Sometimes the Shortcut Is the Longest Route…
I was talking with my dad the other day about a project he’s been working on and how long it’s taking to finish. He thought he was choosing the shortcut — the faster route to get things done. But like so many of us, he learned what most personal growth journeys eventually reveal: shortcuts in life usually take longer.
The original plan was supposed to take a year, so he picked a different route that promised speed. Now, eighteen months later, the project still isn’t complete — and it’s caused far more frustration than if he’d just stayed the course.
We’ve all been there, right? Whether it’s in business, relationships, or our own self-development, we’re tempted to bypass the lesson — to find the hack, the “quantum leap,” the easy way out. But when it comes to real transformation and growth, doing the hard thing is often what leads us to alignment, ease, and lasting success.
The Illusion of “Faster”
I’m pretty sure we’ve all done this — especially with all the hype around “quantum results” and “quantum growth” in business and personal development.
But here’s the truth: to have the growth, we have to get the learnings. Which means we have to go through the lesson.
Our minds, however, are hard-wired to avoid what feels hard, so of course we crave the shortcut.
The Pendulum of Growth
There’s a universal law about cycles and rhythms. I often think of it like a pendulum: when something swings in one direction, it must eventually swing equally far in the other.
It’s within that swing that we find the lesson. The learning we gain from the motion is what eventually slows the pendulum and brings it into balance — so life doesn’t feel so extreme.
But if we don’t get the learning, the pendulum stays in motion. These are the highs and lows we experience — the emotional rollercoasters of life.
And honestly? At 47, I’m kind of over the highs and lows of the Free Falls and Tower of Terrors. I’ll take the kiddie rides that glide a little smoother, thank you very much.
The Cost of Skipping the Lesson
Here’s the thing — when we try to bypass the length of the lesson, when we rush to balance the pendulum or shorten the swing, it actually requires more force to slow it down.
That’s how the “shortcut” ends up being harder than simply riding out the cycle and receiving the learning in a gentler, more natural way.
The Volcano Story
Last year, I was hiking the volcano of Kilauea on the island of Hawai‘i with a group. It was wet, rainy, and cold — definitely not ideal weather for trekking across a volcanic crater with a 30–40 flight descent in and ascent out.
Before our hikes, we always meditate on what we want to connect with. I chose Fire, because I was ready to take my business in a new direction — I wanted to connect with the energy of expansion and transformation that Fire represents.
There were two trails to choose from. One was a 3–4 mile route that led deep into the crater and back out again. The other was the Thurston Lava Tube.
In my mind, I pictured a tunnel that would take me through the volcano — dry, direct, and of course, closer to Fire. (I know — optimistic, maybe even a little delusional, but it sounded fabulous at the time!) I convinced myself it would be more magical and definitely less miserable.
So, I took the shortcut.
Let’s just say it was far less magical than I had envisioned. I’m still not sure how we managed to turn a 500-foot lava tube into a three-hour trip, but we did. And I’m fairly certain it was colder than hiking across the crater would’ve been.
Halfway through, the sun even came out. Meanwhile, I was standing in a cold, damp tunnel, leaning against a garbage bag to meditate (because no way was I sitting in the mud), and yes — I meditated standing up.
By the end, I felt further away from Fire than when I started.
As I reflected, I realized that had I just chosen the “hard thing” — the full hike across the crater — I would have actually had a richer, more aligned experience.
That realization sparked something in me. It lit a fire (pun intended) to lean in and do the hard things — the very fire that later became the foundation for FYI: The F*ck Yes! Intensive.
My “shortcut” became the long, winding road to exactly what I needed to learn.
The Exchange of Energy
I’m not saying all shortcuts are bad. But there’s always a tradeoff.
In all things, there’s an exchange — energy, time, money, effort. What you “save” in one area will find its way to the other side.
These days, I’ve learned to lean in — fully aware that it might feel “hard” — and also knowing that the faster I lean in, the quicker I get the learning.
I’ve reframed “hard” to mean growth, excitement, adventure, expansion.
What if “hard” wasn’t bad?
✨ Your Turn to Reflect
So, where are you choosing the shortcut right now?
Is there an area of your life or business where you’ve been trying to skip ahead — hoping to avoid the discomfort, but deep down knowing the real magic is in the lesson itself?
I invite you to pause and ask yourself:
✨ What lesson might this moment be offering me?
✨ What if leaning in is actually the fastest way through?
And if you’re ready to start leaning in — with guidance, tools, and a little fire — I’d love to invite you into FYI: The F*ck Yes! Intensive, where we do the “hard things” together, in alignment and with ease.
