Do hard things. I cannot tell you how many times I heard this growing up. My parents celebrated and valued the concept of pushing oneself to the limits. They knew why doing hard things will change your life. It didn’t matter if we succeeded or failed according to society standards but that we tried. It didn’t matter what anyone else was doing or had done, what mattered is that we chose something that we found challenging and gave our best effort in that particular endeavor.
As a teenager and young adult I felt I understood all they were trying to accomplish. However, with each new stage in life there is a new meaning to that phrase I often remember hearing. Do hard things.
The most recognizable take away is a hard work ethic. The understanding that creating a life we desire takes work. We can’t settle for comfortable if we intend to squeeze everything we can out of this one life we’ve been given.
Do Hard Things. Don’t settle. Take on the challenge.
On a deeper level, practicing this concept produces an inner strength that we pull from when faced with the inevitable trials of this life. When going after the “hard” things we will ultimately fail, perhaps many times. And often, by mistake we view those failures as negative rather than stepping stones or lessons to learn. It is in those failures however that we develop that strength much needed for this journey called life. Those failures are necessary and we will never experience them if we aren’t doing hard things. We simply remain comfortable depriving ourselves of the lessons learned, strength produced and wisdom gained only through failure.
We will also develop confidence. Confidence that we can get back back up. Confidence that our failures do not define us. And as the saying goes, confidence to try try again. The lessons learned, failures, strength and confidence combined ultimately lead us to our successes.
And while the successes we experience are good, the real win is the person that we have become to be. The person who loves a challenge and is not afraid of failure. A person who is willing to be uncomfortable in order to take advantage of the gift of life. The person who can be that pillar of strength not only for herself but those around her. This is why doing hard things will change your life.
Doing hard things will look very different for each one of us and it will also look different with each new phase in our lives. So don’t let comparison rob you of your hard thing. What we develop as a result of doing hard things is the same and that is our end game.
A joyful and intentional life.
Maybe you are the business woman climbing the corporate ladder or the entrepreneur taking that giant leap of faith. Perhaps you are the mother pouring her heart and soul into her children or the housewife taking pride in the life she is creating for her family. A teacher choosing each day to love a group of kids as her own. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing it is important to continue to strive to do hard things.
One day your hard thing may involve running a million dollar company, overcoming depression or starting and sticking to an exercise routine. All hold value. Choose your hard thing for this time in your life and go for it. Strive for excellence, live with passion and don’t discount the value of doing hard things. If you’re 25, 55 or 75 the value of taking on a challenge is the creation of vision and the consistent betterment of oneself. And that is always worth it.
I encourage myself and you today to find a challenge. Determination for some may come natural but for most of us it is learned and practiced. But it is possible for everyone. Decide today to see it through, through all the ups and downs, failures and successes. You got this friends!!
Emily says
I love this paragraph you wrote. It fits me so well!
“One day your hard thing may involve running a million dollar company, overcoming depression or starting and sticking to an exercise routine. All hold value. Choose your hard thing for this time in your life and go for it. Strive for excellence, live with passion and don’t discount the value of doing hard things. If you’re 25, 55 or 75 the value of taking on a challenge is the creation of vision and the consistent betterment of oneself. And that is always worth it.”
Thanks for your vision!
Jessica Winkler says
Thank you for being here! Best of luck tackling your hard things today!!