“This Sucks.” — Good. Keep Going.

You know that moment in class — somewhere between the 40th burpee and your soul leaving your body — when you look at me with wide, panicked eyes like I just asked you to jog barefoot to Canada?

Yeah. That’s the moment.

The one where your brain screams, “This sucks!”
And I say, “GOOD.”

Because that’s where the magic happens.

Let me say this loud for the people in the back who are still pretending to “tie their shoe” during jump squats: If you want results — I’m talking real, undeniable, “dang-are-you-training-for-a-movie?” type results — you have to go past the point where it’s comfortable. Growth doesn’t live in your warm-up. Progress is not hanging out in your comfort zone sipping electrolyte drinks and scrolling Instagram.

Nope. It’s living in the pain cave. And it invited you in.

Science Backs Me Up, So Don’t @ Me

Research shows that doing hard physical things actually rewires your brain. Pushing past limits activates brain areas related to focus, emotional regulation, and even resilience. You’re literally training your body and your mind to stop being a little quitter and start being a savage.

So next time you’re tempted to slow down when it gets hard? Remember:

• That’s your brain trying to stay safe.

• But you’re not here for “safe.” You’re here for strong.

“But Jamie, it hurts.”

Yes. That’s kind of the point.

You think muscles just politely appear because you asked nicely and did a few light reps while catching up on Bachelor spoilers? No. Muscles come from chaos. Your body breaks down to build up. Just like life.

You’ve got to train your brain to see hard as good.

When it gets awful — when you're sweating from your ears and seeing stars during kettlebell swings — you don’t stop. That’s when you dig deeper. You find the version of yourself that doesn’t quit. That version is buried under the doubt, the fear, the excuses. And guess what? Every time you hit that point and keep going, you’re chipping away at everything that’s holding you back.

TL;DR: If It Sucks, You're Doing It Right.

So the next time you’re in class, and your legs feel like noodles, your lungs are screaming, and your internal monologue is just one long string of curse words…

Smile.
You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

See you on the mat.

P.S. Don’t forget to hydrate. Mental toughness doesn’t fix dehydration.