Lately I’ve been pondering how I want the next chapter of my life to unfold. For many years I had a vision for what I wanted my adult life to look like. The dream included running a successful business, driving fancy cars, living in a modern home and vacationing in an ocean front condo in Miami with my beautiful and healthy family.
That has been attained for quite some time now and although I’m as motivated and inspired as ever about growing The Wish Group, I can’t help but rethink the goal when considering the pain and struggle that I inevitably know is required to continue to step out of my comfort zone to grow. I don’t know if this strikes a chord with you but the issue is really being ready to step up to deal with the struggles that will come with the aspiration to do more now that I can say I’ve overcome the initial struggles more financial in nature.
Regardless of the levels of success you’ve achieved or if you’re stuck and feel you can’t break through, what one has to realize that you really are a product of our struggles.
We want the business but rethink the sacrifice, hours and risk involved. We want the toned body but not the countless hours in the gym. We want the perfect relationship but aren’t willing to be the proactive one to kick start the love cycle. We want kids who respect us but don’t call them out each time they are disrespectful.
You only live once and I for one will not sit here a year or a decade from now upset at myself that I didn’t kick my own butt sooner! We’ve all felt lazy, stuck, depressed and overwhelmed with that little voice in your head urging you to throw in the towel and avoid the pain, but I urge you to stick to consistent action and actually train yourself to embrace and even love the struggle. Carry it around like a badge of honour like all hard working athletes, musicians, artists and leading business leaders do. The reality is someone out there has got it worse and someone’s getting ahead who is less talented than you are. Someone is working with what they’ve got and they’re getting it done. Do you actually want it or just say you want it? You’ll know the answer by your actions.
As Mark Manson recently wrote about: “If you find yourself wanting something month after month, year after year, yet nothing happens and you never come any closer to it, then maybe what you actually want is a fantasy, an idealization, an image and a false promise. Maybe what you want isn’t what you want, you just enjoy wanting. Maybe you don’t actually want it at all.”
Who you are is defined by the values you are willing to struggle for. People who enjoy the struggles of a gym are the ones who get in good shape. People who enjoy long workweeks and the politics of the corporate ladder are the ones who climb it. People who enjoy the stresses and uncertainty of the starving artist lifestyle are ultimately the ones who live through it and make it.
This is not a call for willpower or “grit.” This is not another admonishment of “no pain, no gain.” This is the most simple and basic component of life which is our struggles determine our successes. So choose your struggles wisely and turn those wishes into reality.