WHAT OBSTACLE?

The transformative power of SUFFERING…

Aspirations of success, accomplishment, and happiness are just that...aspirations until you start the work. A vision without a plan and effort is a dream. You can either dream your life away or get started.

The journey toward success and happiness will often involve confronting life's unpleasantries, and this confrontation is often where dreams die. Transforming unpleasantness (suffering) into a source of enjoyment and achievement requires a shift (in your head). 

Facing adversity and winning are learned skills. 

My Journey of Endurance and Brotherly Love:

From 2008 to 2018, I guided my friend Ivan in marathons and ultramarathons. 

Ivan was blinded in Iraq in 2006, and together, we ran marathons across iconic locations—Boston, London, Chicago, Marine Corps, and numerous small towns from Pennsylvania to Florida, totaling around 40 events. Our challenges extended to running 150+ miles in the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and conquering a few 50-mile races. To many, it seemed like unnecessary suffering. 

Hint: It wasn't. 

All that running helped both of us heal our minds, bodies, and spirits from combat, and it didn't just help us; it helped others see greatness in themselves.

Suffering, far from being detrimental, is necessary for mental and physical transformation. Yeah, I said it (again). Change requires effort.

In the depths of fatigue, vulnerabilities emerge, demanding a deliberate effort to resist the allure of comfort. 

Vince Lombardi's assertion that "fatigue makes cowards of us all" underscores the need to resist the easy way and build the courage to endure the unpleasant.

Self-awareness of mental and spiritual challenges is as crucial as your awareness of physical training to build endurance. Transformational journeys are about finding happiness in the pursuit, exploring inner fortitude, and celebrating personal victories independent of the finish line.

Physical, Mental, and Spiritual journeys all require a measure of suffering.

There are strategies for building endurance (or the ability to embrace the unpleasant) and learning the skills to make suffering look easy. 

The acronym for the journey is P.R.E.P.A.R.E.S.

P - Process: Shift focus from the end result to the process while you enjoy the steps and progress along the way.

R - Reframe: Challenge negative thoughts and acknowledge the temporary nature of unpleasant experiences.

E - Expectations: Adjust expectations and understand not every moment needs to be enjoyable.

P - Positive: Look for positive aspects and benefits within the unpleasant experience and focus on learning and growth.

A - Aware: Be fully present and non-judgmental of perceptions of suffering as you embrace discomfort for personal growth, regardless of the overall outcome.

R - Routine: Establish a consistent routine, making what you once believed unpleasant feel less daunting.

E - Exposure: Gradually expose yourself to unpleasant situations, building tolerance over time.

S - Support: Share feelings with a supportive network for insights and encouragement, and avoid those with a quitter's mindset.

In the journey to find joy in suffering, my running experiences with Ivan are a metaphor for achieving what others think is impossible; outwardly, the world thought we were suffering, but we were living a life of significance and healing from within. The challenges, endurance, and triumphs are a testament to the strategy of being one that PREPARES. 

Our exploration of inner fortitude and the depths of our physical, mental, and physical capabilities, regardless of the finish line, emerges as a lesson applicable to the diverse facets of life's journey.

You don't need to be a runner, but you do need to build your capacity and capability to endure.

Lead with Love. Be A Guide Human.