If you want freedom, you'll find it through facing discomfort.

It's counterintuitive. You think that avoiding the hard things makes life easy. But actually, you’re creating your own chains.

Let me explain.

The way to make hard things easy, isn't to avoid them.

It's to put yourself in situations that are MORE challenging than the thing you're struggling with.

For example.

If walking for long periods of time is becoming difficult- most people just avoid the situations where they have to walk for that length of time.

Works for a bit but eventually this will only lead to not even being able to walk for short periods of time.

The solution? Start walking uphill. Start walking upstairs. Start jogging.

Increase the difficulty and discomfort. Even if its only a little at first.

After jogging uphill intentionally for awhile- walking long distances will become leisurely.

Your ability increases. Your freedom increases.

This concept applies to so much.

I hear all the time, people saying they can't do hot yoga because they're sensitive to heat or they get too hot.

Yeah. You will.. At first.

They key is lean into the discomfort of being hot and sweaty. Not avoiding it.

It starts out being miserable and you have to take breaks or walk out of the room to get water.

Then one day.. the heat stops bothering you so much.

Not just in the studio- in your life.

Pool days become more fun. Park visits with your kids become tolerable.

Because your ability to handle heat has increased & so has your freedom.

I can literally go jogging on 90 degree days and it feels amazing now.

Because your body adapts & your ability increases.

Anxiety, fear, nervousness. They are holding you back from freedom because YOU LET THEM.

Im not saying it's easy to do things scared.

I'm saying the exact opposite. Its HARD. Its miserable.

Until... its not.

The first few boundaries you set with someone will be HARD.

But your ability to set boundaries will increase & so will your freedom.

Whatever else it is that you're avoiding because your anxiety is telling you not to- the first few times of doing that thing will be hard.

But you'll become stronger every single time you chose to take control of your life & do it anyway.

Eventually it'll be easy.

Your ability to live your life without restraints increases.

The self made chains break away.

You become free.