Hi friends,
As we inch nearer to the start of the chaos of August and September, the start of school mornings and packing lunches, and the kickoff of sports seasons galore, it might be a good time to practice doing hard things.
Hear me out.
Doing hard things actually changes us for the better.
Famous Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman often discusses this discovery on his podcast. The anterior midcingulate cortex is the region of the brain that grows and strengthens when we do things that are actively hard for us.
So, when we choose to do that morning cold plunge, or run 4 miles on Saturday morning, or have a hard conversation with a friend or family member, or even check off that list of work to-do at 4 pm when we really, really don’t want to, we’re doing more than “be productive.”
We’re growing our resilience.
We’re actively enhancing our ability to handle hard things.
And it’s not just in our heads, it’s backed by real data that proves that resilience isn’t something that we’re born with.
It’s something we can practice! It’s something we can improve in. Resilience isn’t like height or hair color; it’s a trait like courage or kindness that every one of us has access to, no matter our circumstances, age, or stage.
At Pearl Project, this is music to our ears. We believe deeply in every human being’s ability to change and heal.
So, start small by doing something hard today.
Clean something you’ve been avoiding for months.
Organize that drawer or linen closet.
Finalize that work email that’s been sitting in drafts for days.
Pick up those weights you’ve been meaning to use for months.
Your brain will thank you for it.
If you want more resources to help tackle the harder parts of emotional growth and healing, we’ve got you covered. Explore our Foundations Journey here to begin a structured process of discovery and healing, guided by professionals.
Talk to you soon,
Jen
