We Choose to Go to the Moon

"If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved."? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???- Samuel Smiles

We can all do the easy things in life because they are easy, but doing the hard things is hard, because they are hard.? It almost sounds like the insights of SNL’s Rosanadanna,?“It just goes to show ya. It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another”.? However, my initial statement is false!? Why?? Because what appears to be hard finds its basis in experience.? By shifting our mindset, pursuing hard tasks and?clearing obstacles, what was once hard or difficult becomes second nature.? These collective experiences?create the pathway to greatness.

Easy is defined as,?“Something achieved without great effort, something presenting few difficulties.”? Easy is what we already know how to do, or that which takes little mental or physical effort. ?Easy produces little anxiety.? Easy is enjoyable.? Easy is what many want most things to be.? Here’s your cautionary note; easy is the stepping stone to mediocrity!

Difficult, a synonym for hard, is defined as.?“Something needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand.”??Difficult implies the presence of obstacles.? Difficult suggests the need for skill or courage.? Difficult is taxing, it wears us out.? Difficulty can produce both stress and pain.? But of greatest importance, what is hard to accomplish makes us grow.? Pursuing what is hard sets the stage for the change in mindset that leads to improvement, and subsequently making was at one time difficult, easy.??

Phil McKinney is the retired CTO of HP, a speaker and author.? His book,Beyond The Obvious, shares his lessons learned on innovation and creativity.? In a recent post he proposes that the secret to a fulfilling life can be found in embracing the hard.? A number of studies support his proposition, suggesting that people who consistently choose the hard path over the easy one?are more likely to lead fulfilling, successful lives.? He writes,?“Hard brings opportunities to grow and learn. It promises to prepare us for the future that we want and to allow us to reach our potential.”? According to McKinney there are five distinct benefits associated with Embracing the Hard:

1. Hard Teaches Resilience:? Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, and is the foundation of a successful life. By embracing the hard and persevering, we build determination, and adaptability.? We develop a positive mindset and learn to believe in ourselves, even when challenges arise.?
2. Hard Helps Solve Big Problems:? Big problems require big solutions, and big solutions require hard work.? By embracing complex challenges, we develop new perspectives and discover innovative ways to overcome obstacles.? We become problem solvers, leaders, and change-makers by embracing the hard.?
3. Hard Gives A Sense of Accomplishment:? Accomplishment is the feeling of pride and satisfaction that comes from achieving something challenging.? When we avoid the hard, we miss out on the opportunity to set a goal, work towards it, and achieve it.? Easy is a fleeting sensation.? Only hard work can give us the sense of pride and confidence that we need to live our best lives.
4. Hard Helps Us Learn:? By embracing the hard, we expose ourselves to new experiences and challenges that teach us valuable lessons.? We learn about our strengths and weaknesses, and about what we are capable of.? We evolve and grow and become better versions of ourselves.
5. Hard Leads to Personal Transformation:? Personal transformation involves breaking free from old patterns and embracing new ones.? When we choose to embrace the hard, we challenge ourselves to step out of our comfort zones, take risks, and confront our fears.? We learn to trust ourselves and our intuition.? To follow our passion and purpose.? To create a truly fulfilling life.

On Wednesday,September 12 of 1962 I was midway through my second week of sixth grade.? President John F. Kennedy was giving a speech at Rice University to bolster support for NASA's new Apollo program that would put a man on the moon within the decade.? HIs words would come to be known as the,?“We Choose to Go to the Moon” Speech”?? ?

“But why some say the moon? Why choose this as our goal?? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain?? Why 35 years ago fly the Atlantic?? Why does Rice play Texas?? We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE