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Category: Doing What’s Hard

The Path To Comfortable

Published on March 20, 2023

The more comfortable you can get with entering into uncomfortable physical challenges… The more comfortable your body will become.

The more comfortable you can get with entering into uncomfortable feelings/emotions… The more comfortable your mental health will become.

The more comfortable you can get with entering into uncomfortable conversations… The more comfortable your relationships will become.

The more comfortable you can get with entering into uncomfortable solitude/stillness… The more comfortable your spirit will become.

And the same is true with how comfortable you can get with entering into uncomfortable (appropriate) situations in general… The more comfortable your life will become.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

Not Special

Published on March 7, 2023

It’s in recognizing that I am imperfect that the foundation of my practice is formed.

  • If I don’t choose exercise… I know I’ll choose gluttony.
  • If I don’t choose reading… I know I’ll default to screen time.
  • If I don’t choose writing… I know I’ll excuse my poor thinking.
  • If I don’t choose sleeping… I know I’ll lean on caffeine.
  • If I don’t choose courage… I know I’ll find clever ways to hide.

What fuels my daily practice isn’t some special force. It’s precisely the knowing that I’m not special—that I am no more immune to the temptations of the world than others—that fuels me.

I know for a fact that if I don’t make time for the things I listed above… I’ll undoubtedly choose what’s most appealing to my lazy/ ignorant/ unclear/ tired/ fearful self.

I know this because I’ve lived it. And because I’ve lived it and have felt deeply the long-term consequences of my many imperfect decisions… I am able to see more clearly in the now and iterate towards better.

Never perfect is the goal. Always improving is the path. Not as imperfect as before is the winning metric.

…And that’s the foundation that I know I can keep building on.

P.s. If you like that I choose writing… you can support my future work by grabbing me a coffee here. :)

Spontaneous Favors Easy

Published on February 27, 2023

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).

Prioritizing Future You

Published on February 26, 2023

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.

Upgrade From “Easy” or “Hard”

Published on February 11, 2023

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.

Pain Shield

Published on February 9, 2023

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. :)

Skipping The Hard Part

Published on January 18, 2023

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 the “author” who can’t hold a deep conversation on the book topic.
  • It’s the fitness “influencer” who can’t teach a 1-hour fitness class.
  • It’s the business “coach” who has never built their own business.

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?