We live in a world of convenience. With just a few taps, we can get food delivered, binge-watch entire seasons of TV shows and avoid almost any kind of discomfort. Who would have thought that this would have been possible years ago? Actually, it's a tad hard to remember what life was like without all of these conveniences at our fingertips. My son always laughs at me when I tell him cartoons used to only be available on Saturday mornings-ha! While ease can feel good in the moment, it rarely leads to growth-mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. In fact, it’s often the hard things we avoid that hold the key to becoming stronger, more capable and more fulfilled.
Doing hard things doesn’t just test your limits- it rewires your brain and transforms how you see yourself and the world. In the book, Do Hard Things by Steve Magness, he discusses how experiencing discomfort, leaning in, paying attention and creating space to take thoughtful action can be the true indications of cultivating inner strength. His book is so thoughtful and well written-a modern offering of sorts on ways to think about this topic in a different light.
Building Mental Resilience
When you push through discomfort-whether it's waking up early to train, having an uncomfortable conversation, or starting something you're scared of-you strengthen your mind’s ability to handle stress. Each time you face resistance and move forward anyway, you're telling your brain: "I can do hard things."
Over time, this becomes your identity.
This is called mental resilience-the ability to keep going when things get tough. It's not something you’re born with. It’s built through action. Repeatedly doing hard things trains your nervous system to tolerate pressure and uncertainty, making you more grounded and adaptable in all areas of life.
Rewiring Your Self-Belief
There’s a powerful psychological shift that happens when you do something difficult- especially something you thought you couldn’t do. Every time you push through doubt or discomfort, you create evidence for your brain that you are capable.
This shapes your self-image. You stop seeing yourself as someone who "can’t" or "won’t"-and start seeing yourself as someone who shows up, fights through, and finishes strong. This internal narrative becomes the foundation for confidence, discipline, and self-respect.
How Doing Hard Things Fights Anxiety and Stagnation
Ironically, avoiding hard things often leads to more anxiety-not less. The more we shield ourselves from challenge, the smaller our comfort zones become. The mind starts overestimating risk and underestimating our ability to handle it.
On the flip side, leaning into difficulty expands what we believe is possible. We learn that fear doesn't mean "stop"-it just means we're about to grow. And that creates real freedom: the freedom to act in spite of fear. For some inspiration on fear, take a moment to revisit my blog post, Wading Into Your Fears.
Discipline Becomes a Form of Self-Love
Discipline gets a bad rap. But at its core, it’s not about punishment- it’s about self care. Doing the hard thing-eating clean, saying no when you mean no, moving your body, showing up consistently-is how you show love to your future self. I believe that it all starts with self love-easier said than done-it takes practice. For inspiration in doing so, check out my Self Love Mantra Cards.
Over time, discipline transforms from a chore into a gift. You stop needing motivation because you've built a system of internal trust: you do what needs to be done, even when it’s hard.
Doing hard things isn't just a personal challenge-it's a path to becoming someone you’re proud of. The more you lean into discomfort, the more capable, calm, and confident you become. Growth doesn't come from comfort. It comes from the stretch.
So the next time you face something hard, don’t run. Lean in. (I know it's hard, but you can do it!) Your future self is already thanking you.
Journal prompt: What is a time that you found growth from discomfort?