The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

Why Your Endless Desires Are Killing Your Success And Happiness:

Desire is the fuel that propels us forward, the spark that ignites innovation, and the driving force behind human achievement. Yet, paradoxically, it's also the very thing that can lead us into a labyrinth of discontent.

Naval Ravikant, the philosopher-entrepreneur, aptly describes desire as "a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want". This definition cuts to the core of why excessive desires can be detrimental to our well-being and productivity.

Consider the typical ambitious individual in today's world. They want to build a successful business, maintain a perfect physique, cultivate a thriving social life, master three languages, and become an expert in their field – all simultaneously. Each of these desires, while admirable, creates a separate contract of unhappiness. The result? A perpetual state of dissatisfaction as they constantly fall short of their numerous, often conflicting, goals.

The solution isn't to eliminate desire entirely – that would be both impossible and undesirable. Instead, we need to cultivate a laser-like focus on one primary desire while letting go of the rest.

This concept of extreme focus isn't new. It's the secret behind many of history's greatest achievements. When Michelangelo carved David, he wasn't simultaneously trying to become a master chef or a champion horseman. He poured his entire being into his craft, allowing his singular desire to create transcendent art to guide his actions.

In our modern context, this might mean choosing one primary goal – be it building a groundbreaking company, writing a seminal book, or becoming a world-class athlete – and ruthlessly eliminating distractions that don't serve this purpose.

This approach requires a fundamental shift in mindset. Instead of trying to "have it all," we must become comfortable with the idea of trade-offs. Every "yes" to your primary desire necessitates a "no" to countless other possibilities. It's about understanding that true greatness often requires relentless commitment.

However, this doesn't mean living a joyless, monastic existence. It's about being intentional with your desires and understanding their true cost. As Seneca wisely noted, "The greatest wealth is a poverty of desires". By limiting our desires, we paradoxically increase our chances of achieving profound satisfaction and success.

This approach also aligns with the concept of "essentialism" – the disciplined pursuit of less. By focusing on the essential, we can channel our energy and resources more effectively, leading to outsized results in our chosen domain.

Implementing this strategy isn't easy. Our brains are wired to want more, to constantly seek novelty and progress on multiple fronts. Social media and modern advertising only exacerbate this tendency, bombarding us with images of "perfect" lives and creating new desires we never knew we had.

To combat this, we need to develop a practice of mindfulness and self-awareness. Regularly questioning our desires, understanding their origins, and evaluating their alignment with our core values and goals is crucial. This doesn't mean suppressing all desires – it means choosing them consciously and deliberately.

In practical terms, this might involve:

1. Clearly defining your primary goal or desire.

2. Ruthlessly eliminating or postponing pursuits that don't directly contribute to this goal.

3. Developing systems to minimize distractions and maintain focus.

4. Regularly reassessing and recommitting to your chosen path.

Remember, the goal isn't to live a life devoid of desire, but to harness its power more effectively. By focusing intensely on one primary desire and letting go of the rest, we can achieve a level of mastery and fulfillment that would be impossible with a scattered approach.

In the end, the path to greatness – and indeed, to a fulfilling life – isn't about accumulating more desires. It's about choosing the right ones and pursuing them with unwavering focus and dedication. As you embark on this journey, ask yourself: What's the one desire that, if fulfilled, would make the biggest impact on your life and the world around you? That's where your focus should lie.

Two Quotes

1. "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T.S. Eliot

2. "We must be willing to let go of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. If we fix on the old, we get stuck. When we hang onto any form, we are in danger of putrefaction. Hell is life drying up." - Joseph Campbell

Three Tweets

To Building Fortitude.

 Best Regards,

Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude