Recently I decided to go through a social experiment on myself which required me to focus on doing just one thing. For an entire week, let nothing bother me. A goal that at first seemed exciting and slightly impossible, but one that lead to a new perspective on life. I also had one of the best weeks emotionally than I’ve had in a very long time, and the best part is it didn’t cost me a thing.

To never give up takes more work than just a choice to do so. It requires dedication and an unrelenting commitment to making sure that not only is a task completed but also done right.

Starting new projects are always fun. Whether its a fun DIY or something you’ve been yearning to do for a long time. The promise of being a part of creating something amazing fills us with a rush that can never be duplicated, but after the excitement wears off we are left with feelings of discouragement and painfully dragging ourselves to the finish line.

It’s hard to finish strong after taking a beating throughout a project, regardless of it is something at work or at home. Staying excited or within the flow of things can seem more like wishful thinking than daily practice. The exciting part of this that we often overlook is that it isn’t about the destination if we don’t understand and find gratitude within the journey.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. — Maya Angelou

Start strong

To start strong is to have the belief that regardless of the circumstances of our journey that the end result will be worth every obstacle that we will face and to stand strong to defend what is right, while embracing our humanity to take things beyond a user experience between device and person to a people experience where we are embracing the cracks in the people around us and allowing ourselves to care enough to help fill in the cracks.

When we start strong we experience a warp in our daily lives like never before. In this moment we are fully charged with the courage to conquer this battle. Yet in this very moment we are the weakest. Ill prepared for what lies before us. One wrong step and our euphoria will come crashing down bring in waves of defeat.

To start strong, one must start prepared.

Stay strong

We’ve now found ourselves in the dip, the dark part of the journey where we begin to wonder where this grand idea of embarking on such a path originated. We forget how exciting it was when we first started, when the obstacles weren’t going to be a problem because we were sure getting through them would be easy. They weren’t and now we’re standing at the crossroads of persistence or completely giving up.

This situation is the hope we’ve been searching for. In this pit we can find the strength to keep going. Whether it is in letting go of a pain that is holding us back or finding that little extra willpower to push through the wall we’ve been fearing. This moment defines our true strength and character. Exposing our vulnerabilities and highlighting the traits that make us shine. The traits that make us human.

Staying strong is where movie scripts are inspired from, where the underdog comes to the realization of their true strength. A glimpse into the next episode of our journey.

To stay strong isn’t about waving the magic wand of hopeful thinking but simply the choice to never give up, no matter what for the end will be glorious.

In order to stay strong a moment of confrontation must occur between where we think we are and the reality of where we are. Fearing not how small we may be but instead grateful to be alive to experience a moment of clarity. Focusing on just one step at a time.

The problems we face today are the same we’ve faced before, the only difference is some of the players and locations have changed. Overall it will follow a predictive course. With this we can lose the fear of not making it because in the end not only do you come out as victorious but you will also be stronger in helping someone else navigate the struggles similar to what you’ve just conquered.

The honest truth is we most often run from the things we don’t like to face, hurting our chances of growing stronger as individuals. In order to make it to the finish line we must make the time to confront the things we’ve been avoiding. We have to start taking responsibility for our faults and use them as leverage in pushing forward to the end.

Staying strong is about seeking a connection with who you are and who you want to be.

Finish strong

This is the part we all seek in one way or another. The moment we win, the moment we can bask in the glory.

We’re tattered and torn from the struggles we’ve had to endure yet we no longer feel weak.

The feeling now a fleeting memory.

This isn’t how one finishes strong. If anything it makes you weaker and no lesson has been learned. To finish strong means we are now smarter about the patterns our lives give and embrace them fully.

To finish strong we instantly aim to help our fellow man do the same. We strive together in an endless pursuit of caring about our neighbor. Understanding that to be fearless is to embrace fear and move always onward and upward with the excitement of knowing each battle is refining us into something much better.

Finishing strong may be the end result but being grateful for the process and humble at the end, is the true character of finishing strong.