You aren’t where you want to be. You see others living their dreams, getting exactly what they want and finding happiness.

So what does it take to get to that point? It takes becoming that person, growing into who you want to be. That sounds simple, but it is not easy.

Growth doesn’t come from comfort. That’s something that our body is trying to tell us. For example, when working out, muscles don’t get bigger from just building. It takes the tearing of muscles for them to re-grow stronger than before. The gains come from going beyond what you thought possible, from when you’re weak and breaking your body. The first set, when everything is easy, doesn’t lead to anything. It takes a tear for the muscle to re-grow stronger.

The greatest growth and success comes from the greatest pain. This past fall, I did have a unresolved living situation, so I had to suffer through crashing on a friend’s couch for a couple weeks. That was an incredibly humbling experience, but through that, I gained the mental resolve that enabled me to land a job I never would have expected.

Diamonds aren’t made in normal conditions; it takes immense pressure. So if it seems hard, it’s supposed to be. When it seems like the end is nowhere in sight, and everything is falling apart, that means you’re almost there. Because everyone feels pain, but it’s those that can last a little bit longer that will be great.

So push yourself, fight through the pain, and you’ll be exactly where you want to be.