It’s easy to feel down when things aren’t going your way, but I’ve found a way to push through the pain by adopting a critical thinking skill.

Key Takeaways

• Learn to differentiate between emotional hurt and genuine injury to effectively navigate challenges with precision.
• Discover how embracing pain as a leader can inspire and influence others amidst adversity.
• Elevate your approach to pain by distinguishing between recoverable hurt and substantial injury.

There’s a big difference between being injured and being hurt. As a solopreneur, I’ve learned that separating these two terms has helped me push through many of the struggles and obstacles that come with creating my own success.

They always say embracing pain is just second nature to any business leader, entrepreneur, or content creator. You’ll face setback after setback — and you’re expected to keep going. And we all know the power of positive thinking can help, but sometimes it’s not enough.

Learning to separate being hurt from being injured has allowed me to think logically through my current struggle and determine the best course of action. There is no definitive answer on how to proceed with the fallout after a tough conversation, the embarrassment of your idea getting rejected, or the insecurity that comes along with learning a new skill. These things hurt, but I have a personal story that sheds light on what I’ve learned as a solopreneur and how to overcome obstacles like the aforementioned ones.

Last month, while playing with my kids outdoors, I cut up my arm by accident — bleeding in a few places (I’ll spare you the details.) The pain was more intense than I wanted to admit, but instead of retreating and letting it ruin our day, I chose to push through for two important reasons:

1. My kids were watching

When you are a leader or manager, the way you react matters to those around you. I didn’t hide the fact this hurt from my kids (we have to be transparent and open with what we are going through), but I made quick decisions after my injury: I got up, found a local pharmacy, patched myself up, and I was back outside playing with them again in a matter of 30 minutes. I showed those around me that through determination, I was able to handle my current challenge pragmatically.

Remember that there is a difference between reacting and responding. The next time you are in a tough situation, take a little time to internalize what’s happening but focus on responding accordingly. The people around you will always look at how you react to a situation. I showed my kids that this injury hurt, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from what I set out to do that day.

2. I realized I was hurt, not injured

The pain lingered after I returned to my family and through the next day. I thought about taking it easy — skipping the gym, working fewer hours, etc. But then I asked myself, “Am I injured? Or am I hurt?”

I got the saying from an old coach of mine. He would say, “You can’t compete if you’re injured, but you can play through pain.”

I realized I was only hurt, so I went on to tackle the next day with full momentum — and I thrived off the fact that I was hurt but still going. Here is a video of me at the gym the next day. My wife bandaged my arm, and it still hurt a little, but honestly, I had one of the best workouts I’ve had in a while.

Ask yourself this question the next time you are in a tough spot, “Am I hurt or injured?” If you are actually injured — say, mental health issues, financial turmoil, etc. — then don’t mess around. Take the time you need and embrace pain at a level that makes sense to your situation. But if you are only hurt — hurt feelings, minor setbacks — you need to identify that you can recover rather quickly from these types of obstacles and move on.

Sure, it might sting, but you will survive and maybe even thrive as a result. Either way, you’ll be fully alive as opposed to just coasting by.

This article was written by Terry Rice, and originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.