Mud

The man I am today is, because I choose to sit in the mud. Let me explain.

There is a saying that say’s, “No mud, no lotus.” I love that. Meaning that we grow through the pain. Or, we can still find beauty in troubling times. And when I look back at my life, each version of myself that emerged after pain was magnificent.

While I do not openly invite pain into my life, when it arrives, I know that a better version of me is forming. How do I know this? Because I am disciplined enough to do the work. Not staying stuck, and not taking on a victims mentality. And that’s the difference. That is what separates the old you from the new you.

We’ve got to learn to dance in the rain. We need to understand that pain is not a punishment. It is a preparation. {Another one of my favorite sayings.} Get behind that, and watch how easily things begin to shift in your favor.

My special forces friends actually train for pain. They too have a saying. That “Ounces equal pounds. Pounds equal pain.” When they train, they train in full gear. Train the way you will fight. It is that type of thought process that gets me to the gym 365 days a year. That allows me to do crisis work without fear. That allows me to out work any problem. Do I have bad days? Fuck yeah. Do I quit? It’s been over 30 years since I tapped out. It just will not happen.

Embrace the mud. It is essential to our growth. No one gets through life with clean hands. The mud may be dirty, but used correctly, you will see things that propel you to the next level. Embrace the pain. It is part of the process.