Easy is an illusion. It’s either hard now or hard later.
If you can think back to January, you’ll remember that in the Phillips household, 2026 is our “Hot & Rich” year. Namely, we have been working hard to be healthier and more financially responsible, but that doesn’t sound as fun as “Hot & Rich”.
A big phrase we keep coming back to over and over again when being “Hot & Rich” doesn’t sound as fun as “Junk Food & Retail Therapy” is
“Choose your Hard”
I love this quote from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas that sums it up so much more poetically:
“I don’t think man was meant to attain happiness so easily. Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.”
It certainly helps when the book budget has reached “zero” but a new release just dropped, sending me to the fortress of unread books I already own. And I’ve discovered that I love a good white peach when I’m craving something sweet.
But those small sacrifices and bits of self-control have already been incredibly rewarding. Not only is our savings growing and our bodies are getting stronger, but our contentment and joy has been increasing tenfold this year.
Things that were once hard are now habits.
And “Hard Things” over all feel a lot less like a dragon I can’t defeat, and more like a dragon I can tame.
When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13), he wasn’t really talking about physical stuff; he was talking about the hardest parts of life, which all start in the heart.
I can do all things:
I can have self-control over my body.
I can be content with what I have.
I can be kind when someone is rude.
I can trust God with the unknown.
I can find joy when struggles come.
I can be patient in seasons of waiting.
I can conquer dragons.