Read Time: 2 minutes

Happy Monday 👋🏾,

For the past month, I’ve been cycling to my co-working space. I figured I’d save some money – the bus ride is only five minutes but was costing me £42 a month! Definitely not worth it, especially since cycling only takes about 10 minutes.

You might be wondering why I didn’t cycle before. Well, there’s this hill on the route, and, if I’m being honest, I’d been dodging it. Instead of taking it head-on, I’d go around it, which added another seven minutes to my journey, turning my quick 10-minute commute into a 17-minute cycle. It felt easier, after all – the one time I did attempt the hill, I barely made it halfway up before hopping off my bike to push it the rest of the way. I thought, “this isn’t for me,” and decided from that day on to just keep going around it.

This week, though, I had no choice. I was running late for a meeting and needed to get there on time. As I approached the hill, I gave myself a little pep talk: “Come on, you can do this. You’re in better shape now; maybe it won’t be that bad.” And you know what? It wasn’t! I was still out of breath by the time I reached the top, but all the cycling I’d been doing had built up my stamina and strength, and I actually made it.

It got me thinking – would I have ever tackled that hill again if I didn’t have to? My 17-minute commute was the “easier” route, but it wasn’t exactly smart or efficient. It added unnecessary time, and that made me wonder: how often do I avoid doing the hardest things just because they seem tough?

I recently saw a clip on Instagram that resonated with me and my struggle with the hill: “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but doing the work takes much less energy than avoiding the work.” I wondered who else was like me at times, looking for the shortcut or a way to avoid the thing we’ve been putting off.
​

Three Things I Learned from Facing My Hill

1. Avoiding Hard Things Only Adds More Work
   ​By going around the hill, I was adding extra time and effort to my ride. Sometimes, dodging challenges creates more strain than tackling them directly.
2. Consistency Builds Strength
   ​After a few weeks of regular cycling, I was actually stronger and more prepared for the hill than I realised. Showing up repeatedly, even in small ways, really does build resilience.
3. Facing Challenges Head-On Pays Off
   ​There’s something rewarding about pushing through a challenge. Getting to the top wasn’t just about the hill – it was proof that persistence gets us through the tough stuff.

Before I go, I’d love your feedback. I’ve been sending out Life Unfiltered consistently for four months now, and your input would be invaluable. The survey will only take two minutes to complete – thank you for helping me shape this newsletter to make it even better!

Quote of the Week

Have a great week!

If someone forwarded this to you, Subscribe here.