“It’s Simple, Not Easy”

Why is it “SIMPLE but not EASY”…. why the contradiction?

When you hear this phrase, you may feel like you are a unique type of problem…because you try to build better habits but like a New Year’s resolution, those habits didn’t seem to stick around for too long. Or you went for a walk, you finally overcame the power of the Fire TV remote (as it can have a near Lord Of The Rings type pull….my precious) and went for a walk instead of streaming that time away. And that walk may have gone one of two ways: One, you were dropping F bombs with nearly every step as you negotiated with yourself with how far this F*ing walk is suppose to go. Or option Two, you are pumping yourself up, cheering yourself on that you made an unexpected shift for the better in your routine that normally ends with you falling asleep on the couch only to wake up abruptly and see it’s time to go to bed….but you at least attempt to cram something that horribly resembles productivity just before officially retiring for the night, so you don’t feel as much like a let down as you go to bed…(only to lay in bed and doom scroll….) whatever option your walk went down, One or Two, it didn’t go down the path of consistency; daily habit; routine….which adds to your feeling of defeat.

That’s the “not easy” part of the phrase. Let’s break it down as short as possible here…..

Simple = Understanding, Easy = Effort(s). It’s simple (to understand the concept) but not easy (because it takes consistent effort to action the concept). Effort(s) that have to happen even when you are not in the mood. Effort(s) that will only show a result after a certain period of time. Effort(s) that will put you in a place of discomfort, albeit temporarily. Effort(s) that may isolate you from your social group. But guess what? You are already in a place of discomfort as I’m sure the feelings of guilt, low self-worth, zero progress towards the better vision you have of yourself, must not be comforting as was my experience.

It’s simple, not easy.

Your greatest opponent is who you see in the mirror. That person is your greatest discomfort.
But that person can become your greatest accomplishment. That person can become your greatest comfort.

Are you ready to get in the boxing ring with yourself. Day in, day out. Taking uppercuts of brutal honesty from yourself. Picking yourself up off the mat to go another round, and another, and another, and another. These are street rules. No one is there to ring the bell.

It’s simple, not easy.