@web smith

“But every circumstance is conditional. Consider the favorable situations first - loyalty, brotherhood, friendship. None of it is permanent. These states of being can flourish between people during the day and be reduced to a memory by night fall. Unfortunately, that’s the way that life seems to work. But every circumstance is conditional. Consider the painful situations next - despair, misfortune, solitude. None of it is permanent. These states of being can flourish during the day and be reduced to a memory by night fall. Fortunately, that’s the way that life seems to work. With regards to favorable circumstances, cherish them all - until the very end of today. And for those painful circumstances, persist despite them all - until the very end of tomorrow.”

“Consider this metaphor for a moment. I watched as an athlete held on to a heavy-loaded barbell today. As the scenario would go, if she could string together nine final reps without pause, she’d have a chance to win. She could have dropped it for the 15-20 seconds of pain relief before picking it up to complete the task and fared well. But instead, she held on to her immediate source of pain until the finish. And the athlete prevailed because of the ability to just do one more, and one more, and one more - until the job was done. In a moment of pain, the athlete reasoned that the moments after would be more fulfilling than the current was painful. Imagine if we all had the ability to discern the benefits of pain, commitment, and reward during these most excruciating moments in life. Now, stop imagining. Because we do possess this ability.”

“There is something powerful to be said about not being able handle your circumstances. It’s often our ‘cannot quit’ ego that holds us there. One of my personal heroes once told me that things in his life didn’t begin to drastically change until he decided, in his mind, that his current state was unbearable. Sometimes - just sometimes - retreating from the fray is not a weak action. Admitting defeat isn’t always an action born of a weak emotion. It simply means that you’re spent and that you can acknowledge it. It’s an issue of time and tolerance. There is something powerful about admitting that you can no longer do the time. Intolerance of circumstances often leads to bold recourse. Acting in intolerance, free of ego, can have a greater result than simply fighting to maintain tolerance. The goal was never to be the strongest-willed; the goal is to live the most purposeful life.”

“People will always tell you what you’re capable of; They will call it realism. Maybe you shouldn’t try that. Or maybe attempting that isn’t the best use of your time. These are the things that you’ll hear. Usually, this chorus is loudest when you’re closest to the finish. Sometimes, you’ll want to explain to them that they don’t know what it took to get even this far. This is when it’s best to look back and remember all of the improbable milestones and accomplishments that would not have been - had realism remained the core of your doctrine. Faith in yourself and faith in more than; It is often the difference between yielding to realism and achieving the real vision.”