This article is inspired by Jocko Willink and David Goggins.

Repetition

We think that we lack the ability to do things. A lot of times that’s really far from the truth. The truth is that you don't understand repetition. You don't understand that you have to keep going back to the thing. To keep trying. It’s a tapestry. It’s a pattern. Work through the fear and insecurity. It’s on the other side of that. Most people are so hungry for the result that they never allow themselves to get into a flow state.

Falling in love with the process

You have to fall in love with the process. You have to enjoy doing the reps. I remember reading “Fields of Diamonds”. Where the author spoke about how so many men stop just 4 feet away from the gold. Don’t let that be you. Enjoy the digging. Pick up the shovel. It's really hard to have a creative life. But the reason why it's hard is that people have a fundamental misunderstanding.

The truth about excellence

I think that people think that it's hard because there's a lot of competition. This is inaccurate. There is no competition you are in this race alone. The things that we have to do in order to have an outstanding life are of no interest to the average person. The average person wants comfort. Why do you think that Netflix and McDonalds are so popular?

you have to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty over a long period of time. In order to be in great shape you have to eat clean and over a long period of time. In order to meet someone special you have to be willing to deal with rejection and setbacks, over a long period of time. Most people want no parts of this, or they are willing to do just enough to get a result. They never really turn the corner and learn to fall in love with the challenge itself.

Leverage your insecurities

So how do we do this? Find the motivation in your insecurities. That's when you become very powerful. Think about that. Where's my motivation. I don't really feel like going to the gym today. I'm not seeing much progress. That's your motivation. This seems hopeless and no one cares. That’s your motivation. Because it’s both true and not true.

Neurologically, doubt, insecurity, fear, they are always there as long as you are doing something challenging. Dive into them.

everyone wants instant gratification. It’s an amazing time for us as creators to do deep inner work. Cleansing work. This is a beautiful thing. When we wake in the morning and start writing we are not running away from our work, but we are confronting it. We are taking the soul of whatever it is that is in front of us. This excites me. The fact that while everyone else is getting tired and weaker I am getting stronger. I enjoy doing things that suck. I enjoy doing things that are hard.

My brain wants to pull me into a nice comfortable space, but I will not allow it. I can hear every hater and negating comment in my head and most times people want to push those things down and wish the world were not the way that it is. Or people don’t want to pay attention to the areas in their life that are hard but that will not do. Allow yourself to find a flow state. Allow yourself to work. Allow yourself to fall in love with the process

This is alchemy

The reason why most people don’t do the work is that they can’t see past their current version of reality. It’s all neurological. Once you link pleasure to doing the challenging work you are going to win because you have created a virtuous feedback loop.