When is the last time you did something truly challenging? Something that made you uncomfortable and stretched your abilities as a human? How happy are you currently? Are you living the life of your dreams? If you are like most of the population, your answers are probably along the lines of “A long time ago” (if not “never”) and that you are “trying to find happiness but not there yet”.
If you were able to answer differently, then that is amazing, and I am truly happy for you! Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for a huge percentage of the people you share the planet with. Depression rates are at an all-time high and most people are running from one thing to the next- certain that the “next thing” is what will bring them happiness. The problem is that more people than ever are also searching for a life of pure comfort. They want to live in the big house, with the fancy car and they want it right now. They want to be lean and muscular without having to exercise and eat right. When that doesn’t happen, they resign themselves to a life of being overweight and being unhappy with how they look and feel because working hard to achieve what they want is too much work.
Too many people have decided that happiness lies in the comforts in life. While the comforts are nice to have, it should be known that if you can’t find happiness in what you have now, you won’t find happiness in material things or comfort either. I blame a lot of these issues on social media (although there are plenty of other sources). Social media has created a false online world in which it seems like the grass is always greener somewhere else, doing what someone else is doing, living someone else’s life. Overnight success stories are all too common as well as posts from people who will show you how they made their millions overnight doing almost no work. Of course, they want to charge you for this knowledge and people that fall for the trap pay gladly. Little do they know that these people are actually making their millions preying on desperate people who believe the road to happiness and riches is ever an easy one that can be bought for $99 and distilled into an hour-long seminar. The chance of gaining riches that quickly and easily is almost nonexistent unless you have a hefty trust fund. Gaining happiness is even more elusive because even a trust fund alone won’t provide that without the proper mentality to accompany it. The good news is that material success and happiness can be found at the end of the same road. A difficult road, but a fulfilling one.
That road is the one paved with obstacles. Challenges that build skills. Situations that are so uncomfortable that you have no choice but to grow and adapt. It is scientifically proven that your brain releases more sustained happiness chemicals while pursuing an end goal and that the achievement of that pursuit results in a much shorter spike of happiness that leaves just as fast as it came. You can probably think of examples in your own life when you achieved something you set out to do and the happiness you felt was short lived after you reached it. You may have even thought to yourself “Wow, I thought I would be happier at this point”. Some of your best and happiest memories are most likely from the time leading up to the achievement. We get so caught up in the accomplishment that we don’t always truly appreciate the fun we had overcoming the obstacles along the way.
I’m still figuring this all out and I am by no means an expert. But I have learned a lot in my 34 years. And one of the most important things that I have learned is that the way to happiness can be found through the obstacles that we face, whether we choose them or not. Intermittent success is important to maintain the motivation to keep pushing forward, but each success needs to be followed by another obstacle to work through and overcome. Don’t ever settle for simple comfort. Don’t ever settle for complacency. It is easy to get caught up in it and forget what it is like to be challenged, face adversity, and come out on the other side a stronger and more confident person.
The best news is a lot of us live a life that allows us to choose our obstacles. Not everyone has that luxury. Some have obstacles forced upon them. If you are not in that boat, and it has been a long time since you truly challenged yourself, now is the time to start. Struggle with exercising regularly? Challenge yourself to set goals that will require dedication and persistence. Struggle with sticking to a diet? Challenge yourself to maintain a diet for “x” number of days without breaking it to test your willpower and prove to yourself you can do anything you set your mind to. Want to be more financially free? Challenge yourself to save more than you think possible or start that business that you have always dreamed about. These are challenging things. They will test you and make you questions yourself. But in the end, you will thank yourself. You will have found something that many people will go their whole lives never understanding. You will have found purpose and a path to happiness as well as material success if you choose to set your sights on that.
Everything you want is out there, you just have to be willing to do what others won’t to get it. You have to be willing to do what is hard while others choose what is easy. You have to learn and truly believe that the obstacle is the way.
“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.” ― Vince Lombardi
*Looking for a good challenge and don’t know where to start? Look into the 75 Hard Program. Your first thought will most likely be “Hell no, I can’t do that”. That response is an even more sure sign you should do it. My wife Kendall and I completed it a couple of years ago and thought it was a great experience that resulted in a lot of self-confidence and pride in knowing we did it. A lot of people have even started doing it once every year.
**Obviously consult your doctor to get clearance before starting any challenging routines. Don’t use it an excuse to do nothing if you have health issues that limit you but use it as a way to find something that is challenging FOR YOU. It isn’t a competition with anyone else. This is about you and what you are capable of.
