The Pain You Feel Right Now Is the Proof You’re Closer Than Ever

In partnership with

Good morning Grinder,

Have you ever had a moment where you felt like you were doing everything right, yet life just kept pushing back harder? You start working on your goals, and suddenly the weight feels heavier, the obstacles taller, the resistance stronger. It almost feels like life is testing you, doesn’t it?

But here’s the secret: that pain you’re feeling isn’t the end. It’s the sign you’re closer than you think.

Ed Mylett, in his powerful video “This PAIN Means You’re Closer Than You Think,” puts it best. He explains that the moments when life feels most painful, most uncomfortable, are often the exact moments when you’re inches away from your breakthrough. And yet, tragically, this is the place where most people quit.

Watch the full video here

Think about it. How many times in your life have you stopped one step before the finish line? You were on the verge of growth, on the edge of progress, but the pain convinced you to give up. What if you had just held on a little longer?

Let me ask you this: where in your life right now are you feeling the most resistance? Is it in your career? Your health? Your relationships? Maybe you’ve been pushing for change, and it feels like everything is against you. Could it be possible that this is the exact signal you’re close to the life you’ve been working toward?

Ed tells the story of how breakthroughs are never born in comfort. Think about building muscle—you don’t grow when you’re relaxed, you grow when the pain shows up, when the fibers tear and repair stronger than before. Life works the same way. The discomfort you feel right now is stretching you, shaping you, molding you into the person you need to become for the next chapter.

And here’s what most people don’t realize: pain is temporary, but regret lasts forever. You can either endure the pain of growth today or live with the pain of “what if” tomorrow. Which one are you willing to carry?

Take a moment and imagine this: what if the thing you’ve been praying for, working for, dreaming of is right around the corner? What if the pain you’re feeling today is proof you’re on the right path? That’s exactly what Ed emphasizes in his message—you’re not being punished; you’re being prepared.

So here’s the fun part. Let’s make this interactive. I want you to stop reading for just a second and ask yourself:

• Where am I experiencing the most discomfort right now?

• What’s the one area where I feel like I’ve been tested the most?

• Could this be the area where my breakthrough is waiting?

Write it down. Seriously. Don’t just think it—put it on paper. Because once you see it in front of you, you’ll realize that the pain you’re in isn’t random. It’s the marker of transformation.

And let’s not forget—every success story we admire, from athletes to entrepreneurs, has a backstory filled with struggle, rejection, and pain. They didn’t stop there. They pushed through. They trusted that the pain meant they were building something worth having. That’s why they succeeded.

The truth is, if you quit now, you’ll never know how close you were. If you give up, you’ll never discover that the version of you who could win was waiting on the other side of this exact struggle.

So instead of running from the pain, lean into it. Reframe it. The soreness you feel is strength being built. The frustration you feel is patience being developed. The rejection you face is resilience being forged.

And when you feel like you can’t keep going, I want you to hear Ed Mylett’s voice in your head reminding you: This pain means you’re closer than you think.

One day, you’re going to look back at this season of your life and smile. You’ll realize that the nights you wanted to give up, the mornings you didn’t want to get out of bed, the tears and the fears—all of it was shaping you for the victory you’re about to step into.

The pain is not the end. It’s the beginning. It’s the process. It’s the sign that you’re in the right place, doing the right work, building the right future.

So hold on. Keep swinging. Keep believing. You’re closer than you think.

And when you feel like you’re running out of strength, don’t quit—watch this video, let it remind you of the truth, and get back in the fight.

Your future self is waiting for you on the other side of this pain. Don’t keep them waiting too long.

N. Amadeus

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.

Sign up and start learning AI