I remember last year going for a hike with the family.
It was before Ellie was born, so it was just the three of us.
I remember looking forward to it, loving a good challenge, mixed with some quality family time.
However, within 30 minutes we were at the top.
It was fun, it went by fast, and it was easy.
So, although it was a good hour with the family, there wasn’t much satisfaction.
We didn’t think to ourselves…
"Wow, that was worth it.”
We didn’t really have much of a feeling of accomplishment.
Now, one could make a strong point that wasn’t the purpose of the hike…
However, it serves the purpose of today’s lessons.
Although our initial desire craves fun, fast, and easy…it’s not what truly fulfills us.
The most rewarding things in our lives, the areas where we see the best results, are where it’s a challenge, it’s a grind, it feels like it takes forever, and it’s really, REALLY, hard.
I’m not saying that fun can’t be a part of things, of course, it can be an ingredient, but it’s not what creates the fulfillment.
In her book, Dare To Lead, Brene Brown talks about integrity, and to choose what is right over what is fast, fun, or easy.
Often times the right thing to do is not very fun, takes a long time, and is very hard.
Just think of these last couple of months…
It hasn’t been very fun, it certainly hasn’t been easy, and it’s felt like an entire year already, but I promise that on the other side of this you will be a better person, a stronger person, and you hopefully learned a lot of valuable lessons that will carry you forward.
In your work, maybe you have a project you’re working on, or there are responsibilities you’re not to keen on doing…
It can be easy to cut corners and to try to just “get it done” but ultimately, if we’re doing what is right, it may not always be fun, fast, and easy.
On a lighter note, look at our experience
Sure, we want things to have a fun component, creating a lifestyle change should be something you look forward to, but it’s certainly can’t be ALL fun.
If you want really good results there are going to be days you’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do (workout vs watch Netflix), it’s not always going to be easy, and it’s going to always take 10x longer than we think.
However, I promise you, the harder it is and the longer it takes, the more fulfilled you’ll be when you achieve the goal you were going after.
Keep pushing forward, and don’t always succumb to the fun, fast, and easy route, because it’s not always the best route.
1% Better.
Dedicated To Your Success,
Doug Spurling