...they are learned from you actually LIVING!

When is the last time you signed up for something hard?

Me?

1-minute ago.

I just signed up for the Lake Norman 50k (31 mile) trail race in December.

This will be my first ever ultramarathon.

I have never even done a marathon LOL.

I am not a fan of road races, yet I absolutely LOVE trail running..

So here we are.

Why did I sign up now?

Two reasons.

The first, I just completed my 10th HYROX race.

CLICK HERE to watch the documentary style recap of the race.

After I complete something hard, I reflect on the accomplishment for a bit, and soon after that...

I pick something else to sign up for.

I don't allow myself to ponder over the pain that my future self will be in, I just sign up without negotiating with myself.

The second reason I signed up for it right now is because it gives me enough time to potentially get other people to either ⬇️

a. Sign up for this race with me

b. Have others sign up for their own challenge of choice

>>>>--------> "So CJ, what is the point of this entire email other than to convince me I need to signup for something hard?"

My response: It is not about the challenge, or the races, or whatever "hard" thing that you decide to do.

It is about the lessons you will learn during the training and practice leading up.

The feeling of being fully ALIVE on the day of with the 180 degrees of emotions of anxiousness, excitement, pain, joy, happiness, despair, ALL of it.

And the principles of life you will start to understand and LIVE through every day once you complete and reflect on the challenges you have conquered and what they meant to you.

Your life challenges are your greatest teacher!

Soooooo, CJ, what lessons have you learned so far?

That is a great question!

One in which I will answer in my next newsletter. :)

For now, I will leave you with the lesson of patience.

In my 10th HYROX race, I finally felt like I "belonged" as a competitive athlete in that arena.

Even after competing at the world championships in May of 2022... I felt like an imposter.

Yet, I kept showing up.

I kept putting in the worked needed.

And I was patient with myself throughout the process.

This is my most important lesson to teach you as you go on your own journey of the pursuit of CHALLENGE.

You will not be great at first.

And it is extremely naive and egotistical to think you deserve to be great right from the start!

You will be an imposter!

But that is okay.

It is better to be an imposter and in an arena that forces you to LIVE and grow...

Compared to remaining the big fish in your tiny pond.

You are meant to swim in the ocean.

Remember this ⬆️

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I'd love to know what you are signing up for this year! Whether it is a race, a new career path, taking salsa lessons on Tuesday nights... whatever it is, share it! The world becomes better when we share our stories and bring others into them.

#thriveon

CJ

p.s. today I am grateful for my friend Scott Simmons. He is the man behind the camera helping me produce some of the best videos and content I have ever put together. He works so hard at his craft and I am grateful he is willing to take a shot on helping me.