“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” So wrote G. Michael Hopf in his post-apocalyptic novel, “Those Who Remain”.
The phrase has been used in many a meme to describe the cyclical nature of society - the very reason you see the old guy waving his fist and berating gang culture saying, “What young people need these days is a bloody good war!”
I really like the quote.
It reminds me to feel grateful for all the shit I’ve been through in my life that’s shaped the person I am today, and it also reminds me why we all sometimes fall off the wagon when it comes to making positive changes in our lives.
Have you ever decided enough’s enough with a particular problem, whether it’s because you’re fed up with how unfit you are, or you’re up to your eyeballs in stress about your job, or you’re feeling disrespected by someone in your life?
You get all fired up about how things are gonna be different and you seem to tap into a deep well of inner strength and energy you didn’t know you had?
You hit the gym, dance past the biscuit barrel, buy salad and shakes, tell rude clients get stuffed, turn your phone off so nobody can give you any shit, dump the loser, pie off the friend who keeps letting you down, clear out your closet, buy new knickers, hoover your car, book a facial, trim your bush, wash the dog and any other stuff you’ve been putting off because you simply had no mojo.
For a while, your life looks like the Rocky training montage - you’ve run by the river, you’ve done your one arm press ups, you’ve done your sweaty sit ups, you’ve punched the crap out of a dangling pig, you’ve sprinted to the top of the steps and you’re standing triumphant with your arms in the air.
But, instead of carrying on to fight Apollo Creed in the Heavyweight Championships of the World, you get a little bit too pleased with yourself about how good you’re feeling, saunter home via the Krispy Kreme donut shop (because, hey - you can afford to put on a couple of pounds after doing so well), make yourself a bacon sandwich (coz all that pig-punching made you hungry), flop on the sofa with your phone to check how your twatty ex and your annoying friend are doing on social media, answer the call from the awful client because you can’t be arsed to find better ones, and before you know it you feel like shit, your dog stinks, your pants have given up the will to live, and your bush is out of control.
Until enough’s enough again.
And so the cycle continues.
It’s one of the reasons we encourage all our clients to use the journal we’ve created to plan and review their progress towards goals.
Constant vigilance is your secret weapon against the danger zone of good times making you weak.
Sure, it’s good to recognise when you’ve done well, and we encourage that, too.
It’s also good to be realistic about your goals so you’re not making unreasonable demands on yourself.
But we’re all capable of falling prey to the cycle if we don’t remind ourselves where we’re going, and what’s likely to sabotage us along the way.
Now, go punch that bacon!