I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately… self-inflicted misery.

In three weeks I will be competing in my third physique show. Preparation for this show includes: strict diet (although I would bet I eat more than most of you reading this), rigorous workouts 5 days a week, mental and physical fatigue, and a constant stream of “No thank you’s” when offered food/snacks/drinks I would LOVE to otherwise have!

To be totally honest, I am miserable right now, but this is the result of the choices I am making. I choose to be miserable because it’s what is required to achieve my goal; and here’s what I realize… this is the prerogative of every adult and of power of choice. You and me… we have the right to choose our misery… and the choices we make will lead us to misery of one form or another.

OH GOSH! That sounds so awful!

Well here’s the thing…

if you choose to do nothing you will be miserable from the pain of atrophy.

If you choose to do something you will be miserable from the pain that growth requires.

Some examples…

Financial misery:

• If you choose not to work… you must endure the misery of poverty.
• If you choose to work hard and save… you must endure the misery of missing out on the little “extras” that your friends are having/doing while you work and save.

Physical misery:

• If you choose not to exercise and to eat anything you want whenever you want… you must endure the misery of weakness, shortness of breath, and growth in places you don’t want to see growth!
• If you choose to exercise, rest, and eat healthy… you must endure the misery of food planning, extra time for exercise, etc.

You get the point.

Here’s the thing…

One misery is followed by nothing but more misery while the other misery is followed by satisfaction and reward!

You are an adult. You get to choose what your misery will be. Will it be misery that makes you bitter, or will it be misery that makes you better?

On the surface I am miserable right now, but deep down in my belly… I am really content. I am happy. I am content to be miserable because I know what lies on the other side of this misery… a transformed body, but more important than that… a transformed man.

So, what do you choose today? What’s your misery?