The beginning is always the hardest part.
Every day I go out and train. While I'm running in the morning, I ask myself, "Trent, why are you still doing this marathon? Why are you putting yourself through all this?" Every day, I push myself until I feel uncomfortable, but the next day, I'll come in with just a little more strength than I did last time. I'll come back with a little more confidence, and that evidence of growth is enough to keep me going. That growth makes it all worth it, because it shows me that my pain was an investment.
Your pain today will be your strength tomorrow.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Get comfortable with rejection, and get comfortable with failure, because if you're doing something worthwhile, it won't be easy. There's a quote I keep coming back to—"man's rejection is God's protection." Whenever I remember that quote, I think to myself about the fact that my greatest trials have lead to some of my greatest victories. My greatest roadblocks have ended up taking me to heights I couldn't have predicted, and at the end of the day, that reveals a crucial truth. It all makes sense later. Every time you're going through something, I want you to remember that. I want you to say to yourself, "This sucks, but it will pass. And if I play my cards right, I'll end up better for it."
Often, rejection is a blessing. Rejections keep from us what was never for us, and I know I've said it time and time again, but certian doors have to close for the right one to open. Sure, getting the door slammed in your face hurts, but what if I told you how incredible your life will be after that cascade of slammed doors leads you to an opportunity that's just right for your life?
Sometimes, acceptance destroys our lives more than rejection. You might be thinking, "But Trent, I worked so hard for this opportunity. How could missing out of it mean anything but a waste of time?" Let me tell you something—as long as you're moving forward, you're not wasting your time. When you lose in a huge way, you'll have actually accomplished two things. First, you'll have ruled out an option that wasn't the best fit for you. Second, you'll be able to apply everything you learned from the missed opportunity you wanted to the situation you need. Don't surrender to your fear. I get it—change is scary. Getting out of your comfort zone is scary. That being said, change is where incredible things can happen. New environments can be stressful, but once you overcome that stress and find your bearings, I promise you'll realize you've made the right decision. You'll stand there and feel grateful, because you'll have found perspective and peace.
It all starts with you.
