All the energy in the universe is evenly present in all places at the same time. We don’t get energy, we release energy. And the triggering mechanism to release energy is desire. When you have a strong desire to do something, you will always have the energy to do it.” —Bob Proctor

There is no doubt in my mind that the key to success in life is the ability to regularly do things you don’t want to do. Yes, if you read last week’s musings you will recall me mentioning this. But I have had some time to think about it. And I don’t necessarily think I was directly over the target on “self-discpline”. I think there is more. Self discipline isn’t enough. Self-discpline is merely the act of “white knuckling” your way toward a goal. And if you have ever been there, you know how that usually works out.

You can only eat foods you “despise” for so long.

You can only force yourself to “suffer” at the gym for so long.

You can only do that “monotonous”, “boring”, and “repetitive” movement for so long.

If you have ever been on the “insanity hamster wheel”, you know what comes next.

Reversion back to what “feels” comfortable. Yup, the infamous tumble off the wagon.

You see, truly successful people, have chosen a different path. Somewhere along the journey of getting through their seemingly “boring”, “difficult”, and “unenjoyable” to-do lists, they flip the script. They make it “fun”.

I was recently listening to my 71 year old mother tell me about her 5-6 mile daily walk. She has specific “loops” that take her through a peaceful golf course. She has a special bench that she sits on along the journey where she likes to listen to the birds for a few minutes. She explains to me with some excitement and a little devious pride about the “hidden” iced water jug where she refills her water bottle. And she never fails to mention the “friends” she regularly encounters. Some are strangers who she has never actually talked to.  She explains, they are used to seeing me and would be concerned if I “missed a day”.

You might think my mom has always been super “fit”. To the contrary. When I was growing up, I might describe her as “skinny fat”.  She ate healthy and is very thin but hated exercise.  In her words…. “I don’t understand why you guys (my dad, sister, and myself) want to make yourself get all sweaty”.  Until one day in her 50’s my dad finally convinced her that she needed to exercise so she could stay healthy. Since that time, her stories have evolved. It started with walking on a treadmill where she would proudly tell me how she could walk an entire episode of Bonanza. Then, for a time, she would excitedly explain… “I walked an entire episode of Bonanza and jogged during all the commercials”.

You see, my mom is getting older and I am sure she doesn’t wake up every day excited for her daily walk. However, she is excited to enter into the story.

She never tells me about the 100-degree temp with 90% humidity. She never tells me about feeling tired. She never complains of pain. I mean never under any circumstances have I heard her complain of pain. I am sure this doesn’t mean she never has pain.  It’s just not part of the story she tells herself.  But I digress.

You see, discomfort of any kind isn’t part of her story. The walk isn’t even part of the story. The story is focused on the peace she feels on the golf course. The story is about the birds, the people, and yes, the stolen iced water. 🤣

What is your story?

Does a word like “self-discipline” make you uncomfortable?

Do you already feel defeated at the thought of doing something you don’t want to do (to get something your future self will be proud of)?

If so, I don’t think you lack self-discipline. I don’t think you lack “will power”. I don’t think you are “lazy”. I know you don’t lack motivation. I mean you ARE still reading. 😊

Maybe, just maybe, you are curating the wrong story.

Do you want to lose weight?

Gamify it.

Make tracking calories a game by combining my fitness pal with an activity tracker.

Do you want to stick to an exercise plan?

Gamify it.

Track your workouts with apps like Zwift or Garmin. You can also make your workouts public and follow friends. With Zwift you can workout with friends virtually as well!

Want to stick to your neuro rehab routine?

Make it fun!

You don’t always need to do the same “boring” exercises. Make it a game to choose one activity that looks a little silly. My favorite for “walking” is to change it up and work on skipping or try out some new “floor moves”

Here is the bottom line, the key to living a long, healthy life is regularly engaging with things that are hard. There is plenty of evidence to support this. But spending our lives focused on doing things we don’t want to do is a miserable way to live. And a perceived life of misery, I argue, will take years off your life.  The secret to “staying on the wagon” is to accept the hard path and finding a way to make it fun.

“Have fun, even if it’s not the same kind of fun everyone else is having.”

― C.S. Lewis