Faith, Fitness and the Fight To Stay Aligned

Falling off track happens the moment you set a new intention—and then slowly drift back to what feels familiar. When you’re early in a process, without the resources, experience, or know-how, it’s easy to retreat. You lose faith in your new vision and settle into old patterns.

The last time I felt fully on track was when I was an athlete. Back then, I had structure. Discipline. A schedule. Seasons. Protocols. It was clear what had to be done and when. I was proud of how I showed up—proud of the work, the vision, and the immersive grind that defined my days.

But through a series of life changes—starting a career, bouncing from contract to contract, lacking stability—it got harder to lock in. The shift happened gradually. I didn’t fully notice at first. But I eventually realized: I was chasing stability.

When I let old habits sneak back in, the results were straight-up embarrassing. I wasn’t showing up the way I wanted to. I had to face it: something had to change.

I’ve never been a drinker. Never liked parties. I hated the social pressure to enjoy environments that never felt like me. Getting drunk, loud concerts, trying to “be cool”—none of that spoke to me. I felt like I had nothing to contribute in those settings. I thrived in sports because it had order and intention. In free-range environments, I lost interest—and eventually, I lost myself.

When I fall off, my fitness suffers first. Thankfully, these days I snap out of it quicker. But there was a chapter where I was lost—seeking answers, not knowing right from wrong. I’ve learned that stress, boredom, and isolation usually show up when I stop prioritizing my health. But when I stay active—eat right, take care of hygiene, and honor my routines—life feels right.

No matter how much success or money I have, fitness will always ground me. When I’m locked in, I walk with confidence. Shoulders back. Head high. I reach out to friends more, my social energy changes, and life feels lighter. When I’m off—it sucks. Period.

In college, I remember reading a quote from Buddhism that stuck with me: “Evil exists so that good can prove its purity above it.” We need the contrast. The darkness clarifies the light. It's the same with falling off. You understand the value of your goals once you’ve tasted the pain of abandoning them.

Shame and guilt follow when you slip—but dwelling in that zone doesn’t serve. I’ve chosen to be intentional. A lifelong learner. The answers are out there—in scripture, in patterns, in movies, in art. Those who seek will find.

Old habits are comfortable. Familiar. But in life, you’re either growing or dying. Pushing forward requires stepping into discomfort. The path forward will feel strange—at first. But you can't expect to live a new life doing the same old things.

When you know who you are—and you keep your vision clear—it gets easier. Write it plainly. Speak it loudly. Build your environment to support it. If you don’t, the path backward is always open.

Personally, I stay aligned by constantly innovating. I fear going back more than I fear discomfort. I use systems and frameworks to stay sharp. And I’ve found that starting is the hardest part. Once momentum kicks in, it gets easier. High performers have one thing in common: they decided.

Discipline is doing what needs to be done, no matter how you feel. Self-compassion is accepting your imperfections. You need both. But if you lean too far into acceptance, you’ll cross a threshold where your dreams become negotiable. And that’s unacceptable.

Direction is everything. Health plan. Wealth plan. Skill development. I think often about Warren Buffett’s words: “The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they’re too heavy to be broken.” I’ve broken chains—junk food, poor mindset, lazy thinking—and it took a radical desire to change.

If you’re stuck, make the radical shift. Move cities. Start a new career. Clean out your cabinets. Rearrange your life until it feels new. Shake things up until you feel the difference.

A life that lasts needs deep purpose. We don’t just move for what—we move for who. Who do you love? Who do you want to share your greatest success with? Work for them. That’s why you keep going.

I hope you never stop learning, seeking, growing. Even when you’ve reached the top, it’s time to evolve again. The only constant is change.

Stay moving. Stay faithful. Stay fit.

The best is yet to come.