Today I am reminded that if it’s not in my plan for the day…
And I leave the decision to be made in the moment based on “how I feel”…
I’m going to choose the easy route.
…Almost every time.
I’m way better at choosing the hard(er) route when it’s already locked into my day.
P.s. I am going to start uploading quotes from Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson to MoveMe Quotes (in case you’d like to get a copy and read along as I do).
Those who prioritize their future self get ahead.
Because while this mostly makes the now harder, it makes the later easier. And there’s A LOT more later than there is now.
The trick, however, is to mindfully walk this balance between future you and current you’s needs.
Consistent misery isn’t a good present or long-term strategy. But, neither is consistent comfort. Too much comfort leads to a lot more later misery.
It’s about making the journey of life an uphill climb that’s as enjoyable as possible—so that you’re able to consistently step upwards towards a greater future self while also getting to enjoy the view of the climb along the way.
Future you will be proud and thankful of this current, reading-this-post-you if you do.
P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.
We have to train ourselves to STOP looking at tasks as “easy” or “hard.”
Tasks should be seen as either “hard now” or “harder later.”
This forces us to bring a long-term perspective into our decision making process.
I.e. Rather than this short-cut, hack, trick, or time-spend being an “easy” choice to an alternative… we ask ourselves if we can prioritize doing the “hard” thing now so that we won’t have to do the “harder” alternative later.
Honestly answering this question is the *real* short-cut, hack, and trick.
The amount of pain we can withstand isn’t a matter of capability… it’s a matter of tolerance.
We’re capable of tolerating WAY more pain than we think.
And the benefit of pushing past that thinking limit (e.g. hard exercise) is that new tolerances are reached.
This isn’t about being self-destructive or self-harmful. This is about building mental strength and fortitude.
Because the pain will come.
And having an increased tolerance is like having an upgraded shield that’s ready to withstand more of whatever life decides to throw our way.
And upgraded shields against life are always a good idea.
P.s. I asked people to: Tell us a story of a time when they were the target of a random act of kindness. The answers will restore your faith in humanity. :)
Arriving at the destination of your dreams MINUS the substantial hard work is a formula that thrusts an unrealized version of you into over-your-head dream situations.
It’s precisely the thing that makes arriving at the destination HARD that allows you to actualize your full inner strength and potential.
Skipping the hard part only makes your weaker, more incompetent, less insightful version show up to the opportunities you’ve always dreamed to have.
…Which will quickly turn into a nightmare after all.
This is all to say… stop trying to skip the hard part.
P.s. These are the 20 books I read in 2022. Which one would you like to read key insights from the most?
The thing about creating MASSIVE goals…
Is that doing the small things required to realize them feels disproportionately beneath them.
Focus less on the MASSIVE and focus more on the stepping-stone goals that make the non-negotiable small actions feel more substantial and worthy.
Remember this about comfort:
It’s a lot more enjoyable when it’s closely preceded by discomfort.
E.g. Think about the couch after hard exercise or bed after the demanding day.
Comfort minus discomfort leads to a sort of long-term discomfort that’s far more brutal than anything we push ourselves through in the short-term.