though she hadn't said it specifically, I knew she was disappointed in my workout--I could have pushed harder, gone further, done more...but I hadn't.

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I met Caroline six months ago when we were both attending a community event in Las Vegas. She sat across the aisle from me, and I couldn't stop staring at her. She was so beautiful! She had a perfect body--beautiful posture--she was breathtaking.

As someone who has always been self conscious of my looks and body, I developed a lifelong habit of keeping away from people like Caroline. I thought people like her were self centered (wouldn't you have to be to spend so much time on your body?) and conceited (I wasn't in the same league, we both knew it, so it was best to just keep apart).

But my Beyond Freedom and my involvement in the community changed all all that.

Beyond Freedom taught me that all those voices and labels were 100% in my own head. Caroline was a person just like me--she had her own likes and dislikes, her own interests and talents, and her own insecurities.

And Beyond Freedom taught me that you must consciously seek after those who have what you want. If you want to be rich, hang around people who are rich. If you want to be happy, hang around people who are happy. If you want to be healthy, hang around people who are healthy.

So that day I did something I never in my 38 years could possibly have imagined I would ever do: I went up to her and told her how beautiful she was.

Not in a pick up way, of course! I simply told her that I noticed her, that I admired her, and I had wanted to meet her.

And, of course, she was delightful. I pumped her brain for advice on exercise, diet, and a healthy lifestyle. She gave me her card and told me to call if ever I needed any help--business, fitness, or otherwise.

Now, six months later, she has become one of the surest blessings of my life. She is helping me get in shape, and she is asking me the tough questions:

"Don't laugh, I really need to know the answer so that I know how to plan your workouts."

It was hard. In that moment, I had to make a decision. What did I really want? How hard was I willing to work for what I said I wanted? If I really want results, I must do what it takes to get them. Period.

I have been pondering Caroline's question for several days now (in between and even during the brutal workouts she is giving me so that I can achieve my goals--yes, that was my decision), and it occurred to me that her question to me is actually THE question of life:

What do you want more: to be comfortable or to achieve results?

Unfortunately, the majority of the population will choose comfort. Achieving results--in school, in business, in relationships, in fitness, in any area of life--after all, is hard work. It's hard to do things you've never done before. It's hard to quiet those voices in your head that tell you you're not good enough and you can't do it. It's hard to give up your ego, become humble, teachable and trainable in a new way of thinking and living.

But the results? Oh, the results are sooo worth it.