My self-improvement journey started when I was 18 years old, watching Casey Neistat and Jocko Willink on YouTube.
I decided to start waking up at 5:30 AM to get my homework done early, just so I could have my afternoons entirely free to train, play, and spend time with the boys.
Fast forward many years, and I’ve kept that habit, along with many others. I graduated with top marks in computer engineering, I have a job I genuinely love, and a physique I’m proud of.
But the biggest payoff isn’t on paper. It’s the realization of how incredibly enjoyable life can be on a random, mundane Tuesday, or during the middle of a cold winter.
Funny enough, my ex-girlfriend used to tell me that I “wasn’t enjoying life.” Looking back, she and her friends were constantly struggling with anxiety about their jobs and their futures. They kept holding their breath, waiting for the weekends or the next holiday just to have fun and destress.
Because I’m not really into clubbing, drinking, or pulling late nights, she perceived my routine as boring.
But here’s the truth: I’ve never had anxiety about life. It’s funny how hard, meaningful work and discipline actually make you deeply happy.
It’s sad that she left me, but I understand it now. It is very uncommon to be so fulfilled during the mundane, “boring days” that you simply aren’t looking for an escape. When you build a life you don’t need to run away from, you stop waiting for Friday to start living.
Keep putting in the work. The peace of mind is absolutely worth it.
