I looked forward to the massage. It wouldn’t be a long one, but it was about as long as the quick trip would allow. Fly in Friday. Plans Friday night. Plans Saturday night. Fly out early Sunday. It was busy yet relaxing. Life had been a lot—full. A 45-minute massage, something I don’t treat myself to often, was going to be a pause. And I was ready.

I didn’t realize how knotted I was.

Isn’t that often the case?

The massage was relaxing and borderline painful. I added 15 minutes to the end to provide a bit more relief. I was a little sore into the next day, but it was worth every moment. Some discomfort often is an odd relief. While we can all live our lives without a massage, we can’t—or at least, shouldn’t—live without welcoming a bit of discomfort at times. We don’t seek pain for the sake of pain. That is unhealthy. (We also don’t cause pain to others when we know what we’re doing.) But when something we thought would be enjoyable is also uncomfortable, we need to understand what’s happening. Are we being hurt and need to move? Or are we getting to the root of the issues?

You will find discomfort today. Dig into whether it’s something that will ultimately be helpful or not. Is it constructive or destructive? Is it wise to cut it short or extend it if possible?

Be aware.