THE ROOT 9: 5.1

All text in double quotations below are direct from Dr. Joe Dispenza in the episode linked above from The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett.

"Memory without emotional charge is wisdom." Past experiences often carry negative emotions: guilt, shame, fear, trauma, embarrassment. We may relive them, re-experience the emotions, and gain insights, but insight alone doesn't change behavior.

To forge wisdom, we must see our past with clarity, beyond emotional impact. Change requires action. Transformation comes from confronting our inner shadows, becoming "conscious of your unconscious self."

Insight without action is mere contemplation. We must "do something" with it, driven by a desire for self-change. Transform knowledge into action, intention into reality. These small shifts prove our power to evolve. Seeing our past with higher consciousness, we shift our dialogue to ‘I needed this to grow.’ We become active agents, not passive observers.

The Pain Cave: Growth Through Physical Discomfort

8 weeks into training for my first half marathon in 2022 I ran 10 miles, the longest I had ever ran in my life at that point. Aaand it sucked. I wanted to throw the towel in on the whole training. So I looked for inspiration in podcasts I’d saved and thought listening to ultrarunning legend Courtney Dauwalter on The Rich Roll Podcast could help. That’s when I fell in love with the concept of the "pain cave”.

The pain cave is a metaphor for the point in a physical event where fatigue peaks and morale dips. While it sounds daunting, Courtney views it as a celebrated destination, where real progress occurs. (A podcast excerpt is on YouTube here). You learn to push against your own limitations and challenge your perceived breaking point.

Though ultradistance events seem distant for many, the pain cave is surprisingly relatable. It's in the last reps of lifting, the final minutes of a tough spin class, or even a perceived simple run that shocks you. This weekend, my perceived easy 45-minute run (no elevation, flat road) felt like a battle after prioritizing lifting over the past several months and not stretching properly. Five minutes in, I was ready for it to be over. Reframing it as a personal encounter with the pain cave helped me push through and embrace the challenge. It reminded me that even familiar activities can become a crucible to test our resilience.

Doing hard things = entering the pain cave. I’m not a masochist, but I get excited about the pain cave. Perhaps it's the profound sense of accomplishment that follows, or maybe it's the understanding that growth, both physical and mental, lies just beyond the realm of comfort. It's a reminder that the pain cave isn't something to fear, but rather a place of transformation. What we find there is a deeply personal experience, a confrontation with our own boundaries, and a chance to redefine them.

For those that know me well, you know my love for Kings of Leon runs very deep. I had a chance to see them live at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley in August of 2024 and I was as happy as a clam at high water. The weather was on our side, giving us the most beautiful sunset backdrop with a clear sky.

I did a deep clean over the weekend and was reminded by how much I love their fifth studio album, “Come Around Sundown”. Sharing two of my favorites off of it with you all this week 🙂