Run to the roar

I’ve been pregnant six times. Six babies. In each of these pregnancies, there came a point where I was really uncomfortable. I was using the bathroom all the time and sleep was elusive. My heartburn raged, it hurt to walk, and breathing had become a chore. I was not exactly a pleasure to be around. For the baby who was inside of me to get outside of me, I had to go through labor.

There was no way around it. I could read books and articles, practice meditation techniques, talk to my doctor, commiserate with my friends and family, and even become a google-expert on the stages of labor…but none of that was going to get the baby out. I had to endure labor. I didn’t want to. I was scared every time. Even though I would have preferred a stork delivery, I eventually went into labor.

OUCH.

Thankfully, I had six healthy babies. Although the labor was painfully intense, it didn’t last forever. And a darling baby waited on the other side.

One of the beautiful things about childbirth is that your body goes into labor, and your feelings don’t stop it. You cannot talk yourself out of doing it. You cannot shrink in the face of it. The baby has to be delivered.

Life is very similar. There are so many opportunities for growth, but unlike labor…our body doesn’t force us into the pain and discomfort. That is a choice we get to make.

We typically try to avoid feeling uncomfortable. We convince ourselves that failure is bad. We run away from awkward situations. We are scared of things that are uncertain and unknown. We become masters at keeping ourselves “safe”. We shrink.

This is what shrinking can look like:

—we stay at a job we hate because we tell ourselves it’s too late to change now

—we don’t audition (for whatever!)

—we never voice our own opinions, especially if others don’t agree

—we don’t learn new skills (like cooking, piano, painting, restoring old cars) for fear that we will fail

—we don’t set goals.

It’s not great, right? Is this what you want?

A long time ago, my mom told me a story about lions and how they hunt. The male lion stays on one side of the prey. The lionesses go quietly to the opposite side. The intimidating male roars and the hunted animal runs away from him. Unfortunately, he runs right toward the lionesses, who are waiting eagerly. What is the lesson?

Run to the roar.

In life, you do have a choice. You can choose to feel uncomfortable and awkward. You can go for it, knowing that failure isn’t a problem but a great teacher. What would change in your life if you really believed that? What would you do if you could embrace feeling uncomfortable? Would you apply for a new job? Would you change careers completely? Work less? Work more? Go on more dates? Ask the person you like on a date? Take a vacation? Take a class? Try a new recipe? Audition for a play? Sing a solo? Move to a new state? Apologize? Sell your house? Call an old friend? Forgive someone?

The quickest way to feel good is not around the discomfort but through it.

Run to the roar.