What is Difficult-Difficult and Difficult-Easy?
Written by Charissa Sutliff
Most of us in the fitness community – especially here at Invictus – likely enjoy challenging ourselves and pursue growth. Today I want you to consider the difference between what is “difficult-difficult’ and “difficult-easy”.
Difficult-easy are things in our lives that we do on the daily that are challenging, stressful, maybe irritating but it’s just the day-to-day stuff, and perhaps discomfort that is familiar. These are things that we do and take effort and energy but they don’t actually get us anywhere or learn anything. Difficult east stuff might be:
- I’m so busy!
- Starting yet another diet
- Getting back on track yet again
- Feeling spread thin, rushed, overbooked
- Feeling pulled by all the demands and distractions
- Feeling guilty or frustrated about “failing” or “screwing up”
- Self-criticism
- Taking care of everyone else but yourself
- *insert yours here*
Difficult-difficult are the things in our lives that are uncomfortable, terrifying, out of our comfort zone, unfamiliar BUT is truly growth promoting, where we will push our edges and GROW.
- Slowing down and being mindful
- Following an imperfect plan consistently
- Noticing and sitting with feelings without distractions
- Having a growth mindset
- Being okay with making mistakes and seeing that as feedback
- Letting go of perfection
- Taking a recovery day
- Asking for help
- Letting someone help you
- *insert yours here*
What is difficult-difficult and difficult-easy will be different for everyone.
Here are some questions for you to answer to find what yours are.
- What are you afraid of?
- What do you typically avoid?
- What’s deeply uncomfortable but could change your life?
- What’s the opposite of how you normally approach problems?
Now when you find your difficult-difficult…are you going to move toward that?
Here is a little story for you…
I didn’t set my sights on becoming a CrossFit coach. I was in management first, and was asked to consider stepping into a coaching role at a previous gym. During this time I was working on my nutrition certification and this was an exercise that we were asked to do. When I considered what my difficult-easy was and my difficult-difficult was…My difficult-easy was the daily grind of the current role I was in. I could do it, sometimes it was stressful, but it was just kind of like going through the motions daily. When I thought about stepping into a role as a coach…that was TERRIFYING to me. Coaching for me was stepping out of my comfort zone and something that would be truly growth promoting. I decided to accept the offer to become a coach.
What is your difficult-difficult?
What is the challenge that would be truly life changing?
What is worth stepping out of what’s familiar and being uncomfortable?