Swinging the Axe

So I just start swinging…and usually I can begin feeling like I'm working hard but not making ANY progress. 

I feel like that a lot. Maybe it is because the older I get, the more things in my life aren’t start-finish kind of tasks. They require more vision, more fortitude, more consistency, more time and ultimately, more BELIEF. 

If you know me or have been following for a while, you know that I really enjoy manually splitting wood when I can. And when you are a dude, and you have an ax in your hand, and there happens to be a tree standing next to you, there is really only one option.

It must come down...and I don't need no stinking chainsaw!

So I just started swinging. And swinging. And swinging. 

Chop…chop…chop.

After a lot of swings, I started to sweat. I started to feel the burn in my shoulders and back. 

I started to think halfway through = almost done. 

I was wrong. 

That tree seemed as sturdy as when I started swinging. So on I swung.

Chop. Chop. Chop.

3/4 of the way through… more sweat, more burn still NO sign of movement. 

I had to dig deeper, swing harder and overall want it more. 

Then on one fateful swing of what felt like hundreds, it came….CRACK. 

A few more swings until I dropped the axe and pushed it over.

Man v Wild. 

I’m realizing that most of the things in my life at this point are like chopping down a tree with an ax.

Getting married, starting a family, starting a business, being part of a church, having an old motorcycle and on and on. All of these things require motivation, purpose, vision, REALLY hard work, emotional investment and WAITING to see results. 

Sure I get frustrated when I get tired, and worn out, emotionally and physically drained and feeling like nothing seems to be moving forward. But THEN I HEAR THE ‘CRACK’. 

Are you feeling like you are in the middle of the long CHOP? 

Take a moment and ask yourself if it is worth it?

GET CLARITY.

Remind yourself. Then KEEP SWINGING!

Pretty soon you’ll hear the ‘CRACK’. 

And Pretty soon, you’re going to throw that axe and PUSH THAT TREE DOWN. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!! I don't take it lightly as I try to create and share content that is INSTANTLY implementable because I believe that's where real value exists. If any of this is helpful, please pay it forward to someone else who could use some positivity and encouragement. I'd also love to have you follow along on Instagram @paulthedaly or at www.pauljdaly.com