The Hard Thing About Hard Things Is The Hard Thing

I was 25 minutes into a workout titled “1-800-fuck-you” and struggling.

400 meter run. 12 lunges. 12 jumping lunges. Every 6 minutes. Each round you lose 10 seconds.

At first it’s not bad, you can get through the work pretty easily. But as you get through a few rounds and drop 30 seconds – it starts to get real, real quick.

I think I made it 6 rounds (40ish minutes) and change before missing the cutoff. Some badass made it 15 rounds. Wow. 

After a few people dropped, I found myself talking to myself as I usually do when I get into the pain cave.

“You’re feeling good, but those jump lunges are doing a number on your heart rate. If you didn’t have to do those, you would be killing this.”

I thought that was a smart thought for about 1/2 second. 

Then, I thought to myself: duh.

That’s the point. It’s hard. It’s all hard. This whole thing is hard.

But that self talk is easy to buy:

I’d be good at this, if it was just a bit easier.

• “I could run ultra marathons, but running long distances isn’t fun.”
• “I could do cold showers, but I don’t enjoy the cold.”
• “I could start the business if it wasn’t so risky.”

Whatever (the thing), it’s always phrased:

I could do this, but (the hard thing) is super hard.

Yes. 

Correct.

That’s precisely the point.

The hard thing about hard things is the hard thing.

With the the hard thing, the hard things…aren’t. They’re just normal, everyday, common things.

The hard thing about hard things is the hard thing.

If you’re balls-deep in a workout, challenge or life situation that’s pushing your and you find yourself saying “I could do X, but Y is difficult” – congrats – you found the hard thing.

The very point of the entire exercise. It’s what you’re there for.

There’s no point turning around now.

Put your head down. Go all out out. Give it hell.