We Suffer More in Imagination Than We Do in Reality Life can feel heavy. We move through life facing obstacles, adversity, brick walls, and hurdles. Sometimes we’re asked to climb mountains when all we want is a place to sit down and catch our breath. Many people believe what they’re going through is too much. So they look for ways to escape—numbing, running, distracting—anything to avoid facing reality. But here’s a hard and freeing truth: Most of what we call suffering isn’t as bad as we think. Our imagination adds weight that reality never asked us to carry. The mind is powerful. When it’s undisciplined, it becomes a storyteller that exaggerates pain, predicts disaster, and convinces us we’re trapped—when we’re not. Let me give you a few real examples. My niece, Victoria Meza, was murdered by her boyfriend. I recently found out that charges will not be pressed against the man who took her life. Did that hurt? Yes. Deeply. Did learning that he will walk free cut even deeper? Of course it did. But am I suffering? No. I’m hurt. I’m grieving. I’m angry at injustice. But suffering is something different. Years ago, I wouldn’t have known the difference. The old version of me would have reacted from rage and impulse, driven by imagination and emotion instead of truth. Today, I don’t have that desire—because my mindset has changed. Pain no longer controls my direction. At the same time, life kept piling on. A storage company took money from my bank account after agreeing to wait until I got paid. That put me overdrawn by $200. I couldn’t pay some bills, including my auto insurance. Because I’m buying a car, full coverage isn’t optional. Without it, the vehicle can be taken. Will that create stress? Yes. Will it make life harder for a moment? Absolutely. But does that qualify as suffering? No, because there is still a way through. Suffering is not about circumstances. It’s about whether you believe you’re powerless. Leonard Peltier spent nearly 50 years in prison for a crime he maintained he did not commit. After decades behind bars and declining health, he was granted clemency so he could spend the rest of his life with family—under strict conditions.

The Inner Struggle: Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Achieving Your Goals The article explores several key psychological and emotional barriers that can prevent individuals and organizations from achieving their goals, even when they know what needs to be done. These include lack of sustained motivation, fear of failure, perfectionism, and lack of self-belief. Drawing on research and practical examples, the article discusses how leaders and individuals can overcome these inner obstacles through strategies like aligning goals with deeper intrinsic meaning, cultivating a learning-oriented culture, managing perfectionist tendencies, and building self-efficacy. By recognizing and addressing these psychological factors, the article argues that people and teams can learn to persistently pursue their objectives, learn from setbacks, and ultimately realize their full potential. While goal setting is an important habit for achieving success, simply setting goals is not enough. Countless people struggle to achieve their goals due to psychological and emotional challenges that get in the way. Why do we sometimes fail to follow through even when we know what we need to do? Today, we will explore some of the hidden barriers that can stop us from realizing our potential and achieving what is important to us. Drawing on relevant research as well as practical examples, I will discuss how to overcome obstacles such as lack of motivation, fear of failure, perfectionism, and lack of self-belief. Recognizing and addressing these inner blocks can help both individuals and organizations persist through challenges to accomplish their objectives. Lack of Motivation A key reason we fail to achieve our goals is a lack of sustained motivation. Motivation refers to the drivers that energize and direct our behavior towards an end goal (Ryan & Deci, 2000). While intrinsic motivation comes from within, extrinsic motivation is driven by rewards and external demands. Research shows that intrinsic motivation tends to be more effective for goal achievement in the long run (Deci & Ryan, 1985). When our goals are not intrinsically meaningful or stimulating, it is easy to lose motivation over time as the initial enthusiasm fades.

91% Quit. 9% Build Freedom and a Life of Their Dreams. This isn’t about talent. It's not about luck. And it’s definitely not about being fearless. It’s about identity. The 9% decide who they are before the results show up. They choose consistency over comfort. Growth over excuses. Long-term freedom over short-term relief. HuRU is about knowing Hu U R… So the real question is: 👉 Who are you becoming when no one’s watching? 👉 Comment with one word that describes the version of you you’re committed to building in 2026.