Hold Water
Progress doesn’t just come from what you do.
It also comes from what you don’t do.
It all matters.
In a combat rubber raiding craft, the coxswain controls the boat. He doesn’t just yell “paddle harder.” He directs where power is applied, but also where friction is applied.
If he says:
“Port side, trail. Starboard side, give way.”
The left side pulls its paddles out of the water. The right side keeps paddling. The boat slowly turns left.
That works.
But if he says:
“Port side, hold water. Starboard side, give way.”
Now the left side keeps its blades in the water to create resistance. The right side drives forward. The boat turns hard and fast.
The action is the same, the different result comes from what isn’t done.
Sometimes it is not enough to add the right actions. You also have to create resistance against the wrong ones.
You can ruck three days a week, lift twice, and still eat like a raccoon in a dumpster.
You can say you want to be hard, then stay up until midnight scrolling on your phone and drag ass the next day.
At some point, progress becomes less about addition and more about subtraction.
Maybe you don’t need more motivation; you need to hold water.
You need to bury the blade of your paddle against the habits that keep turning you the wrong way.
Forward momentum alone is not always enough.
Sometimes, the fastest way to change direction is to resist action
That means saying no.
No to the second helping.
No to your bullshit excuse.
No to “I’ll start Monday.”
No to the whiney-ass voice in your head that wants you to do weak shit.
The coxswain is responsible for his boat. He can’t care what the crew thinks.
He gives the orders necessary to keep the boat on course.
Your life is the same way.
You can keep paddling harder and wonder why you’re going in circles, or you can finally hold water against the habits that are slowing you down.
Hold water. Turn your boat. RTFU.
Until next week,
John
Life is Hard. Be Harder.
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Magnify by subtracting…. Semper!
Less is more! :) Another great article, John! Thank you....