From Chad

Dark Councilman, a legendary, swimming coach, used a banner with the words “hurt – pain – agony“ to motivate his swimmers. He believed that achieving extraordinary goals required escalating levels of sacrifice and discomfort. The message emphasizes the importance of matching desires with appropriate levels of passion and suffering, as anything worthwhile requires some level of pain.

A workplace adaptation of Psalm 23 is shared, emphasizing the importance of perspective and finding peace amidst workplace challenges. The message encourages listeners to change their perspective and find a better context for their work.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 30 years, continue to paint. His friend Henri Matisse asked why he endured the pain, to which Renoir replied, “The beauty remains; the pain passes.“ This quote inspired an exhibition of his great grandson Alexandre Renoir‘s work.

Dr. William James’ authored a concept of a “second wind“ describing a moment of renewed focus and energy after pushing past fatigue. This phenomenon suggests we have power in reserve we must learn to unlock.

A young runner, inspired by Jim Ryun, received Ryun’s training plan, but never used it. This highlights, the “know-do gap“ – the difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

A ceramics teacher divided a class into two groups, one graded on quantity and the other on quality. The group graded on quantity ultimately created the highest quality pieces. The moral is to start working and producing, as perfection comes through practice, not planning.

Lin Hao, a nine-year-old boy from Sichuan, China, rescued two classmates after their school collapse during the 2008 earthquake. His bravery and leadership made him a national hero, and he carried the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics.

The devil, at a rummage sale, reveals his most valuable tool: discouragement. It can make people lose hope and abandon their dreams. Robert Biswas-Diener’s research on courage, as outlined in “the courage quotient,“ suggest that courage is determined by the ratio of action to fear. To increase courage, one should align their actions with their identity, embody, and courageous roles.

Life is full of problems, but they are opportunities for growth and purpose. Victor Frankel, a holocaust survivor, encourage individuals to view challenges, ask tasks, demanding, tailored responses, asking “what is life asking of me?” This mindset, exemplified by Frankel survival in concentration camps, helps reframe suffering as a call to problem solve.

Melia, a Pakistani girl, faced adversity under Taliban rule, but channeled it into advocacy for girls’ education. Her story serves as a reminder that challenges present opportunities for growth and positive change.