It’s important to take stock periodically to give yourself credit for the work you have put in. Every day we wake up and hopefully we’re a tiny bit better than we were the day before. But that difference can be imperceptible on a day to day basis. You have to think back further. Think back 1 year or 5 years. Where were you then? How was your well-being, your health, your relationships, your income?
18 months ago my head was spinning. Going through a long divorce, heartbroken from the end of a relationship that I thought was the one, struggling to do well raising 3 boys on my own, feeling less than at work, drinking too much, far from optimal nutrition and exercise, I was making no progress toward any long-term goals, and to mask all my weaknesses I think I was putting out a version of me that I wasn’t proud of.
I started to journal. I journaled because I couldn’t stop spiraling in my head. I needed to get my feelings and thoughts out on paper in hopes of finding some order. That helped, and I’ve kept it up since. I also started reading. I sought out books that I thought could help me. I remember reading ’22 Talk Shifts’ by Krister Ungerbock and ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by David Goggins. I’m not a fast reader so I also listened to a lot of self help books on Headway.
Then 12 months ago I came across Tim Ferris’ interview of Rich Roll ‘Reinventing Your Life at 30, 40, and Beyond’. I really loved Rich’s story and I shared a lot of the same feelings at this point in my then 43 year old life. From that podcast on, the changes and tools came fast. I had already ordered a Whoop band, but I haven’t taken it off since I put it on in January 2022. I attribute that and an injured elbow with all the running I’ve done since. I’m a runner for the first time of my life at 44 years old.
I’ve taken up AG1 and sprouts thanks to Rich Roll. My diet is cleaner and has less meat in it which is something I’ve long wanted. I also use Rich’s smoothie recipe as a recovery drink and love it.
I was also introduced to Ryan Holiday through the journey and am enjoying the tenants of Stoicism. It’s sparked historic curiosity in me in addition to the virtues of Stoicism and I’m thankful for both.
- My diet is better (more greens, less meat)
- Exercise, Sleep, and Recovery are better with Whoop
- Relationships are better being stoic, calm, confident, empathetic, and kind
- Divorce is done, heart is mended, and I’ve found a very healthy relationship
- Work is so much more manageable now that I have the tools to identify challenges and how to face them
- I’ve started posting and writing (long-term goals)
- I’ve identified what’s important to me and can focus my agency toward tending to what serves me
Life is so great, get a little better every day and take a long look back from time to time to acknowledge the work you’ve done and know that the trajectory can continue into the future.
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