“No Pain – No Gain”

I was a young adult in the 1980’s when the saying “No Pain, No Gain” was used as an exercise motto that promised greater value rewarded for the price of hard and even painful work.  Under this conception, it is implied that I am required to endure pain (physical suffering) and stress (mental/emotional suffering) to achieve excellence. 

My last couple of rounds of golf have not been very pretty – in fact, they have been downright UGLY!!  My swing has been off, my putts are not anywhere near the hole, and my timing has lagged.  

I guess I could say the rounds were downright painful! 

Which has me asking myself can this catchphrase of “No Pain – No Gain” be applied to my golf game, with the end result leading to improvement?   

I mean come on….I already have the Pain.  I now just need the Gain – right?

In terms of using this expression and applying it for development of my game, what I really am asking myself is:

What discomfort must be caused that will then be beneficial in improving my golf game?

We already know I am experiencing pain with my game – at least recently! 

But seriously….what painful approach or process can I take to my golf game now in an effort to have successful gains later? 

I admit it may sound a little crazy, but bear with me – I am leaning towards the belief that this strategy supports the thinking of “delayed gratification” and “frustration tolerance” that is most probably essential in my game.

For one thing, I know I can increase my golf practice time.  I need to spend more time at the range just practicing.  

And by practicing I mean…

a) Practicing with clubs I’m not competent with;
b) Practicing skills I’m not confident of;
c) And practicing swinging a club in ways that I’m not familiar with. 

This most certainly is going to lead me to make more mistakes and be more uncomfortable – i.e. experience pain. 

And I recognize that I will never get better at playing golf on the golf course without stretching myself to uncomfortable places on the practice range.

I guess if I am looking for the desired effect of a better golf game, then it speaks to the importance of the suffering and pain I must endure in practice to achieve my ultimate goal!

If this “No Pain-No Gain” can work with my golf game, can it work in my daily life too?

Reflecting on the pain I have experienced from challenges in my life that I have faced, setbacks I have experienced, and the “unexpected crap” that has happened to me, I wonder – have I gained from any of it?

I would venture to say that although I might not necessarily always say I am thankful for the pains I have encountered, more likely than not, when I have arrived at the other side of the pain, I most certainly have been left with some gains.

Life is full of pain.

• Investing money in the stock market and then losing it = PAIN.  The gain is I have learned a lesson for my next investment. 
• Loss of a Loved One = PAIN.  The gain is my personal growth, insight into myself.

When I am in the middle of some kind of pain in my life, it is sooooo hard to think that the hurt, anxiety or discomfort I am feeling could be an amazing gain in the end.  

But I’m here to tell you, I’ve experienced it and can honestly say the gains I have encountered after some of the “painfull stuff” that has happened in my life…is really unbelievable.

I guess in its basic form, the saying “No Pain – No Gain” is a reminder to us all that anything worth pursuing in life has a cost.

So, my food for thought is when life gives you sour “painful” lemons, don’t make lemonade – instead, bite that lemon!  Learn from the bitter taste, embrace those puckered up lips, and gain all the knowledge you can from that lemon encounter.  Then, the next time life gives you that painful unpleasant lemon experience – go golfing!

My Reads from the Reds – Knowing Pain is the Gain in golf and life.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting!

Written by Kathy Festa