“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy – I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.”
~ Art Williams
This week’s quote reminds us that nothing in life that’s worth doing is ‘easy.’ It’s something I’ve said before on a few occasions. However, even that notion is a bit simplistic. Most of us conceptually understand what it means, and many of us can attest to its truth based on our own experiences, but how do you describe this notion in a real way to someone who does not have the experience to back it up? Well, let’s break it down.
Allow me to use an analogy inspired by this post’s photograph. If you have ever been seriously hiking (anywhere from a 3 to 12 day trip or beyond), you know that it’s not all rainbows, sunshine, and being at one with nature. Climbing a large summit is work – mentally, physically, and emotionally.
It’s not the preparation (unless you’re looking to climb everest) – that’s more or less pretty straightforward. It’s not even the physical act of hiking – placing one foot in front of the other is simply done. Sure, there are moments of physical duress, but if you’ve prepared well, you’ll probably be up to the task. It’s not the relative inability to bathe – though that can be annoying to say the least.
I would argue that the most difficult part of any task we want to achieve is the doubt we inevitably come up against. Why am I doing this? CAN I do this? Will it be worth it? What if I don’t make it? What if I fail? All valid questions, and all completely useless. These thoughts arise for most people. But they’re just products of fear; one of the most inevitable aspects of being human.
Reaching the summits of our dreams requires us to defy that fear; a fear that our egos cling to in the face of some impending change. It is an unconscious fear, and that is one of the most difficult things to overcome in this life. But it’s, oh, so worth it.
Wishing you the courage to embrace your fears, and let your dreams run wild.
By Terence Stone
If you enjoyed this article and want to get involved, please subscribe to the blog, like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter or Google+.
