“You don’t have to love the pain. But you can love what it produces.”
This episode is deeply personal. Ally and I talk about Amor Fati—the Stoic mindset of loving your fate—and how it can shift the way you approach setbacks, suffering, and even grief.
We walk through everything from infertility to losing a parent to injury during marathon training. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s real life.
You’ll hear stories of failure, unfulfilled timelines, shattered expectations—and how choosing to accept, rather than resist, those moments can unlock something deeper: peace, growth, and the strength to keep showing up.
Whether you’re training for something hard, healing from a loss, or just feeling like life is piling it on, this one’s for you. You don’t need to love the pain—but you can love what it makes of you.
Key Takeaways
1. Amor Fati Is a Weapon: You don’t just accept what happens—you love it. You say: “This had to happen to me. And I’m better for it.” That mindset? It changes everything.
2. Our Timeline Is Not Reality: We make plans. We fantasize. Then reality punches us in the throat. The house delays, the job that didn’t come, the baby we can’t yet have—none of that went to plan. But resistance only makes the pain worse. Flexibility brings freedom.
3. Loss Isn’t the End—It’s a Sacred Starting Point: When Ally lost her dad, it broke her. But she rebuilt. That grief became a sacred box of motivation. It taught her to run, to fly, to live a life he’d be proud of. Loss can crush you, or it can crown you. Sometimes it does both.
4. The Body Keeps the Score—and So Does the Mind: Injury slows you down. But it teaches patience. Grace. How to love the long game. Even when it means PRs instead of podiums.
5. Life Delays You So You Can Learn: Didn’t get the promotion? Maybe that’s the lesson. Brett shares what he learned about grace, patience, and showing up without the external win.
6. You’re Either Inputting or Letting Go: Ally compares life to flying an Airbus: too much control sends you off course. Sometimes the best move is to let go and let life fly itself for a moment.
Try this today:
When something goes wrong—big or small—pause. Smile. Say “Amor Fati.”
Then ask: What’s my move now?
You're not here to crumble. You're here to build. So keep getting after it.
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I hope today’s episode sparked something within you to pursue your dreams and unlock your true potential. If you found value in it, consider sharing it with someone who might need that same push.
This podcast is built for you—the dreamers and the doers. My goal is to provide a space where you can find inspiration, learn from others, and feel empowered to chase what matters most to you.
