Use Constraint and self-manufactured challenges as a way to create freedom, happiness, and resilience.
With the new year on the horizon, we can all probably use a little more mental fortitude, resilience, and strong habits. In this episode, I’m sharing the unique ways I’ve created more of these by using the concept of manufactured hardship or constraint — and how it helped turn a challenging year (hello, 2020!) around for me in a really profound way.
Some of the resources I share include my deep dive into Stoic philosophy, starting the 75 Hard Challenge while pregnant, and how I found focus and routine where there wasn’t any during the hardest months when my business was in crisis due to the pandemic shutdowns and I was thrown into homeschooling.
One thing I really learned this past year is just how much creating strong habits, boundaries, and some “self-induced suffering”, if you will, helped me to find peace and overall ease.
I also have a guest on this podcast, Brent Gleeson, former Navy SEAL and author of the newly released book on this exact topic, Embrace the Suck.
The idea behind the title of Gleeson’s book is that in SEAL training, instructors tell students to “embrace the suck,” to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because suffering truly does make you stronger. This book gives you a roadmap to use the idea of mental toughness to transform every area of your life.
I personally love reading anything by a SEAL (I even wrote about Fortitude by Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw in my Inc. column). I am fascinated with their thought process and the training they go through, and I always find really valuable takeaways. I think you’ll find some great takeaways too, and be sure to check the links below and pre-order a copy of Embrace the Suck!
So jump in, give this episode and interview a listen, and I’d love if you screenshot and shared on social (tag me @emilyrichett) with your biggest takeaway. I love seeing what resonates with you and always respond.
Links to books & resources mentioned in this podcast:
- Embrace the Suck
- The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday
- The Daily Stoic
- Fortitude by Dan Crenshaw
- My article in Inc. about Fortitude
- The Art of Living by Epictetus
- 75 Hard Challenge
Topics discussed in this episode:
- [0:30] Emily’s intro
- [2:30] Emily’s thoughts on Stoicism
- [4:40] Why Emily started the 75 Hard Challenge & how it works
- [11:00] Interview with Brent Gleeson, author of Embrace the Suck
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