For the last 28 days or so I have been doing 75-Hard. 75-Hard is described as a “mental resilience” program. 75-Hard includes:
Doing Two 45-minute Workouts (one has to be outside)
Taking a Progress Picture
Drinking a Gallon of Water
Reading 10 Pages of a Self-Development Book
Following a Health Plan
No Cheat Meals or Alcohol
You do that every day for 75 days straight.
I’ve been doing this and have seen many improvements in my mental fitness and overall make-up as a person. In the midst of this though there’s one thing in my life that has really fallen off.
Sleep.
Sleep has become almost a joke to me. It seems I get ideas at all hours of the day and I fear losing them. Of course, this is where having a better note-taking system would be handy… but that just brings on more ideas. It’s an interesting cycle.
I know I am getting closer to the bottom of this predicament I’m in. I am thankful for my deep curiousity that helps me search and find the gems in difficult moments.
Deprivation of something teaches you to prize it. I’m at a point in my life where I could be getting the best sleep of all time. Although my makeshift bed in my parent’s garage isn’t the best… it’s a lot better than sleeping on the couch.
All in all, if you look at the data, I am choosing intentionally every night to get poorer sleep. I am choosing to play the part of the victim in this endeavor.
If sleep is a dragon, then I am choosing to only sneak past it when it is absolutely necessary, instead of running straight toward it.
If I have learned anything about getting what you need, it’s that it is important to communicate how you are feeling and share that openly.
I may see myself as a heroic figure (especially in heroic moments) but at the end of the day I am human and I need my sleep.
I hear myself, and I am making changes.
Sleep and rest is as necessary for humans as quests and dragons are for knights.
Without these, it leads to a shallow-shell version of what was previously possible.
When you meet this shallow-shell version of yourself it’s quite the wake-up call.
For me today I feel so out of it. I have rescheduled all of my upcoming calls and my previous obligations. None of them are as important as my health right now.
My lack of sleep has caught up to me, and I need to make some decisions.
Thankfully my brain feels fantastic! The rest of me though is on vacation.
The rest of me is taking stock of itself, so we can be better in the future.
It is swimming laps, hanging out in the hot tub, and relaxing in the sunshine.
There comes a point when you become so deprived of something that your brain and soul goes a bit berserk - in hopes of obtaining it.
This moment came for me last night.
At 7:30 PM I felt strangely immensely tired… like sleep was my only option.
I didn’t fall asleep.
I PLUMMETTED through the streets of my drowsiness… straight into the sewers of slumber. I stayed down in that deep but comforting world for some time.
I emerged from that world today at 8 AM.
Feeling like a slug, but still very wonderfully alive.
I’m me, and I’m glad I can make some changes.
This thought of everything catching up to you is one of the most encouraging I’ve held onto as of late.
It’s one that has often cut through the line to have lunch at the table of my heart.
Especially in this waiting season of my life - I am thankful for the encouragement.
I know it is a truth that I can trust in.
Truth opens our eyes up to other truths we can also trust in.
This bouncing from one truth to another expands our lungs for the breath of hope.
Truth drowns out the toxicity of falsehood or vain ambition.
Truth guides the eyes in the changing of focus, vision, and behavior.
Truth reminds you where you are doing well, and where you need to improve.
I am thankful for truths that help guide me on a day to day basis.
The truth is that I have put in a LOT of work.
Between my podcasts, books, YouTube videos, etc…
There’s a LOT of really good things I’ve done.
This isn’t a time for me to rest on my laurels, but rather to rest in God’s embrace.
Isaiah 41:13 from the Bible says the following,
13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
This passage reminds me that as I stay close to God I will always have help when I fall short. I can always turn to God in my weakness and have my heart and desires changed.
I feel I am on a good path, and I have had many witnesses of that.
Everything is all catching up to me, and that is a beautiful thought.
I’m having conversations I prayed someday I’d get to have.
I’ve been appearing on more podcasts sharing my book.
So many things in life right now are really starting to flow in my favor.
It is at this moment in my life I need to acknowledge the good I have done, and remember that I need to keep stacking up evidence for the person I want to become.
Whether or not I am seeing the outcomes I’d like to have, I am putting in the work so I may have those outcomes.
To me, this is success.
I am already there.
I am on the path I need to be on, and now staying on it is my main focus.
More reps, strategy, and a more illuminating network are all I need at this point.
I do not let my focus be diverted by distractions that say they will bring me to my destination faster.
I used to want to get to my “ideal life” or whatever quicker.
Now I am content with it taking the time it takes.
This for me ensures that I will enjoy every season that prepares me for it.
Truthfully I am in my ideal life already - I just need more proof that I am actually living that life - which is going to lead to many of the blessings I’d like to have.
Right now this proof is going to come in the form of more books, more podcast appearances, and starting to (finally) build my public speaking career.
I cannot lose as long as I stay on the path.
I know in my heart that God has brought me here and even if I do fail - I will have tons of lessons and stories to take from it - and it can help bring me closer to Him.
He’s told me many times recently that a LOT of crazy stuff is going to happen soon, and I am hands wide-open-ready for it.
As I said before - it’s only a matter of time.
God is answering my prayers - according to His infinite love and wisdom.
I am thankful for all the closed doors - they have helped me get to the path I’m on now.
When I do move out my parent’s house, have a place of my own, married, etc. I will not wish I could go back to my single days.
I’ll remember them fondly - that is because I seek to love and appreciate it all now.
Getting married, having a successful speaking career, and all of the other blessings in store for me will not fulfill me in and of themselves.
It is God who fulfills me.
He fills my heart with joy, peace, and energy.
Graciously He will provide all these other things in His perfect way and timing.
For those things that are not for me - I do not chase them - I let them go for Him.
Chasing them is not what I need to do - all I need to do is chase Him.
I’ve felt it and seen it enough times that God is trying to talk to me, and that I need to listen.
In doing that, I will surely be filled with joy and peace beyond my comprehension.
I have been feeling that lately, and I know it’s because I am on a very good path.
Matthew 6:33 has the following to say on this:
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Even if today I am sluggish I know that I can trust in God and He will give me strength.
He will help me wake up to a brand new life each day and cherish each moment.
Though today I am not feeling 100%, I know He seems me at 100% and has infinite love and care for me.
It’s okay that I am feeling how I am feeling.
I know I can start a new trend and get thing moving in a different direction.
I will continue to see everything catch up to me, and that is going to bring my soul joy to overflowing and then some!
One day at a time.
One day at a time.
I know I’m going to get there.
Thanks for reading!
I am still experimenting for how I can better structure this newsletter.
Right now my goal is to get consistent with publishing it on a weekly basis.
Here’s some more scripture to help out your week - Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the asin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…
When we look to Jesus the impossible becomes possible.
In looking to Him the unloveable are loveable.
In trusting Him the daunting becomes our greatest adventure.
I’m seeing this happen in my life in real-time.
I hope all is well in your world. :)