Rule #1: Expect Challenges
At the start of the year, I signed up for Brian Johnson’s year-long Optimize Mastery online course and I am loving it. I first learned about Brian through his Philosopher’s Notes where he’s read and distilled the key learningson how to live a good life from over 500 books. He’s organized all of this wisdom into a year-long program. Good stuff!
Today, let’s talk about Brian’s Rule #1: Expect obstacles and challenges.
Brian tells us that a good life is not going to be easy. Rather than be surprised when obstacles present themselves (and they always do!), he encourages us to embrace the challenges we face as opportunities to hone our skills. Because dealing with challenges is how we get better. The small obstacles are opportunities to practice and get ready for the really big ones. Think of the big, bad obstacles as our “training partner” pushing us to get better.
The opposite approach is to live life feeling entitled. Expecting it to be easy.
The only problem with this thinking is… we all know it isn’t true! It’s dead-end thinking.
A better strategy is to cultivate gratitude. For the good things in our lives – of course. But also for the obstacles and challenges because doing battle with these makes us better human beings.
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