I’m working on a play about how we got into this mess in the first place. I’d like to run it by you.
Act One: Poor diets and lack of physical activity.
Act Two: Depression, stagnation, and lethargy.
Act Three: Finger pointing and/or the constant pursuit of the quick fix.
Dénouement: the aforementioned mess.
Think of it as Arthur Miller by way of Tony Horton. I plan to call it Death of an American Work Ethic: How we try to get what we want with the least possible effort. I’m hoping for a Broadway opening this spring. What do ya think?
My inspiration, obviously, came from pondering what a lazy lot we’ve become. For some reason, too many of us have forgotten (or have never been taught) that joy, happiness, health, fitness, loving relationships, and financial success all stem from hard work, persistence and the occasional bit of physical, mental or emotional discomfort.
Remember the aches of childhood growing pains? How about stress of cramming for finals your senior year of high school? What about the terror of your first job interview? Your first broken heart?
None of these were especially pleasant experiences, but you benefitted from all of them. You grew stronger, bigger, wiser, and smarter. You learned grace under pressure. But despite these benefits, we’ve become a society that avoids discomfort like the plague. The Buddhists like to say, “Life is pain.” I don’t know if I’m ready to be quite that absolute, but I will admit that a tenant of The Human Condition requires you to sometimes take painful steps to get what you desire.
Ironically, avoiding suffering just causes many of us to suffer all the more. Obesity. Ignorance. Heart conditions. Diabetes. Depression. Millions of Americans suffer needlessly because they don’t have the right formula for success. These are not stupid people; they just don’t know how to work for what they want. Somewhere along the way they (wrongly) learned that the good things in life come from playing the lottery, having affairs, manipulating the truth, risking quick-fix surgeries, or riding somebody else’s coat tales whenever they have to deal with something important.
I call this misguided method the Pleasure from Pleasure Technique. It’s a short-term, shortsighted shortcut strategy that is ultimately short on results. Furthermore, it inevitably backfires. The end result is mental, physical, and emotional pain with no real pleasure in sight.
Luckily, I’m not done writing my play yet. That last, depressing Act Three is up for grabs, so take a cue from the millions of Americans before us who made this country great. Roll up your sleeves and get busy. Need a place to start? How about getting a little exercise every day and making a few healthier food choices? It won’t be easy. You’re gonna sweat. You’re gonna ache. Your tummy’s going to rumble. But your hard work will pay off quickly, inspiring you to apply the same work ethic to other aspects of your life. Soon, you’ll discover that whatever you’re working on — be it your business plan or your body, your wellbeing or your wallet – will be richly rewarded with a little effort.
And you’ll be helping Tony win a Tony.
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“I have failed, time and time again. That is how I was successful in my career”- Michael Jordan. If that’s not inspiration Mr. Horton, I don’t know what is.
Thanks tony! Just what I needed
Hey Tony – Took my new mountain bike into the shop the other day to have some adjustments made. As he was helping me with my form and adjusting my handlebars, the guy there told me how refreshing it was that I wasn’t looking for some magic trick to get up the hills. Apparently, a lot of people come into the shop and feel entitled to something aside from hard work and training that will make them faster, stronger, better climbers. He then asked how flexible I was and if I could touch my toes. I told him I could because of years of yoga and the past few years of P90X and Insanity. When he asked how my core was, I told him it was a heck of a lot stronger after 3 weeks of P90X2 Phase 1. Thanks for helping me kick 2012 off in full force! – Cory
Way to Bring It! Mr. Horton
Always insightful – sharing this with everyone I know
Thanks Tony!
So, what do you do if childhood experiences trained you to fear discomfort so much that you avoid it at all costs? That if you even suspect that discomfort is imminent (because you don’t know how to proceed, or if something will work), you begin to feel totally unsafe. Not unsafe in an adult way, but totally helpless and unsafe in a child way, cause the experience throws you back into trauma world?
I’m feeling the pain… and I LOVE IT!
P – Pleasure
A – Action
I – Inspiration
N – Nirvana
Tony, you’re my role model.
When your finished writing your play, I could play the lead. But I do love the good pain that comes from your workouts.
Inspiring words Tony.
Just want to say so far I love it to the point and so vary true can’t wait to see the end result! Thank you Tony for your inspiration!!
Wow tony i was just telling myself today how greatfull i was to not have had anything handed to me in life. Iv worked hard to get everything iv ever had and its not much, but i find that i have more heart and soul then half the sad country we live in. Sad what we have done to mankind, lazyness and lack of disepline. You are truley one of kind and u have chaged my life greatly! We can turn this world around, people like you are what make us keep hope alive!
Right on Tony!! That was a refreshing read. Hopefully more and more people will follow your advice. See you tomorrow for Plyocide!!!
Hi Tony!
I was 110 kilos i.e 242 pounds…now i weigh around 72 kilos.
Decide Commit Succeed is great philosophy which can be deployed in every walk of life….and I am living by it….
Tony,I have just started my second 90 days of P90X.
I have always exercised but your program,makes you push yourself to be better. I am loving the way I feel and look.Everyone knows that I have “a date with Tony” first thing in the morning! Thank you!
AMEN! This post should be on the front page of every newspaper….on the scrolling ticker at the bottom of CNN….on the side of every milk carton, cereal box…candy bar….heck, put it on the back of a dollar bill too. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! I can hear you saying it~ we all should be screaming it to everyone we know!