The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

For Those Quietly Struggling

I don't know who needs to see this, but I know nobody knows what you're going through. I know you put on a mask and a smile every day to hide the pain inside, the uncontrollable voice that tells you you’re not good enough. It feels as if you’re suffocating and this period will never end. But I promise you this: You’re not alone. Better days are around the corner. This period is working for you, even if you can’t see it yet. Force yourself to believe tomorrow will be better because one day “tomorrow” will be better. I’d rather choose the belief that tomorrow is the “day” than fall into the trap of thinking this pain is endless.

Here’s the truth about maintaining belief when everything feels hopeless: Belief is not passive. It’s a daily rebellion against the voice telling you to quit. You prove it by doing the small, unglamorous things anyway — the cold shower, the walk outside, the meal prepped when you’d rather numb out. Each act is a brick in the fortress of your self-trust. You won’t feel strong until after you’ve acted strong.

Find Your “Deathbed Friends”

Sahil Bloom talks about “deathbed friends” — the rare people who’d sit with you in the trenches when you have nothing left to offer. These aren’t the ones who love your potential, your accolades, or your curated persona. They’re the ones who see your cracks and still choose to stay.

To find them, you must first stop performing. Let the mask slip. Admit when you’re not okay. The right people won’t flinch. They’ll hand you a shovel and start digging alongside you. These relationships aren’t forged in convenience — they’re tempered in vulnerability. When you find them, protect them fiercely. They’ll be the ones pointing out your blind spots, calling you back to your core when you’re lost in the noise, and reminding you who you were before the world got its hands on you.

The Alchemy of Suffering

Darkness isn’t here to destroy you — it’s here to remind you of your agency. Every great story requires a villain. Your pain is the antagonist that’s forcing you to develop strength you didn’t know you had. The sleepless nights, the pit in your stomach, the doubt — these aren’t signs you’re failing. They’re proof you’re being refined.

Your job isn’t to “stay positive.” It’s to prove to yourself you’re the type of person who shows up. When you don’t want to cook, cook. When you don’t want to text a friend, text. When you don’t want to write the page, write the sentence. These micro-choices compound into an unshakable identity: I am someone who fights.

Your Future Self Is Watching

One day, you’ll look back at this version of yourself — raw, exhausted, clawing for hope — and you’ll finally understand why it had to hurt this much. You’ll realize the weight you carried became the foundation of your wisdom. The loneliness taught you how to connect. The self-doubt forced you to validate your own worth.

The darkness is temporary, but the strength you’re mining now is permanent. Fight for yourself like you’re someone worth fighting for — because you are. When the voice says “I can’t,” add “yet.” When it says “This is pointless,” whisper “Prove it.”

The light is coming. Not because life gets easier, but because you’ve earned the eyes to see it.

Your future self is already proud of you.
Now go make them prouder.

Two Quotes

1. "Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved." — William Jennings Bryan

2. "The quality of your effort today determines the magnitude of your success tomorrow." — John C. Maxwell

Three Tweets

To Building Fortitude.

 Best Regards,

Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude