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- Tired is Temporary
Yesterday morning hit me like a freight train. I'd gotten a full night's sleep, yet exhaustion clung to me like a heavy coat. Everything in my body screamed for me to crawl back into bed, take the day off, maybe binge-watch something mindless. My coffee tasted flat, my routine felt like drudgery, and even the simplest tasks seemed mountainous. Then a thought cut through the fog: tired is temporary.
Rise Above The Rim
I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’
That morning revelation wasn't just about physical exhaustion. It was about the deeper weariness that comes with rebuilding your life after 40, after divorce, after everything you thought was permanent gets turned upside down. The bone-deep tiredness that seeps in when you're constantly fighting uphill battles - whether it's navigating co-parenting schedules, rebuilding finances, or simply trying to remember who you are outside of your former marriage.
Research from the American Psychological Association's 2023 Stress in America report shows that men over 40 experiencing major life transitions report 67% higher stress levels than their peers, with chronic fatigue being one of the most common symptoms. Dr. Robert Sapolsky's groundbreaking work in "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" demonstrates how prolonged stress creates a cascade of physiological changes that leave us feeling perpetually drained.
But here's what I learned standing in my kitchen that morning, staring at my reflection in the microwave door: champions aren't built in moments of energy and enthusiasm. They're forged in the moments when everything hurts, when every step feels impossible, when tired feels like your permanent address.
The Truth About Champion-Level Persistence
Muhammad Ali understood something most people miss about greatness. He didn't become the heavyweight champion of the world because training was enjoyable. He became champion because he pushed through when it wasn't. That quote about hating every minute of training isn't about masochism - it's about understanding that temporary discomfort is the price of permanent change.
When you're rebuilding your life after divorce, tired isn't just about physical exhaustion. It's decision fatigue from having to remake every choice that used to be automatic. It's emotional exhaustion from processing grief, anger, and uncertainty simultaneously. It's mental fatigue from learning new skills, whether that's cooking for one, managing finances solo, or figuring out how to be a weekend dad.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Men's Health found that divorced men over 40 who maintained consistent daily routines despite fatigue showed 43% better outcomes in areas including career advancement, relationship building, and overall life satisfaction compared to those who gave in to exhaustion.
The difference isn't in feeling less tired. It's in understanding that tired is a temporary state, not a permanent identity.
When Everything Feels Heavy
I remember my own divorce journey when simple tasks felt like climbing Everest. Making breakfast became a negotiation with exhaustion. Checking emails felt overwhelming. The weight of starting over at an age when I thought I'd have everything figured out was crushing.
But tired taught me something profound: it's often a signal that transformation is happening. Just like muscles grow during rest after being broken down by exercise, our capacity for resilience grows during those moments when we push through despite feeling depleted.
Dr. Angela Duckworth's research on grit, detailed in her book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," shows that the ability to maintain effort and interest despite failures, adversity, and plateaus is the single biggest predictor of success - more than talent, intelligence, or circumstances.
Your Power Moves
Self-Awareness: Recognize the difference between productive tiredness (growth fatigue) and destructive tiredness (depression or burnout). Keep a simple daily log of your energy levels and what activities drain versus restore you. If exhaustion persists beyond normal stress, consult a healthcare professional.
Trust the Process: Accept that feeling tired while rebuilding your life is normal and temporary. Create non-negotiable daily minimums - one small action you'll do regardless of how you feel. This builds trust in your ability to follow through even when motivation is low.
Mindset Shift: Reframe tired as a sign of progress, not weakness. Champion-level thinking means understanding that discomfort often signals growth. Instead of "I'm too tired," try "I'm tired AND I'm still moving forward."
Organization: Prepare for tired days when you're feeling strong. Meal prep on weekends, lay out clothes the night before, create simple systems that require minimal decision-making. Make it easier to do the right thing when willpower is low.
Leveraging Connections: Build accountability partnerships with other men who understand the rebuilding journey. Share your tough days honestly - not to complain, but to normalize the experience and gain encouragement to push through.
The Champion's Choice
That morning when I wanted to quit before I even started, I made a champion's choice. I didn't feel like a champion. I felt like someone who'd been hit by a truck. But I understood something Muhammad Ali knew: champions aren't made in the moments when everything feels easy. They're made in the moments when everything feels impossible, and they choose to move forward anyway.
Tired is temporary. The man you become by pushing through it? That's permanent. Every morning you choose progress over comfort, you're not just getting through another day - you're building the foundation for the rest of your life. And that foundation, built in moments of exhaustion and doubt, becomes unshakeable.
The rim isn't just an obstacle - it's your launching pad. Even when you're too tired to see it clearly.