Life happens in the friction.
There are these special moments in life. Moments that come up every day.
It’s mile 3 of your run when your legs go dead. It’s rep 8 on bench press when your triceps start to shake. It’s the split second eye contact with an intimate friend when you both see the elephant in the room, but neither of you wants to be the one to name it.
It's hearing great music at the bar when nobody's dancing. Or heading to the bathroom only to find two people already waiting there, now looking at you. It’s minute #15 on a difficult work task when you feel the itch to grab a quick snack.
It's the meditation when your mind just won't shut up, or the conversation where the small talk has run dry and the silence is starting to feel heavy.
In these moments, these moments of pure discomfort, we have a choice. We can take the exit ramp. Look away, slow down, or reach for the distraction. Let the tension break and go back to feeling "fine."
Or, we can sit with it. Feel it. Accept it. And (maybe) lean into it. Let our intuition take the wheel. Trust that if we stay in the pocket, we’ll thread the needle.
Every time I’ve chosen to lean in, I’ve found something better on the other side. It’s a specific kind of curated, authentic confidence. The feeling of actually meeting your true self, rather than just running away from him.
- L
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