Grind Mentality vs “Woo” Culture: Which is Better?
Challenging Limiting Beliefs
The thinking and actions that got you here won't get you to where you're going. Your belief on how to make the changes may be the exact reasons you're not making the progress you'd like.
Personal Example
For years, I beat myself up over whether or not I could stay "ripped" or on a "diet". I thought to myself, "I'm the pro here, I'm supposed to have my shit together and look a certain way and eat a certain way." If I strayed from my "diet", I felt undisciplined, not motivated, and not a good example. Guilt would consume me if I indulged in pizza and couldn't see my abs. This mindset bred unsustainable behavior, making me feel sick and restricted. It wasn't serving me.
Breaking Free from Limiting Mindsets
Many still believe the only way they can love themselves is if they are in the gym every day, or if they have visible abs. They think exercising more will solve all their problems and neglect other basic needs because "grinding" is the only way to succeed. They think if they lose the 20 lbs. they will be more lovable and will love themselves. They think if they had the perfect partner life would better. The truth is that this sort of thinking is a story that is keeping you stuck.
Embracing Change
From experience, I can tell you there is no glory in suffering for what you want. There tend to be 2 camps when it comes to making change.
1. Suck it up and do it. This is the mentality I spoke of above. It is do it even if you don't like it 'You can't hurt me" tough persona. It is the "grind" mentality in our culture. But if you know anything about hustling and grinding then you know its not a real solution or sustainable. This has been popularized by so many in todays culture (Goggins, Jocko, etc.)
The thing is, you WILL see success in certain areas of your life doing this. You may make money, achieve a fit body but you will also be unhappy, burnout, and having some serious baggage to unload later on in life. The "you can't hurt me" image really just screams "I'm hurt! look at me."
2. The "woo" crowd. This is the Law of Attraction crowd that feels if you sit around wishing and hoping long enough then the perfect partner will magically knock on your door. They also are the reason the lottery explodes to a billion dollars as often as it does and also believes they'll lose weight as long as they think positive thoughts and say their affirmations. They do ayahuasca retreats 6 times a year and are constantly inspired but do nothing.
Now, I love personal development, spirituality, philosophy as much as anybody. Anybody who works with me knows that.
What's the Solution?
The key in making real change is knowing that no matter how much you think and feel good about something you must combine it with action.
At the same time…
This means only taking the actions you want. No hustle, No sitting around thinking about what it'd be like to achieve. Just doing what you want.
Yes I mean that.
You may be thinking, “well I can’t just sit around watching TV and reach my goals.”
This is why if what you want is to be fit, healthy, strong and confident then you must do things that you like that also make you fit, strong, healthy and confident.
You already know what this is. Don't overthink it.
You are so insistent that it has to suck. What if it could be easier than you've made it?
Look to your future self and ask;
"What would the world look like through the eyes of my future self, if even just for a moment?"
See what comes up, what kind of clarity do you get? What sort of inspiration?
Furthermore, asking the question will allow the actions to reveal themselves with complete clarity.
Take action from there.
This is how you combine thought, feeling and action towards a meaningful life.
There is future version of you who has accomplished everything you could imagine. They are guiding you in this moment to taking actions that inspire you and making choices that will guide you along. Are you going to listen to them? or are you going to argue with them?
Summary
In our journey towards growth, we must challenge the beliefs that hold us back. My own struggles with self-image and discipline taught me that true progress comes from breaking free from restrictive mindsets. By aligning our actions with our aspirations and envisioning the life we desire, we can step into a future filled with clarity, inspiration, and meaningful action. Let's embrace change with courage and optimism, knowing that our potential is limitless when we dare to think, feel, and act in alignment with our deepest desires and not others.
