A Mindset That's Antifragile
How persistence can change our lives
-Antifragility is the state of being averse to frailty, not hardened, but intrinsically adaptable to stressors and obstacles. It's beyond resiliency because it relies on a sense of intelligence instead of just one's strength.
For twenty three years procrastination has been the bane of my existence. Living in a single mother household on welfare has given me the excuse to not do much with my life. I've told myself time and again that if I'd been afforded the opportunities of some young men and women, my life would have catapulted to fruition. Internal lamentation about having a father in prison, a mother who turned to drugs, and a general lack of a foundation has ridden me with a lack of self-confidence. The truth is, the path we follow is solely up to us as individuals, and the mindset we afford ourselves.
This past year has been a whirlwind. My estranged father died of an overdose, the world has changed indefinitely, and I went through a breakup, but the mindset I've been cultivating over the past few years has kept me moving despite constant pitfalls and doubts. It's become a common cliché that 2020 has been "the worst year ever".
However 2020 has provided a unique perspective that is truly underappreciated. A sense of seclusion has racked the world due to the pandemic. It's offered a little too much time for introspection, an amount many are uncomfortable with. Isolation has never been a stranger to me. Over the years it has become a habit. Self-isolation has become a blanket that keeps me warm, a shield for rejection and pain. Yet, it's a double edged sword. How am I to keep moving forward with this mindset, if I refuse to engage in basic social activities that undoubtedly keep me mentally healthy?
Goal 1: Be more open
No matter how much we hurt sometimes, as men it seems like weakness to let people in. Engaging with our feelings can be strange at first, and overwhelming, but expressing these feelings will only help in the long run. This year I've taken the initiative to seek therapy, and unpack some of the issues that have weighed me down for so long.
Goal 2: Get better with budgeting
Money has a high impact on our overall confidence, and this past year the casino has been a source of highs and extreme lows. Budgeting my finances allows me to have fun at the casino within reason. Not to mention will lessen the overall anxiety of paying bills.
Goal 3 : Keep evolving
Evolving is the antithesis of procrastination. As previously stated, the self-awareness that comes with having an adaptable mindset is the engine that keeps me on a steady path. The aforementioned paraphrasing of antifragility is the template, and being mindful fills in the gaps. There are moments when the world seems like a canvas that's just asking to be painted on. While in other moments it seems as if I'm staring at the event horizon of a black hole. Staying mindful that the latter will pass, is essential. Life is a series of good and bad, and in between there's a lot of grey. Taking lessons from each and every moment is the first step in evolving my mindset. I can't let past experiences plague my mind or let them harden me. This clarity of thought becomes a joy in itself!
Goal 4: Loving myself
2021 is the present, and I intend to stay in it. No amount of grief and self-doubt will hinder my resolve. We are all unfinished works of art, and its sad to see someone's canvas be abandoned. The fact we're all here is an anomaly in itself, so why give up? Has it been 23 years of procrastination or 23 years of preparation? Perspective pulls me out of the trenches I drift into, and loving myself is the lifeline that drags me to the surface.
About the Creator
Ty Tatum
Read it if you're ready to be razzle dazzled.
Keep reading
More stories from Ty Tatum and writers in Motivation and other communities.
The Hustle Trap: How Chasing Success Is Quietly Stealing Your Happiness
For an entire generation, success has been rebranded as a lifestyle. Social media feeds are filled with early mornings, late nights, motivational quotes, and captions that glorify exhaustion as a badge of honor. The message is clear and constant: if you are not grinding, you are falling behind. This idea, often called “hustle culture,” has become one of the most powerful and persuasive narratives of modern life. At first glance, it sounds inspiring. Work hard. Push yourself. Don’t settle for average. These are not harmful ideas on their own. The problem begins when effort becomes an identity and rest becomes something to feel guilty about. Many people now measure their worth by how busy they are. The signs of the hustle trap often appear quietly. Skipped meals become normal. Sleep becomes optional. Weekends turn into “catch-up days.” Time with family and friends starts to feel like a distraction instead of a joy. The line between dedication and self-neglect slowly disappears. Psychologists warn that chronic overwork doesn’t just drain energy — it changes how the brain responds to stress. When the body stays in a constant state of pressure, it begins to treat even small challenges as threats. This can lead to anxiety, irritability, and a feeling of being permanently on edge. Ironically, this state of mind often makes people less productive, not more. Creativity declines. Decision-making becomes rushed. Focus becomes scattered. The very success people are chasing starts to move further away. One of the most dangerous myths of hustle culture is the idea that “you can rest after you make it.” The problem is that “making it” is a moving target. There is always another goal, another level, another comparison. Without realizing it, people can spend their entire lives chasing a future moment of peace that never arrives. But a quiet shift is beginning. More professionals, entrepreneurs, and creators are starting to question the grind. They are redefining success not just by income or status, but by quality of life. They are asking different questions: Do I have time for the people I care about? Do I enjoy my daily routine? Do I feel present in my own life? Some companies are experimenting with four-day workweeks. Others are encouraging employees to fully disconnect after hours. Individuals are setting boundaries around their time and attention, even when it feels uncomfortable at first. This doesn’t mean ambition is disappearing. It means it’s being reshaped. There is a growing understanding that sustainable success is built like a marathon, not a sprint. It requires pacing, recovery, and self-awareness. Just as athletes schedule rest days to avoid injury, high performers are learning to schedule mental and emotional recovery to avoid burnout. Another powerful realization is that identity should not be tied to productivity alone. People are more than what they produce. They are friends, partners, parents, learners, and community members. When work becomes the only source of meaning, everything else can start to feel empty by comparison. Small changes can begin to loosen the grip of the hustle trap. Turning off notifications in the evening. Taking a real lunch break. Saying no to commitments that don’t align with personal values. These acts may seem minor, but they send a powerful message to the mind: my life is not a machine. In a world that constantly pushes for more, choosing “enough” can feel like an act of rebellion. But it is often in that space — between ambition and acceptance — that people rediscover something they didn’t even realize they were losing. Joy.
By Hazrat Usman Usmana day ago in Motivation
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.