Enjoy the Process
The Turning Feral Journal - Day 38
Day 38 - “Ok, so you dropped everything in your life, moved to a cabin in the woods, and began to learn how to live a more self-sustained life… I bet you spend every waking moment immersed in nature and doing the things you want!”
That statement has been muttered to me in some variation over and over since publishing my book. And although it has a broad truth to it, the reality is that sometimes I dread going out in the woods… Crazy right?
Well the crazy thing about romanticizing a way of life, or falling into the envy trap of influencers, is that the reality of any lifestyle is often starkly different than what’s portrayed publicly. Before moving out west I *knew* that the photos of giant elk getting arrowed, wolf trappers stacking dogs, and other outdoor feats coated in a smile were the outcome of a lot of work, but I didn’t truly know what that work looked or felt like.
Unsurprisingly, the work to attain those rare smiling ‘success’ photos is daunting and relentless. And now being on the other side there are some days I do wake up, look at the thermometer that is below zero, and think “Really? This is the life you chose, Zach?” In that moment of self pity I fall back on my discipline, put my thermal underwear on, and head out the door to check traps.
You see, regardless of your pursuit, once you are in the thick of it some elements of things you love to do can become draining or dreadful. In the past, I would rely on sheer discipline to get through the tough days. A prime example, is thinking back to daily 5 am workouts *before* wrestling practice, that was all discipline… but, as I got older I realized that discipline was just a tool to be used alongside something more sustainable… a love for the process.
Now, admittedly I didn’t have the words for this until reading Jason Khalipa’s newsletter this morning when it all clicked for me (join here). He wrote about how discipline is the backbone to all endeavors, but building an environment that fosters excitement should be the real goal, because without that excitement your discipline will eventually fade. That is spot on.
For me, my move to the most rural town in the lower 48 to hunt and trap is an environment with endless amounts of excitement and opportunity, which affords me the joy of not often needing to employ my discipline to get out and get after it. However, when it is -4* and I have to drive through sketchy terrain to potentially stare down an angry wolf or mountain lion, I fall back on my discipline to get my rear in gear to go do what needs to be done!
Daily Prompt: What areas of your life are you white knuckling it and relying solely on discipline? Is there a way to reframe it so you fall in love with the process and use your discipline more strategically?:
Motivational Passage:
Everything happens for a reason, whether it’s something you’re excited about or not. It’s all for a purpose in the big picture. Enjoy the process knowing it will be used to make you stronger in the long run.
-Brittany Burgunder
Rewilding Action: Have a young kid? Sometimes getting them outside and on to trails can be difficult, especially if they aren’t used to long hikes. One of the best things my wife and I got when we started our litter was to get a good hiking backpack that can carry our kids. We ended up going with Kelty, and have loved ours. They are quite pricey though, but we found both of ours on facebook marketplace for a steep discount.
