The Pain Exchange

The Pain Exchange by Tony Horton

We've become the United States of Quick Fixes.

Why are we so addicted to shortcuts, tricks, and magic potions? Far too many people in this country live in some kind of wannabe fantasyland. We're trying to keep up with the Joneses without working as hard as they do. This bigger, badder, and faster world doesn't give us an opportunity to stop and look at REAL and AUTHENTIC ways to achieve greatness.

How many people have you talked to about P90X® who, when they find out they have to exercise and eat right, say, "Forget it!" There are millions of people in this country who have absolutely no clue that you have to work hard, take risks, and be willing to fail over and over again to earn what's worth having. Work hard, take risks, and fail . . . "Forget it!"

This is a very sad commentary that reveals what we've become in this country. We have the best of the best in the U.S. of A., but we hold the record for most fat people. Why do we reach for drugs, alcohol, sex, food, lies, blame, anger, hate, guilt, and self-pity far more often than power, courage, discipline, forgiveness, wisdom, and self-reliance? We've become a bunch of crybabies, filled with excuses, blaming everyone else for our problems!

The freedoms and conveniences we now enjoy were fought for by men and women who didn't think twice when it came to hard work, taking risks, and failing over and over again. This generation's selfish, lethargic, woe-is-me mentality is creating a country filled with folks who live in a constant state of quiet desperation. Our ancestors worked very hard to create a world with less stress and strife. So why are we more stressed out than ever?

The pendulum has swung way too far in the wrong direction. It's time to stop all the b*tching and moaning and wanting and wishing and hoping and dreaming. We must start to live in the real world and begin to take some responsibility for what goes on in our lives. It's time to start exploring and searching and devoting and sharing and growing and working for what you want in this world.

It's really a matter of right and wrong. We know the difference between the two but still fail to behave in ways that allow us to be great human beings.

Right
Work out
Eat healthy foods
Fail and try again
Persevere
Forgive yourself
Listen
Be kind
Find out what you love

Wrong
Don't work out
Eat junk
Fail and quit
Blow it off
Blame others
Complain
Be right (all the time)
Ignore your greatness


This is a short list, but I think you get the point.

The list on the right will lead you down the road of endless short-lived pleasures that result in lifelong pain, fear, and sadness. The list on the left (which can be hard at first) will open you up to a world filled with happiness, joy, and fulfillment.

You might want to ask yourself how history will see you after you're gone. If you don't like the answer today, then it might be time to do the right thing.

Peace,
Tony H.