Why Building the Life You Want Requires Discomfort

Building the life you want requires discomfort.

Throughout our lives, we see things that make us think: that's what I want in my future. I would do anything to get that. Then you get home and choose to do the same thing over and over again. A year flies by and you kick yourself for not going anywhere.

But what if, after that same year, you looked back in admiration at everything you'd accomplished instead?

You can do this year after year, until you have the future you've envisioned for yourself.

Don't Mistake a Break for Arrival

The common trap is accomplishing one thing and stopping. You think, I need a break. This is what I deserve for my hard work. And you're not wrong to rest, a breather is earned. Just don't mistake a break for arrival. Reevaluate. Have you reached your vision yet? If the answer is no, then there's more work to be done.

You Are Not Your Past

In our plan for life, we find that sometimes life has its own plan for us. Hardships. Setbacks. Loss. These moments naturally push to the forefront of our thoughts, and before you know it, they become your whole life. What's important to remember during these times is that you are NOT your past. Those moments shaped you, but they don't get to define where you're headed. They're simply there to mold you into the person you're meant to become.

You can build your life around them, or you can use them to propel yourself toward your ideal future. You pick.

How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit

At almost every point on your journey, there will be discomfort, the kind that makes you question whether it's worth continuing. If you stop, you're right back to kicking yourself for not going anywhere, still wishing you had that house on the water.

So remember your why and keep pushing forward. No matter what setbacks you face, remember they are a REQUIREMENT for your dreams. They're only building you into a more refined version of yourself.

The Payoff Is Worth the Discomfort

There is no easy path. But once you're sitting in that beach chair with a hot coffee at sunrise, there will never be a better sip.

-Andy