Why keep doing hard things?
I am of the age where some people might stop doing hard things and I think this has been our cultural mindset. Work hard, retire, and relax. But before I explain why I keep doing hard things, let me first define what I mean by “hard.” For me, something that is hard is a challenge. It is something I have to work on that does not come easy. It is something that I might have a little dread doing but I do it anyway. I am not a procrastinator by nature, but I might put off something hard or find an excuse not to do it. It is something that puts me out of my comfort zone.
So, what am I doing that is hard? About a year ago, I decided to start running again after about 25 years of not running. My initial goal was to be 5k ready and for the most part (except for courses with hills), I am. I run consistently 3.1 miles a few times a week and it was initially very hard but got easier. Now I am training for a 10k. I have a running plan and am up to 4.5 miles. Each week that I need to run farther is harder than the prior week but what I have learned is that I can do it. It might not be pretty, but it is possible.
The other thing I have been doing that is hard is growing my business. In my naivete, I thought this would be easier than it is. Two specific things are proving to be difficult for me. First is the constant networking necessary to acquire new clients. I am not by my nature a person who is comfortable talking about myself or my business. The second hard thing is not knowing where my business is going. I am a person who always has a plan and I do have one for the business, but I have had to learn to let opportunities lead the way rather than me dictating where it is going and to be open to the idea that the business might end up being something different than I thought.
I could stop running and working on my business so why don’t I? Part of this is my nature. I said I was going to do it, so I will. But I also like the long-term payoff. In running, I am exercising my heart and lungs and maintaining strong bones, and this will allow me to be healthier as I age letting me do all the fun things ahead. With my business, I have expanded my skills and found talents that I did not know I had which have proven to be interesting. However, in the end, I do hard things so that I can look back and say, “I did that.”
Are you coasting? Are you stuck in your comfort zone? Is there something hard you want to do but have been afraid of? What long-term payoff might there be if you did it? As always, I am available to help you start and achieve your “hard thing.” You can book a free discovery session through my website. Good luck!