This is going to be the last entry about lessons I’ve learned being a dad.  This week is about how doing the right thing is exhausting. 

The other day my wife and I collapsed on the couch.  We were mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted.  Parenting had beaten us down over the past few weeks.  Have any other parents felt like that?  Anyway, we looked at each other and started talking about how it would be so much easier things could be.  It would be easier to use our authority to control our kids vs give them freedom.  It would be easier if we just told our kids to suck it up vs helped them identify and deal with their emotions.  It would be easier to tell the kids that the things that bother them don’t matter vs helping them figure out how to work through them.  It would be so much easier stop them from ever experiencing pain and rejection vs watching them go through those things.  Those things would be easier, and we probably wouldn’t be so tired.  All of those things would be easier, but they probably wouldn’t be best for our kids.  The hard things are exhausting, and they are worth it.  My kids are so much stronger, compassionate, independent, and well-rounded than they have ever been.  They have grown so much, and I couldn’t be prouder. 

What does this have to do with anything?  Doing the right thing is exhausting.  The above examples might have been framed as parenting situations, but they likely apply to any relationship you could be in.  Think about work for a minute.  What are other scenarios we find ourselves in where doing the right thing is exhausting?  It’s easier to go along trying to do everything vs taking the time to make tough prioritization decisions.  It’s easier to not give tough feedback to someone vs holding them accountable for their performance.  It’s easier to get lost in the day to day vs carving out time to be strategic about where you are trying to go.  Doing the right thing is hard.  If you ever find yourself exhausted after doing the right thing day in and day out, just know that’s okay.  Know that’s normal.  Doing the right thing is exhausting, AND it’s necessary for growth.  When you find yourself tired, take care of yourself, rest up, and continue doing your best to fight the good fight.

The challenge: Will you keep doing the hard thing, even when it’s exhausting?

Bonus- Last week I had the honor of performing poetry at our Level Up DEI conference.  The poem is about fitting in vs belonging. Follow this link if you want to check it out. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7102454896259469312/

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry