Choosing tension on purpose is different than stumbling into it.
One of the most practical things a mentor ever taught me was this:
When something feels impossible, calibrate the challenge.
Most people either avoid what scares them or take on too much and they quit.
Instead, ask yourself:
How much tension does this action bring up in my body?
If it’s a 10, make the next action smaller until it feels like a 6 or 7.
Choosing tension isn’t about ease. It’s about doable.
And do it again, consistently.
That’s where growth happens.
I made a short video walking through the exercise and how to use it in your own life.
Alec Walczak works with men who feel lost, stuck, or off their own path. After a decade in tech and a health scare that forced him to face what he'd been avoiding, he left it behind to help men find purpose and direction again. He lives in Los Angeles.
