Apr 6, 20193 min read

April Challenges

Updated: Apr 16, 2019

March, I still don’t know how to feel about you… There were points during this month where I just didn’t think I was going to make it, specifically the last two weeks. Every single day felt like two weeks, talk about grinding it out, geez. It was all worth it in the end though. Not only did I accomplish most of my goals, I also received a job offer from Entercom, what a blessing that was. More money, more responsibility, and the ability to learn even more about business and marketing, which is a dream for me. Here’s what I accomplished:

Run 40 miles
Wake up between 430am - 500am EVERYDAY
2 Published blog post
Final Version of TCS website - test all 3 draft and choose
New Job!!

“Sometimes life drags, sometimes every day feels same. Sometimes life is monotonous. Sometimes you have to take it minute by minute, instead of day by day. These are the moments that build character, these moments that will ultimately decide your fate. It’s a balance. Learn to go with the flow and take control when you need to. Monotony can be a sign that something needs to change; maybe that’s your mindset, maybe you’re not challenging yourself, maybe your life isn’t what it should be and you’re “depressed”. Often times monotony is normal, but don’t rock the boat, especially if you’re in a position to set yourself free one day, just play the game. Subjugation is often the precursor to freedom.

The keyword for April is sacrifice, the idea is that you give up something of value in the present so that you can improve the future. That’s no different than discipline, it’s just the concrete, acted out version of it. Sometimes you must sacrifice something you love now. The things that stop us from moving forward are often our attachment to things that we should no longer be attached to. As a matter of fact, if you’re not moving forward in life, there’s a high probability that you have some idea, some mode of action, or some habit that you’re so in love with that you won’t let it go.

Treat the future as if it’s something you can bargain with. Tell me, what are you willing to sacrifice to improve the future?”

I’ve done a lot of sacrificing over the years, but to be honest, I’ve avoided a few things I knew one day I would have to let go. You could say it was willful blindness on my part, which is a very dangerous thing to engage in. I wanted to have my cake and eat it to, so to speak. I felt that somehow, someway, I was the exception to the rule. That’s egotistical pride, and it always comes before the fall, and boy did I fall, and fall, and fall.

A good characteristic that I have is that I’m not delusional about where the fault lies. I’m hyper aware of where something went wrong and what I need to do to correct the action. The blame is always on my shoulders and even when it’s not, I know what I could’ve better, aka my bounce back game is on point! Instead of flirting with potential fallout's due to taking shortcuts, I need to re-calibrate my mindset and make sure I don’t take half measures. I need to sacrifice leisure, peace of mind, and comfort. There’s nothing wrong with those things but in excess comfort is detrimental to growth.

I’ve learned that your comfort zone is a place to rest and recuperate, not a place to live. That’s easier said than done but I’m up for the challenge, my heart needs to be in the right place to make this sacrifice of comfort; to embrace my fears, and I believe it is. Time will tell.

“I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” - Nelson Mandela