What if you NEVER get there?

What if you NEVER get there?

A Personal Journey of Self-Discovery

As I sit down to write this newsletter, I am reminded of a significant turning point in my life. About a year ago, I made a conscious decision to alter the course of my journey. It was a choice that would change the trajectory of my life, and one that I am still reaping the benefits of today.

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The Unmotivated Years

From 2020 to 2023, I found myself lacking motivation to do my job. It’s astonishing, considering I have complete autonomy, created Nerd Fitness, and essentially built my own job. However, I had spent years trying to be the person that I thought Nerd Fitness and the community needed me to be, instead of doing what I’m actually good at – writing interesting things in fun ways and helping people level up.

The Road to Burnout

One small decision after another, slowly over many years, led me to this unwanted place. I kept picking projects I didn’t like and forcing myself to do them, justifying it to myself by saying, "I just have to do this until [arbitrary goal or date], and then I can be done." The problem was that I never reached my arbitrary goal. Or I changed what the goal was, or the world changed, or the business changed. I ended up spending every day doing something I didn’t like, for a payoff that never came. I did this for years, and burned myself out.

The Turning Point

After lots of therapy, long walks, soul searching, and failing repeatedly, I finally asked the important question: If I never "get there," what would I do differently? I realized I had to change how I spent my time and how I set goals. Instead of doing stuff I didn’t like and hoping for an eventual payoff, I restructured my day around why I started Nerd Fitness in the first place: reading widely about random topics that pique my interest, and then sharing my excited thoughts on those topics with a bunch of nerds (hey, that’s you!).

The Journey So Far

Since then, I’ve written dozens of newsletters about weird topics, hobbies, life, philosophy, and everything in between. 130,000+ people now get this newsletter every week, and it’s only reinforced my decision to stop focusing on the destination and get back to finding ways to enjoy the journey. I plan on writing this newsletter for decades to come, and I am excited about this opportunity to email you weird stuff weekly.

The Question We Must Ask Ourselves

I now ask you the same question: What if you never "get there"? Years ago, I stumbled across somebody on Reddit asking what the worst part was about being overweight. One answer broke my heart: "The fact that you put your whole life on hold, telling yourself that you will resume living when you lose the weight. Then, not being consistent with said weight loss journey and basically… never getting to truly live."

The Reality Check

Every day, I see people doing exercise they hate, or trying to follow a diet they don’t enjoy, to reach an arbitrary number on the scale that they think will make them happy. Most can’t stick with the diet or workout for more than a few weeks, get demoralized, and give up. Others manage to lose the weight, only to realize seeing a smaller number on their scale didn’t magically solve all of their problems. They decide the daily misery isn’t worth it.

The Flipped Script

It’s time to flip the script and give up! We’ll never "get there," because "there" isn’t an actual place we can get. It’s a state of mind. This should change how we think about the workout or diet we choose, the goal we design our life around, or the expectation we set for ourselves.

The Goal

My goal with this newsletter, and for our coaching clients, is helping people reach the following realization: finding ways to enjoy exercise, and making dietary changes that don’t feel overwhelming, is the only path forward. Even better, this often results in reaching our goals faster than when we chased fads or strategies we hated!

Conclusion

As Albert Camus explains about Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill, there’s a beautiful freedom that comes with acceptance of never "getting there." Sisyphus is "free" from the hope he would ever succeed. He accepts his fate he would never win, and thus can just get to work on finding meaning in pushing that rock, watching it roll back down, and starting over again.

What Would You Do Differently?

I want to hear about what you would do differently if you knew you would never "get there." What would you change? Would you:

• Start doing things you enjoy, even if they’re not directly related to your goal?
• Focus on the process, rather than the outcome?
• Set smaller, achievable goals that bring you joy and fulfillment?
• Embrace the journey, rather than the destination?

Hit reply and let me know. I’ll be over here pushing this boulder up a hill.

FAQs

Q: What does it mean to never "get there"?
A: It means that our goals are constantly shifting, and the concept of "getting there" is an illusion. It’s a state of mind, rather than a physical destination.

Q: How do I find ways to enjoy exercise and make dietary changes that don’t feel overwhelming?
A: Start by exploring different types of exercise and finding what you enjoy. Experiment with different diets and find what works for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make adjustments as needed.

Q: What if I’m not sure what I want to do differently?
A: Take some time to reflect on your goals and values. What are you passionate about? What brings you joy and fulfillment? Start small and take baby steps towards making changes that align with your values.

Q: How do I stay motivated and focused on my goals?
A: Celebrate your small wins and acknowledge your progress. Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you. Find accountability and make a plan for overcoming obstacles.