For When Things Get Hard

In this heartfelt talk, Lou shares a lesson from the early months of fatherhood that transformed the way he relates to difficult seasons. Through a personal story and thoughtful reflection, you'll explore how simply naming life's inevitable challenges can create space, resilience, and a deeper sense of perspective. This talk is an invitation to stop resisting the hard parts of your journey and begin recognizing them as an essential part of any meaningful path.

Transcript

Hello, Welcome. My name is Lew Redman. Thank you so much for listening. On Sundays and Tuesdays, I watch my son while my wife works a 10-hour hospital shift. These are beautiful and exhausting days. It's a privilege to have this time to bond with my baby, And it's given me a whole new respect for moms and single parents. The energy required to do my work, Run my business is nothing compared to caring for a human who's completely dependent on me nonstop, No breaks. For the first few weeks, Things were really difficult. He had trouble taking the bottle and just missed being away from his mama. I'd try everything to console him. I'd bounce around. I'd heat up the bottle. I'd heat up the top. I'd try to heat it again. I'd walk outside. I'd sing songs. Nothing worked. The utter loneliness of being home with a crying baby and no tools wrecked me. It also wrecked my wife to know how our family's necessity for her to work right now was impacting him. Before my own initiation, The main parenthood sentiment I heard was, It's the greatest thing in the world and the hardest thing in the world. During one of those solo dad days, As my son was shrieking and the seconds passing like eternity, It hit me. This is the heart. What other parents said about it being difficult, This is it. I'm in it. There was something relieving about recognizing it. I was bonded to the billions of parents dealing with one hard thing after another. It was a powerful reminder that in naming something, We get space and are not consumed by it. After admitting what was happening, Things changed. While I know there are many hard times coming, I'm grateful to say that that flavor of hard has shifted. The greatest thing and the hardest thing are true for any meaningful pursuit. Training for a race, Running a business, Or awakening on one's path. We can't get away from the heart. It comes with the territory. But we can learn to recognize it when we're in it. So when you find yourself experiencing friends not understanding your life choices, No clients coming in, Loss of direction and identity, Failed attempt at a new offering, Muscles cramping at mile 20 of a marathon. Remember, This is the heart. Embrace it as what you signed up for and you will learn how to endure when others quit. Plus, It'll make the moments and the times where all those things are the greatest in the world that much sweeter. I am rooting for you. And if you're in the hard in some way, Know that you're not meant to do it alone. And consider what it might be like to have someone in your corner, Someone who's been through things, Someone who can help support you in your process. I love to do that here on Insight Timer through my courses. So if you like that mantra, This is the hard, I think you'll love my course, Unshakable Peace, 22 Mantras of Hope, Where we explore different mantras as tools to help you navigate your journey, Navigate uncertainty, Navigate suffering many different ways. So go check out that course and I hope it supports your path. Thank you so much and we'll talk soon.

Reviews

I’m sharing this with my daughter and son-in-law who recently had their first child. Perfect for them AND for me as I navigate my own life challenges. Thank you!

Thank you, Lou!

Great talk! Thanks for the encouragement. 🙏🏻🩵