The Magic Lies in the Work You’re Avoiding

“A reasonable man adapts to the world. An unreasonable man makes the world adapt to him. Therefore, in order to change the world, one must be unreasonable.” - George Bernard Shaw

There’s something powerful about this idea. Growth and true change often require us to challenge what’s comfortable or expected. Whether we’re trying to make a difference in our own lives or the world, real transformation usually comes from choosing the “unreasonable” path—the one that feels tough, uncomfortable, or uncertain but ultimately leads to transformational growth.

Is there a part of my life where I feel stuck?

Am I avoiding something because it feels too hard or risky?

Am I choosing what’s comfortable?

Am I willing to face discomfort for real growth?”

This has been a big part of my journey, especially as I’ve gotten older. In my 20s and 30s, I focused on what I thought was expected—staying within routines and habits that felt safe. But somewhere along the way, I realized that real change—the kind that truly matters—often means doing the work that feels uncomfortable. It’s the work we usually avoid that shapes us.

The Magic in the Work We Avoid

“The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.”

This quote hit me hard the first time I heard it because it rings so true.

What’s the ‘work’ I’m avoiding?

Maybe it’s a habit I know I need to change, a commitment to my health I’ve put off, or a way of thinking that holds me back.

What if the magic, the growth I’m looking for, is waiting on the other side of that very challenge?

Often, it’s in facing these uncomfortable things that we find the greatest rewards. The growth, the magic, is on the other side of that discomfort.

When I look back, I see many moments where I faced a choice: stay where I was, or take a step forward—even if it meant facing something uncomfortable. One example that stands out is my decision to prioritize my health and well-being. I knew I needed to make changes—small habits, like waking up earlier to exercise or dedicating time each day for self-reflection. These choices felt challenging at first, but the growth I experienced through these changes is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The Wolf Mentality: Relentless Climb Toward Growth

I keep thinking of myself as a wolf climbing a mountain.

Cool, calm, collected, head held high, just moving forward, no matter what.

Over, under, left, right, through—no matter what, I just keep moving forward.

It's a massive mountain. I can't see the top, just a bunch of mist.

But I just keep climbing, no matter what.

I'm a relentless, hungry wolf who just keeps moving forward. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

“The wolf climbing the hill is hungrier than the wolf on top of the hill.”

This mentality keeps me grounded. It reminds me that the journey—the climb itself—is where the growth happens. As long as I keep moving forward, no excuses, no regrets, I know I’m on the right path. Great things happen to me, and I’m built for this. The climb is what strengthens me, just like the work we avoid is often the very work that helps us grow.

Lessons from "The Call of the Wild" and Embracing Instinct

Recently, I listened to The Call of the Wild by Jack London on Audible. It’s a story about survival, instinct, and resilience. The main character, a dog named Buck, is forced to adapt to harsh environments where only the strong survive. But Buck doesn’t just adapt passively—he grows stronger, sharper, and more connected to his own instincts. Through hardship, Buck rediscovers parts of himself he’d forgotten or never fully understood, as though each new challenge strips away layers of comfort and reveals a deeper, more powerful self within.

As I listened, I kept thinking of life’s “wild” moments—those testing grounds where we face the unknown, often without the comforts we rely on. The wilderness in the story feels symbolic, a place where Buck has to decide whether he’ll break or evolve. It’s a place that brings out his raw strength and primordial instincts. I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences in life’s “wilds”—those challenging periods when I felt pushed to the limits, forced to rely on my own strength and intuition in ways I hadn’t before.

This book in my 40s gave me a fresh perspective. Now, I see how London’s story is about more than survival; it’s about finding strength in our nature and instincts, qualities we sometimes lose touch with in the routine of daily life. It reminded me of Darwin’s ideas on adaptation—not merely adjusting to fit in, but adapting to become a truer, stronger version of ourselves. Buck’s transformation reflects what it means to embrace discomfort and challenge, trusting that those very experiences will awaken our truest selves.

In many ways, I think that’s the “unreasonable” path the quote refers to: the choice to stop fitting in and start adapting in a way that lets us become who we’re truly meant to be. It’s in the wilderness, in our toughest climbs, that we find out who we really are. The climb is what makes us stronger, more resilient, and more capable.

Doing the Hard Work and Finding Strength: Insights from "When You’re Ready, This is How You Heal"

Another book that has been on my mind is When You’re Ready, This is How You Heal by Brianna Wiest. Her approach to healing goes beyond simply “getting over” pain or avoiding discomfort. Wiest’s philosophy centers on the idea that growth requires deep, sometimes painful honesty with ourselves and that true healing is an active journey rather than a passive state of recovery.

In a way, healing can feel like the climb itself—demanding but transformative. Each step forces us to face aspects of ourselves we’d rather avoid. Just as each challenging step in a mountain climb builds physical strength, each difficult choice or realization in healing builds a stronger, wiser self. Wiest emphasizes that healing isn’t a process of “fixing” something broken; it’s about creating a stronger foundation by addressing our hard truths, unlearning patterns, and choosing healthier paths.

This perspective deeply resonated. In my own journey, I’ve had to face habits and patterns that were comfortable but ultimately unfulfilling. Choosing the hard work—whether it meant letting go of unhelpful routines or committing to healthier ones—wasn’t easy, but it led to genuine growth. Wiest’s insights reminded me that each time we choose to face our own uncomfortable truths, we add another layer to our strength and resilience.

As Wiest suggests, growth often demands that we step up and confront the very things we’d rather ignore. It’s through these struggles that true progress happens, each step an essential part of becoming the person we’re meant to be.

Closing Thoughts: Embrace the Climb and the Unreasonable Path

It’s not easy to be “unreasonable.” It means choosing the difficult path, facing what we’d rather avoid, and finding the strength to keep going. But if we want to create real change in our lives, sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do. Like the wolf climbing the mountain, we may not see the summit, but we find strength and purpose in each step.

If there’s something you’ve been avoiding, maybe it’s time to face it. There’s a good chance that’s where you’ll find the magic you’ve been looking for.

Purpose Behind This Newsletter:

1. For Me: Document life lessons for future reflection.
2. For Maya: Wisdom for my daughter to draw upon in the future.
3. For Growth: Improve my thinking, communication, and creativity through the practice of writing and connecting my favorite quotes, life lessons and books.
4. For You: Perspectives that might resonate with your life and leadership journey.

Frequency of Posts:

LinkedIn has you pick frequency (daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly) of posts when creating a newsletter, however, I'm not sure I'll be following one of these options. I'll simply be posting when I feel like it. This is a passion project with no time constraints or pressure.

To all who have subscribed and / or taken the time to read my articles, thank you, I appreciate it.

Hitesh Patel

📚 Referenced:

• The Call of the Wild by Jack London
• When You’re Ready, This is How You Heal by Brianna Wiest

#RelentlessGrowth #UncomfortableTruths #KeepMovingForward