Disclaimer: Not Medical Advice. Opinions are my own.
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Everything you want is on the other side of hard.
- NBA Head Coach Monty Williams
True value doesn't come easily or quickly.
I've naturally gravitated to challenges, especially pushing myself physically.
Marathons, triathlons, and endurance races.
They were clearly rewarding physically, but the mental benefits are even greater.
Earned dopamine.
Each race tested my mental resilience.
In my 30s and 40s, I gradually trained for triathlon events. I started small, and each event and finish fueled my hunger for the next level.
This process led to the IronMan distance, considered the Super Bowl of triathlons.
I had my doubts.
Could I complete this race? Do I have what it takes?
IronMan Arizona
An IronMan consists of:
- 2.4 Mile Swim
- 112 Mile Bike
- 26.2 Mile Run
Over 140 miles of race distance was overwhelming.
By no means was I the fastest, strongest, or genetically gifted, but I was determined.
Races are won through preparation, not on race day.
Training for an IronMan is the equivalent of a part-time job. I was either recovering from a workout or preparing for the next one.
During peak training, this required 18-20 hours a week.
The majority of my time outside of work was spent training for the IronMan.
It consumed me.
The race itself was one of the hardest things I've ever done, both mentally and physically.
Twelve hours of sheer pain management, continually struggling with the option to quit.
Ironically, one of the most challenging aspects occurred after crossing the finish line.
Pure bliss for the rest of the day, followed by a crash.
"Now what?" I thought to myself. "What's next?"
For a year, every waking hour was poured into this event.
Months of training, all dedicated to this moment of crossing the finish line.
Then nothing.
I needed another challenge.
My wife made it painfully clear: "You can either do another Iron Man or stay married."
I fell into a depression.
The Arrival Fallacy
Conditional happiness.
"As soon as I get..."
"Once we have..."
"Only when..."
We are essentially promising ourselves to forgo happiness until something in the future arrives.
The truth is, those things may arrive, but the achievement is momentary.
Ask yourself: you have already achieved, bought, and completed things that you said would make you happy, but are you?
Here you are hunting the next thing.
For me, completing the IronMan was a pinnacle challenge that I convinced myself I would "arrive" once I crossed that finish line, only to be met with a different outcome.
The lesson that has impacted me most is to embrace challenges and enjoy the ride (the journey), rather than counting on the result.
Don't shy away from the hard path. Climb your next mountain of challenges, but don't wait until you get to the top to enjoy the view.
Dopamine: The More Drug
In some form or another, we all experience the arrival fallacy.
I've fallen into this trap many times and still struggle occasionally.
It's rooted in our DNA and reward system.
You may have heard the association of dopamine as the "feel-good" hormone, and to an extent, that is true.
More accurately, it's the motivation hormone tailored to survival.
Our brains produce dopamine when anticipating what's next and the reward.
Take online shopping, for example, as soon as you place your order, you're anticipating it arriving. Tracking shipping daily, preparing for arrival. When it finally arrives, it's more of a sense of relief than a reward. Not to mention your excitement subsides over the next few days.
We are hard-wired to anticipate and chase the next thing.
That won't change.
What you can do is:
- Whenever you feel the urge for the next *FILL IN THE BLANK*, remind yourself that it won't lead to the outcome you desire.
- Enjoy the process today.
- Celebrate the small wins.
- Redefine your version of success.
- Take inventory and appreciate what you already have.
What Makes Rho Different
Rho Nutrition because they bring something different to your fridge.
Rho offers third-party-tested liposomal delivery products. Why does this matter? Most pills and powders lose a significant amount of the active ingredient during digestion.
Rho encapsulates each nutrient (creatine, glutathione, NAD+, curcumin, collagen, etc.) within a tiny liposome that survives the gut and ferries the compound intact into the bloodstream.
Liposomal delivery helps ensure that the vitamins and supplements you purchase are getting absorbed and not lost during digestion.
My personal morning Rho stack is their liposomal creatine, glutathione, DIM+, and NAD+, and before bed, I take their liposomal magnesium.
The founders, Ryan and George, firmly believe you will feel the Rho difference, but if you're not satisfied, they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.
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Only the best,
Jeremy London, MD
P.S. Don't forget to follow my podcast for free on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
