why is catalyst so painful?

[Goldenratio]

"Pain is a sign of weakness leaving the body"
- Every Drill Sergeant ever

Ive had a number of quite pleasant catalysts in my life. Yes there has been some less than delightful ones as well, but that's par for the course. Being that a catalyst is going to (generally) be something that were not accustom to, we may take something as being painful because it takes one outside of their comfort zone. But everything changes, even if it does nothing.