It Should Hurt a Little…
“No pain, no gain.” Athletes know this saying to be true. It’s true in other aspects of our lives as well.
An off schedule post
This is an off-schedule post. That means something different or interesting is going on that warrants paying attention to. So, my friends, read on to find out more!
Introduction
Any of us who have played sports are familiar with this saying, no pain, no gain (Note 1). And I’m guessing we all dislike it just the same. Dislike or not, it’s really true. And not just for athletics, it’s true in all areas of our lives, whether we like it or not. Don’t believe me? Read on, and by the time we get to the end, go ahead and call me out if you want, but I don’t think you will be able to!
Historical context
The concept of no pain, no gain goes back to the ancient Greeks and Hebrews, the 15th century British, Ben Franklin, and several 18th century Americans. But the one I remember was Jane Fonda's early 1980s workout videos. She also used to say “feel the burn.” Yes, as a 14-year-old boy in 1982, I remember those workout videos well…“ Feel the burn” or “Feel the Bern” became popular with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential run.
It should hurt a little
I’m guessing you accept the sayings “no pain, no gain” and “it should hurt a little” or other similar phrases when it comes to athletics. But do other aspects of our lives require pain and hurt as a price of improvement? Well, let me tell you about it! Consider these cases:
In your professional life you will not advance unless you do the hard things. Take the assignment no one wants. Come in early, stay late. Volunteer. Mix business and pleasure (golf, other work and social functions). Make sure everything you do is just right before you turn it in or release it. Work harder than others. Look around at those who are getting the promotions, and I think you will agree with me.
Academics. Ever heard of a Tiger Mom (Note 2)? How about homework before playing? Some kids are just motivated to do their work without being told. Not me. I barely got through high school, lazy academic that I was. Then I went to college and learned the truth. When my kids went off to college, I told them, “If you want a 'C', spend 40 hours a week between classroom and study time. If you want a “B”, spend 50 hours. If you want an “A”, spend 60 hours.” Obviously, not all students need any or all of this, but I think you get the point. The hard work is rewarded.
Love life. Young men chasing young women and trying to catch a wife have to be the hardest working people on the planet!
Investments and personal finance. It’s hard to stick with an investment philosophy when the market is down, but doing the hard thing when it’s hard has a history of paying off. Yes, the statistics bear that out, and if you have jumped ship a bit too early in the past, you know it too.
Sharing of yourself. And this is the area that caused me to write this post. I hope that, whether you agree with me in any of the other areas, you agree with me here. How you give of yourself can take different forms, but typically centers on your time and money. I’ve donated to various causes over the years. I’ve coached softball teams. I volunteered with the Boy Scouts, taught Sunday school, and led small groups. Today, I volunteer, substitute teach, and write. I write books and these blog posts that I hope you enjoy and find useful in your walk of life. But it’s what happened to me in January that I want to share today. Here’s what happened. It was time to pay the bills in January 2026. We had traveled a lot in 2025, and then it was a good Christmas, so there were some pretty big bills to pay. As is my habit, my first payment is to my church as a tithe. It’s the right thing to do, to me, in light of all the blessings we have received. It was an Old Testament requirement. The New Testament tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7). Under the New Testament, we are no longer under the law but under grace, and our giving should be a willing response to that grace. Not everyone tithes, and there is some debate on how much to tithe (Note 3). I have not always tithed, but I found once I started it all seemed to come back to me and then some. Diane always says, “You can’t outgive God,” and frankly, as I’ve increased my tithing, my blessings appear to have increased. I see not only a direct correlation, but also the more I give, the more I seem to receive. And I’m not necessarily talking about receiving in financial terms. All that to say that in January, I found myself pausing. For just a very brief second, as I looked at the stack of big bills, before I made my tithe. I did it anyway, and it felt good. Just the next week, as our pastor was reviewing the 2026 budget with the congregation, he discussed this same issue and the widow in Luke 21:1-4, who gave two small coins, all she had. Jesus, observing this, commented that “Truly, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest.” Our pastor, knowing that tithing is hard for some people, commented that tithing “should hurt a little” as a symbol of our sacrifice. Tithing does hurt a little. It hurt a bit more in January, but afterward, it felt good because it hurt. Make sense?
Summary
I’m guessing this post was mostly unnecessary, as many of you already know the value of “no pain, no gain” and “it should hurt a little.” True or not, I’ll leave you with this multi-part question to ponder for this week:
In whatever activity you find yourself in, whatever you do, does it hurt a little? Cause you to feel exhausted? Do you feel a little pain?
I hope so.
That’s all for today!
It Should Hurt A Little
Afterburner Success Partners
What’s in it for Me
Put yourself through some pain this week. You will be glad you did.
Call to Action
Honestly consider if you need to make some changes. Or, perhaps you must want to learn a few things. Purchase any of the books noted below. Take the Afterburner Success Partners course. Tell a friend.
Recommended Resources
Buy and read any of the books mentioned in the notes below.
Up Next
Back to regular posting schedule.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
No Pain, no gain, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_pain,_no_gain
Tiger parents, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_parenting
What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/tithing-Christian.html
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us, by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy