If you do what’s easy, your life will be hard
If you do what’s hard, your life will be easy

Wise words? Load of bollocks? Bit of both? Let’s explore this age-old adage.

The case for:

Have you noticed how the things that require the most effort often give the greatest rewards?

 

Health

You knew I was going to start with this one! It’s easy to skip a bracing walk and lounge on the sofa, chuck something processed in the microwave, rather than cook from scratch… but where does that get you?

Push through the sweat and soreness and you’ll emerge stronger, fitter and more energized. Cook fresh from scratch and your biome will be bouncing.

Career

You could coast, do the bare minimum, just enough not to be sacked – but where’s the satisfaction in that? By pushing yourself to say yes, take on new projects, learn new skills and step out of your comfort zone, you open doors to exciting opportunities and professional growth.

Relationships

It’s easy to shy away from difficult conversations or sweep issues under the rug. But does that lead to a genuine connection? Nope!

Facing challenges head-on, addressing conflicts, and putting in the effort to communicate openly and honestly can hurt at the time, but you build stronger, more meaningful relationships that stand the test of time.

 

Then there’s the other side of the coin:

Before thinking that life is just one big uphill battle, let’s Flip It.

 

Self-Care

While pushing yourself is important, so is knowing when to take a step back and prioritise self-care.

Burnout is real! Sometimes, the ‘hard’ thing to do is to give yourself permission to rest and recharge. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Ever heard of the 80/20 rule? 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.

Sometimes, focusing on the tasks that yield the biggest returns can be more effective than spreading yourself too thin trying to do it all.

So, while it’s important to embrace challenges, it’s equally important to be strategic about where you invest your time and energy.

 

Life is a delicate balance of pushing yourself to grow and knowing when to give yourself a break.

The next time you’re faced with a choice between what’s easy and what’s hard, remember:

The path of least resistance may seem appealing in the moment. But it’s the challenges that ultimately lead to growth.

And…

It’s ok to slow down. But don’t you dare stop.

I’d love to know what you think of this message. Please leave a comment below.

Be Brilliant!

Michael

 

comments

  1. June 6th 2024 by Gillian Westlake

    I love this …. In many ways it’s very me to push myself constantly …., if there’s a hard way to do …. I’ll find it etc. like Ive just taken on a new job ( at the age of 75 ) with quite a bit of training. But I am unable to sit still for long . Here is the important bit … whilst on Holiday recently I read “flip it” yes in many ways Ive been trying to live life like that for many years. I enjoyed the book it was a refresher course but one we could probably all use. It’s an easy read full of useful information and I’m still trying to get to grips with the money section lol but a great read I highly recommend .

  2. June 6th 2024 by David Palmer

    Yes! Learn your trade, become part of a professional body and contribute yourself to the top. Worked for me…..

  3. June 6th 2024 by Annie Watsham

    Learning the hard way this year. I know it, I’m now making myself stop and rest so my end goal will be the one I want. The more you practice self care the easier it becomes 🙏🙏

  4. June 6th 2024 by John Peters

    I think you know its bollocks but it sounds good. It’s one of those inspirational poster statements. I enjoy my job so I never have to work again. It’s all playtime. For some of us we can live those inspirational memes. But I think it’s how you think about work. My job would be horrible and dull if I thought about it like that. I enjoy it but I will not miss it when I retire in a few months.

add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *