I Will Interrupt My Comfort for the Sake of Its Future
Dear Collective,
We often mistake "comfort" for "well-being." We think that if we are warm and unstressed, we are doing it right. And don't get me wrong, it’s pleasant to sit on the couch. It’s awesome to take a vacation. But there is a danger in the status quo: comfort is at war with progress.
This week: I will interrupt my comfort for the sake of its future.
If we are truly going to develop ourselves into something better, we have to be willing to put ourselves in a challenge. This isn't about being a martyr for the sake of suffering; it’s about recognizing that the discomfort we choose today is what will become our habits tomorrow.
Whenever I find myself making excuses to stay under the blanket, I think of Marcus Aurelius.
“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, 'I have to go to work as a human being. What do I have to complain of if I’m going to do what I was born for—the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’”
He was asking, "What am I giving up today for the sake of my future self?”
This requires an assessment of our downtime. We need to be honest with ourselves and ask, "Am I being lazy, or am I actually resting up to tackle the next challenge?" Rest is a necessity; laziness is just huddling under the blankets because the world feels too sharp.
I think back to when I was drinking. Even then, I would make sure there was food in the fridge or things laid out so that when I woke up, the "future me" (who I knew would be struggling) was taken care of. I was pre-paying the hardship of a hangover.
Today, I use that same premise for a different purpose. I might not want to do something. I might not want to lay out my clothes or train when I’m tired at the end of a long day. But I do it because I am saving my future self a headache. I am choosing a small hardship now to ensure a victory later.
Tackling these day-to-day challenges of the prep, the early alarms, the extra rep, and the next jump isn't a distraction from the journey. It is the journey.
This week, I want you to look for places where you can "prepay" your progress:
What small hardship can you take on tonight to make tomorrow’s work easier?
Are you resting to recover, or are you avoiding the challenges?
Are you huddling under the blankets, or are you willing to be uncomfortable to become something better?
Interrupt the comfort. Your future version is stronger, more resilient, and more capable, and it’s waiting for you to make the present just a little bit harder.
We don't go to work to stay warm. We go to work to become.
With Strength and Adaptability,
Charlie We, The Collective Fitness