More Pain & Pressure please
Dear friend,
I am sitting on my airplane flying home from San Diego. I caught an earlier flight on standby that landed me in the very back row. Which is quite a contrast, because my flight home had been upgraded to first class that included a meal. I also had to check my luggage, which I never do, but because I was the last on, they took my carry-on and put it in the belly. I'm just grateful to be getting home 3 hours earlier than planned.
I got some fun feedback from last weeks letter that Chatters wrote. I'm sure you're aware, but just to clarify, I don't use him to help me write these weekly letters. As he assessed they are for my learning, so crafting good sentences from a robot is not the goal. These letters are way too personal to involve him. I hope you feel that and know that.
The gate agent was like "Are you sure you want to give up your first-class seat?" I was like absolutely. But then when they took my bag, I almost reconsidered. I hate waiting at baggage claim. However, my priority is to get home as soon as possible, regardless of where I sit, what I eat, or how long I have to wait upon arrival. Knowing our priorities makes decision making easy.
It's like a barometer check on suffering. What am I willing to endure to get what I want? There must be a Pain/Priority Quadrant Box that shows how important something is vs. how much difficulty we're willing to go through to achieve it. I haven't seen one, but charting willingness that way could be useful.
PAIN
Another way to describe a priority is to define it as valuable. What's the price we're willing to pay to have it realized in our life? We see it play out in every arena of life: work, relationships, calling, faith, money, geography, stuff, health, wisdom, security, adventure and more. It's why there is so much talk about the debilitating effects of our comfort zones. They don't enable us to access the truly meaningful things in life.
I don't consider myself a glutton for punishment, but considering the last decade of my life, you might think so. I am passionate about experiencing an uncommon existence. Pain is the currency I've paid to accomplish that priority. Like you, sometimes I choose the pain and sometimes the pain chooses me - because I didn't realize the price tag of certain decisions.
MINDSHIFT
What if you got really clear about a priority this week and consciously paid in pain to make the progress?
PRESSURE
Pain's cousin pressure possesses a similar reputation. People desire to avoid it. "Don't pressure me" is a defensive refrain that many have been known to say or shout. I get it and I don't. Pressure has more positive qualities than negative. Apply pressure and see what pops out of you and me. For those who speak the language of "authenticity" pressure is one of the best resources to reveal it.
Pressure is movement. When we're stuck it's the best thing for us, yet it's what we avoid most. The irony of humanity is our persistent stand to avert what's best for us. Our brains have a tendency to think what's best for us is exactly the opposite of what's actually best for us. I mean has your brain ever said "you need more pain and pressure in your life!"
MINDSHIFT
What if you self-applied pressure in an area you've been resisting it and discover a little more about yourself, while accelerating towards a priority?
I'm not making the progress in my business I'd like to. It directly correlates to the pain and pressure I've avoided. I rode my mountain bike 15 miles last Wednesday, all on an asphalt trail and city streets. I've never done that before. It was painful. Lainey and I went to the Basilica in St. Louis. It's the most magnificent mosaic work I've ever seen. The pressure to get every square right is completely unfathomable.
We don't get progress or our priorities without pain & pressure.
Vision is the platform that empowers us to embrace the positivity of pain and pressure. Do you see it? Do you see the priority? Do you see where progress gets you? Once you do P&P become a catalyst friend. We don't need less pain and pressure, we need clearer vision that gives it purpose. Back to the Basilica, it's apparent someone saw it before it was realized. So much so, decades were spent bringing it to fruition. It's spectacular!
SHIFTING
I hope you have a vision that takes decades and requires enormous pain and pressure because that will certainly create the most fulfilling life. #ShiftAway
