What I Learned from 75 HARD (Part IV - Not All at Once)

summarized in 23 lessons

** After 4 failed attempts, I completed 75 Hard the 5th time around. I learned exactly what I needed to…. and wow was it a blessing **

Thank God for showing me my weakness during this challenge and also giving me strength when I needed it most, discipline throughout, and wisdom within the 75 days.

To continue to grow is a great privilege in this life.

As Jim Rohn, the entrepreneur and author says, “It seems that every life form on this planet strives toward its maximum potential... except human beings. A tree does not grow to half its potential size and then say, ‘l guess that will do....’”

Here are the things I learned from this amazing challenge.

And for those who don’t know, this is what 75 Hard consists of — 75 days in a row of the following 7 tasks.

1. Once I truly started to enjoy the journey of this challenge is when I truly approached it differently…. and successfully.

2. You can tell if a participant in this challenge has completed it or not. You can see the transformation of the person. You can feel it.

3. Don’t cheat yourself. You’ll know if you do. The path to your success doesn’t have shortcuts.

4. Physically give your all during your workout sessions, so that when you are going through your days in this world, you are prepared to suffer well.

   1. Of course ^^ balance this with proper training protocol based on your fitness objectives.

5. Something is only a sacrifice, if you see it as such.

(James Clear - 9.14.23)

6. When you start the morning strong, and when I specifically start the morning in the Lord’s Word, the entire day is able to be conquered with more ease - no matter how hard the days tasks may be.

7. You are always more capable than what you first expect of yourself. Don’t limit yourself. Exceed expectations. Go above the line. Raise the standard.

8. Positivity compounds. Don’t let negative thoughts overtake your mind. (a) To fortify against negativity, start by accepting your current state (whether you’re in a loop of negative thinking or in a negative environment). (b) Replace stagnation with physical movement or mental movement (a.k.a thinking about the strategic next step) - negativity wants you to freeze. Don’t let it. (c) Everyone needs a release? What is yours? For me, I ultimately bring my thoughts captive to God and His Word and then let the negativity go.

9. Setting hard boundaries is essential in order to complete this challenge - this was personally a big point of improvement for me. Saying “no” to that friend who offered me a drink. Saying “no” to that evening get together in order to complete my second workout of the day. Saying “no” to staying up late, so I could get proper sleep and recovery.

10. Limit distractions. They protrude your mind, invade your spirit, tempt you to sin, and drive you off the path of your purpose.

11. To tackle large goals, you need to have a robust strategy, system, and process that can uphold consistent, daily effort for long, long periods of time.

12. “Small hinges swing a big door.” (W. Clement Stone)

13. I had COVID from Day 10 to Day 15 of this challenge. Because that was the case, I further learned what it means to be persistent in the face of adversity.

14. After 21 days, I felt the momentum building with the daily habits required in this challenge.

15. Form habits that make your life smoother. For example, I now consistently prepare my clothes for the next day, the night before.

16. This challenge tested those of my friends who continue to hold me accountable - and those who don’t.

17. To point #16, I learned about the importance of accountability via working out with others. That same principle can apply to any facet in life.

18. Sleep, sleep, sleep. You either do enough of it…. or you don’t. What will you choose?

19. Once you’ve truly engrained a habit, whether it be compounded in the good or bad direction, it’s extremely hard to get rid of.

20. I learned true discipline - to keep going day after day, even on the days I didn’t want to.

21. Day 44 was tough. I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. My body was exhausted. The weather outside was frigid. However, it was day 44 of 75. I thought about the feeling of stopping and it didn’t entice me enough. To the same point of #13, I showed up when I least felt like it. Just showing up is what mattered most. Everything else fell into its proper place thereafter.

22. No one is perfect. This challenge requires perfect attendance. Each of the 7 daily tasks need to be fully completed for 75 days in a row. I failed my first 4 attempts with 75 HARD.

23. The more I can keep my word in what I am personally aiming to do, the more easily I can keep my word in which I offer to others.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

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Check out my other essays within this essay series, Not All at Once:

How to Stop Forcing It (Part III - Not All at Once)

Speak Truth Wisely (Part II - Not All at Once)

Go Slower... to Go Faster (Part I - Not All at Once)

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Shoutout to the one and only

Baxter Blackwood

for helping me crystalize this essay.

If you haven’t checked out his Substack, please check it out now

Strong Convictions, Loosely Held 🦖

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