This week I heard a founder mention a quote that got me thinking:

That which we persist in doing will become easier to do, not that the nature of the task has changed, but our power to do has increased.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you do something hard, it’s painful at first. But if you’re consistent in your effort and execution, it gets easier. The thing you’re trying to do hasn’t changed. You’ve changed. You’ve grown and leveled up. Your mind (and sometimes body) has adapted to this new expectation of effort. It becomes normal to you.

The easiest analogy I can think of is high-intensity physical fitness activities. Think running, lifting, swimming, etc. When you first start, you feel like you’re dying. But if you stick with it and are consistent with your effort, it gets less hard. You start being able to go farther, faster, and heavier. Your mind and body have adapted to the expectation that high-intensity physical fitness is part of your routine. As it becomes normal, you start to push yourself more, and eventually your physical fitness and exercise routine are at levels you never would have thought possible. And people around you are in awe of what you can do.

Whenever I’ve done something hard, I’ve been forced to grow. It’s uncomfortable and painful in the beginning, but in the end, I’m always glad I took on the challenge because I learned something about myself. Often, my limits are more a function of my mindset than of reality.