Take the Edge Off

I had my colonoscopy last week and of course had to do the icky prep that so many of us have had to do (isn’t getting older fun?). I had to drink that disgusting drink and a ridiculous amount of water within an hour. I decided the best way to do this would be to watch an episode of Hacks (HBO Max) while drinking the prep drink. I figured this way I would be a little distracted and watching comedy would likely to make the whole process a little less painful. It’s hard to believe I could laugh while doing colonoscopy prep–but I did. Which honestly is a true testament to the hilarity of Hacks. By watching the show while I drank the drink, I was telling my nervous system “this isn’t a big deal. Just a gross drink. But we can have fun and do our thing while drinking it” A calm nervous system is key to a happier life–I am sure of this.

The thing is, we can try to make hard things less hard. Let me say that again, we can try to make hard things less hard. While this may sound obvious, so many of us don’t do this. When working with clients I make an effort to point out when they are making things harder than they have to be. We often do this due to an irrational feeling that if it doesn’t feel hard, we aren’t doing it right. It’s the old fashioned idea of “no pain no gain”. Maybe it is a form of magical thinking. “If I don’t suffer it won’t work.”

However, we don’t have to prove our commitment to something by suffering. We don’t have to prove our worthiness through our blood, sweat and tears.

My clients don’t have to prove their worth to me. I see their value, potential and ability to do hard things while also being kind to themselves. I don’t buy into grind and hustle culture.  

Life is hard enough, let’s not make it any harder.