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Strength Within
Discipline Through Challenges
Joshua Sprigg
March 09, 2025
Read time: Under 4 minutes
Fuelling the Fire… Finding Strength in Every Challenge
Some weeks hit differently. This was one of them.
I caught up with old friends and familiar faces, people I met back in my Shoreditch days. I also had an online meeting with a group of Ukrainians interested in developing AI agents with me for enferm.io.
But what really stood out this week? Every single person I sat with had just faced or was currently facing some kind of hardship.
Usually, these conversations happen when there’s time, when trust is deeper. But this week? They surfaced randomly. People were struggling. Some carried it like a weight on their shoulders. Others tried to bury it.
And I get it. I’ve been there.
A couple of these conversations hit home because I’ve lived through similar situations. Maybe that’s why they opened up. But what I’ve learned from hardship is simple:
If you can control it: deal with it. Don’t delay. Don’t drown. Fight your way out.
If you can’t control it: accept it. The faster you do, the better. Otherwise, you’ll bring down those around you who look to you for strength.
Because here’s the thing: strength isn’t about never struggling, it’s about how you handle the struggle.
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MIND
The Power of Perception
One of my best mates, practically a brother to me, was talking to me this week about the mental illusion we create for ourselves.
We were deep into a discussion about addiction, self-control, and the stories we tell ourselves.
For example, we talked about smoking and whether quitting was really about physical dependency or if it was just a mind game.
Here’s where we landed:
The mind is more powerful than people give it credit for.
People say “I can’t quit” but the truth? They can. They just don’t want to go through the discomfort.
Many blame others for their habits instead of taking ownership, strength comes from within.
At the end of the day, if you really want to change, you will. No one else is responsible for your habits, your actions, or your mindset but you.
If that stings a little, good. Growth isn’t comfortable.
BODY
5:15 AM Starts & No Weakness Allowed
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So, my 11-year-old son H decided this week that we should wake up at 5:15 AM. No excuses. No slacking.
His reason? “It’s all in the mind.”
And, of course, he lives by those words.
His mantra? “Never back down. Never what!… Never give up!” (Thanks, YouTube.)
So guess what? We’ve been doing it.
Our new morning routine:
Wake up at 5:15 AM (no snooze, no mercy).
His workout routine (which I have to follow, because? Not an option).
15 minutes of meditation
Choose our next move: Walk, read, or something else to ease into the day.
Breakfast, showers, prep, then school/work commute
The result? I was wiped out… but I actually loved it.
So, we go again this week. No backing down now.
EXPLORATION
Prepping for Japan
No epic exploration stories this week. Sorry to disappoint.
But we are gearing up for Japan in July. H and I are switching into Japan mode, making sure we fully absorb the culture before we land.
Bullet trains? Locked in.
Tokyo? On the list.
Beyond that? We need to research.
And H definitely wants to go to the Pokémon school, so if you’ve been to Japan and have insider tips, let me know!
CHALLENGE
Tea Update & Gaining Weight (Yes, Really)
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Tea Update:
Morning tea only, no afternoon slips!
March goal: Cut it out completely. Let’s see how this goes.
New Challenge: Gaining Weight
For those who know me, you know I’m healthy, conscious, and active but if you’ve ever said, “Josh, you look like you’ve lost weight, are you okay?” the answer is: I’ve weighed the same since I was 17…..
(Shoutout to my Sprigg genes; turns out, our name literally comes from the meaning “tall and slender.”)
So, the next challenge? Put some muscle on these bones.
If you’ve got weight gain tips that actually work, send them my way. No, not "just eat more" been there, done that, still the same weight.
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Final Thoughts | Strength Comes from Within
This week was a reminder that everyone is going through something. Some battles you see. Some you don’t.
But strength isn’t about never struggling it’s about how you face the struggle.
If you can control it - deal with it.
If you can’t - accept it and move forward.
And when it gets tough? Keep going. Because real strength? That comes from within.
TL;DR | This Week in a Nutshell
Strength comes from within. Control what you can. Accept what you can’t.
Had deep convos with old friends & Ukrainians working on AI.
Mind: Addiction is a mind game. Blaming others is a weak move.
Body: 5:15 AM wake-ups & workouts thanks to my son. No weakness allowed.
Exploration: Prepping for Japan, Tokyo, bullet trains, and Pokémon school.
Challenge: Tea reduction is working, next up: weight gain.
This week? Dig deep, stand tall, and keep moving forward.
Yours in exploration,
Captain Sprigg
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places