January 29, 2025: The Mind Trick

Every morning starts the same. Shower. Walk downstairs. Work out. It’s usually still dark outside, and about 99.9% of the time, I do not feel like exercising.

But I have a trick. I tell myself: Brian, once you’re done, you’ll enjoy the newspaper and a hot cup of coffee.

Start the Rocky music. Knowing my “reward” keeps me moving. Eye of the tiger.

And here’s what I’ve realized — one of the most underrated secrets to a happy-go-lucky heart: Always have something to look forward to.

It’s about savoring the present by anticipating the future. What gets me through a cold January? Counting down the days until our family beach trip, where I slather on sunscreen and throw a frisbee with the kids and walk on the pier and stare at the ocean and shine a flashlight at night searching for crabs in the sand.

The same trick works in daily micro ways. A long drive becomes a break when I have a podcast or audiobook queued up. Cleaning the garage or tackling yard work feels less like a chore when there’s a little treat at the end. Maybe a McDonald’s sweet tea. Or a Starbucks latte. Hey, I earned it.

The power is always in my hands to plan a fun future. That way, even dreaded tasks lose their bite when something good waits on the other side.

Might be time for some more push-ups.