Roll With It

“Fate leads the willing and drags along the reluctant.” — Cleanthes

The Obstacle

Life gets in the way.
It seldom goes as planned.
Things always takes more time.
People and circumstances sabotage.
Things don’t work like they’re supposed to.
Easy things turn out to be incredibly difficult.
Obstacles and frustration are at every turn.

We fight.
We wrestle the will of the universe.
We buck against the struggle, the frustration, the setbacks, the wasted time.

And we don’t get much for it.
If fact we get less than nothing. 

We feel stressed.
Anxious
Hurt.
Betrayed.

These feelings do not increase our focus.
Performance.
Save time or energy.
It does not build better relationships or working conditions.

Not rolling with it creates more friction than there already is.
It does the exact opposite of what’s needed.

The Gift and Opportunity

If we don’t roll with it, a neck gets broken.
An arm twisted out of location.
Those are the consequences in wrestling.

A punch to the head, harder than it should be.
One to the gut that leaves you windless, or knocks you out.
Those are the consequences in boxing.

The term roll with it isn’t just a metaphor.
It’s used practically in combat.

Rolling with it allows you to maintain momentum.
To not get overextended.
To keep your energy and focus.
To prevent the least amount of injury possible while staying in the fight.

Life is a fight.
The stronger our sparring partner, the better our skills become, if we can roll with it.

We will have setbacks.
People will sabotage us.
Circumstances will stack against us.
Conflicts will arise.
Frustrations are inevitable.
Projects won’t go as planned.
Clients will be lost.
Relationships will be tested.

If we’re able to roll with our partner (life).
We can maintain our focus and energy on what really matters
Instead of internal and external complaining, avoidance, control, fear, perfection
All of the attributes that steal from us.

Study yourself.
Steady yourself.
Focus up.
Maximize performance.
Engage in relationships.
And roll with whatever comes.

Because the alternative is dire.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Notice when you’re bracing instead of adapting.

• Release resistance early, before it costs energy, focus, or connection.

• Stay engaged with what’s in front of you, not what you wish were different.

• Redirect effort toward response, not reaction.
  
  CHEAT CODE: NOTICE → ROLL →  STAY IN THE FIGHT→  REDIRECT → GET STRONGER