What are you really trying to accomplish?

One of the easiest mistakes to make is confusing your goal with your preferred method.

I got a reminder of that this week.

6:30 a.m.

No music.

No podcasts.

No audiobooks.

No stopping.

I had a vision for how our mornings as a family would look.

Everyone out running together as the sun came up.

Everyone deep in thought about whatever was going on in their life at the time.

I pitched it to everyone on day one. I was so excited.

Have you ever had an entire group turn on you at once?

Mutiny.

“Come on, guys. Just give it a chance.

You’ll love it.

You’ll get to really see nature as we’re running.

You’ll get to listen to your thoughts.

I promise you’ll enjoy it.

Your body will thank you later.”

This was one of those moments where you can be right and wrong at the same time.

My wife (always the more thoughtful one—and the one who loves taking my questions and using them on me) watched the mutiny unfold. Then she pulled me aside and asked:

I want a morning routine that involves sunlight and movement.

Boom. That was it.

It didn’t actually need to be a David Goggins-style workout where we all suffered together.

It didn’t need to happen in silence.

In fact, it didn’t even need to be a run.

Oh man.

It’s so easy for me to get attached to how I want to do something that I lose sight of what I’m actually trying to accomplish.

So what’s happened over the last week?

I still got out for a run.

Sometimes all the kids came with me (some wearing headphones). Other times I’ve had one kid with me while the others are on the playground or playing pickleball.

But overall?

Everyone has been up.

Everyone has been outside.

And that’s all that really matters right now.

This doesn’t just show up in family life.

It shows up at work.

In relationships.

In fitness.

In parenting.

We become more attached to our preferred solution instead of the outcome we’re actually after.

If you ever find yourself facing a mutiny, step back and ask:

“What am I really trying to accomplish?”

You might discover you’ve become attached to your preferred version of the how and lost sight of the why.

Keep Asking,

Kyle

P.S. I’m back making videos again! Check them out on YouTube and Instagram.