Sometimes it looks worse than it actually is

When I walked into my workout class and saw the list of exercises posted on the screen, I almost turned around and walked out.

It’s one of those classes where you rotate from station to station, a mix of weight training, functional movement, and cardio. I really like these classes—the music, the people, and how I feel when I’m done are the reasons I keep coming back.

Except on this particular day, I didn’t like the looks of anything on that board. I scanned the room and noticed I wasn’t the only person feeling that way. We exchanged good-natured jokes. If we leave now, will anyone notice?

I’ve been in this situation before, not just before a workout. I’ve been on the fence countless times, walking that fine line between yes and no and looking for the escape hatch.

My internal negotiation went something like this:

It’s 100% ok to opt out. I’m a full-grown adult! I can do what I want.

I don’t have time to spend an hour doing something I don’t like!

I also know that I can go at my own pace, modify an exercise, or do something completely different than what’s on the board. The workouts are designed to scale. It’s not a contest.

And so, I resisted the urge to flee the scene.

I stayed present. I felt the consistent uptick in my mood and improved mobility as my body warmed up. I remembered, once again, how good it feels when my blood is flowing, not in a heart-beating-out-of-my-chest kind of way, but in an I-feel-healthy-and-alive kind of way.

If you’re facing something you don’t want to do, and it’s literally staring you in the face, and you suspect it might be good for you to give it a try, accept the invitation. Just go ahead and do the thing.

You might still end up hating it, and then you’ll know for next time. Or, you might be surprised. Sometimes it looks worse than it actually is. Sometimes it turns out to be so much better.