Embrace the Trials You Can Control
If you believe you were made for great things, then you recognize that difficulties are inevitable on the road to growth. Life is full of trials—some controlled, some completely unexpected. While many of these trials appear random and come at the worst times, I believe that the key to facing life’s challenges lies in proactively creating controlled trials for yourself. These self-imposed challenges, carried out in a secure and dedicated space of time, help you build the resilience, discipline, and strength you need to face any obstacle that comes your way.
“You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it.”
— Viktor Frankl
Let’s explore the value of controlled trials, how they contribute to your growth, and why you should create your own challenges to build the resilience you need to overcome life’s toughest tests.
The Reality of Uncontrolled Trials
Uncontrolled trials are the challenges life throws at us unexpectedly. These can be anything from losing a job, facing an illness, to navigating relationship problems. They often come when we’re least prepared, challenging our ability to cope and thrive. The key to handling these uncontrolled trials lies in our capacity to build resilience before we even face them.
The best way to be prepared for these uncontrolled trials is by creating your own controlled challenges. This helps build a foundation that can support you during the times when life takes a difficult turn.
Controlled Trials as the Foundation for Growth
Controlled trials are the challenges you intentionally take on in a secure and dedicated vacuum of time. This could be starting a new exercise regimen, learning a difficult skill, committing to a 30-day challenge, or working on a passion project that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. These trials are designed to build discipline, focus, and a sense of accomplishment. By actively creating these challenges, you heal your inner child and strengthen your resolve, preparing you for whatever life throws at you.
Controlled trials are not just a way to become physically or mentally stronger; they are a way to understand yourself better and to learn how you respond to pressure. They help you develop the skills and resilience needed for future challenges. By failing and learning from your mistakes in a controlled setting, you build a foundation of strength, allowing you to handle uncontrolled trials with grace and courage.
From [How Will You Measure Your Life?]
Many of us tend to focus on material achievements, like job security, status, and compensation, believing that these things will bring us fulfillment. However, studies show that what truly makes us happy are motivators like challenges, responsibilities, learning opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the world.
Controlled trials are a way to provide yourself with these motivators. By setting personal challenges, you add meaning to your life and increase your sense of fulfillment. This fulfillment comes not from external rewards, but from the knowledge that you are growing, evolving, and becoming better every day.
From [Someday is Today]
Many of us dream of doing extraordinary things, but these dreams often remain distant and abstract. We tell ourselves that we will achieve our goals someday—but not today. This way of thinking leads to mediocrity. Controlled trials are a way to bring that “someday” closer to “today.” By setting up challenges for yourself now, you start to realize that you don’t have to wait for some perfect future moment to achieve greatness—you can start building it today.
Proving to Yourself That You Can Do It
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
— Marcus Aurelius
From [The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People], Habit 1—Be Proactive emphasizes that change begins with yourself. Being proactive means taking control of the problems you can change while accepting the ones you can’t. It means altering your behavior if it’s the source of the problem, or adjusting your interactions with others to influence outcomes.
The key to building resilience lies in taking responsibility for your life. You are not merely a passive recipient of whatever life throws at you—you are an active participant in creating the life you want. By engaging in controlled trials, you build the belief that you can handle anything that comes your way. You prove to yourself that you can overcome difficulties, and this builds a foundation of confidence and resilience.
Expanding Your Comfort Zone
From [The Success Principles], Principle 10—Expand Your Comfort Zone states that we often let limiting beliefs about ourselves prevent us from pursuing our dreams. Writing affirmations and taking action to expand our comfort zone are effective ways to break free of these limitations.
Controlled trials help you push past your comfort zone. By setting challenges that take you beyond what is comfortable, you learn that you are capable of more than you thought possible. You learn that the limits you set for yourself are often illusions, and that by pushing past them, you open up a world of new possibilities.
Affirmation Exercise:
- Write an affirmation that reflects the person you want to become: “I am strong, resilient, and capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.”
- Repeat this affirmation daily to motivate yourself to expand your comfort zone.
Emotional Regulation and Thought Prevention
Controlled trials are also powerful tools for developing emotional regulation and thought prevention. When you are in a state of “doing,” you still have the ability to recognize and process your emotions, but they do not control your actions. By developing the discipline to continue moving forward, even in the face of emotional turbulence, you become more resilient. Your emotions become a part of the journey, not a roadblock.
Controlled trials also prevent unnecessary overthinking. When you create a structured plan and commit to it, you spend less time in decision fatigue, and your mind becomes clearer and more focused. By creating containers of time for specific actions, you eliminate the mental clutter that often holds you back.
Seeking Support from a Higher Power
From [The Power of Positive Thinking], Norman Vincent Peale suggests that appealing to a higher power or God can help you achieve your goals. Doubt of any kind can hinder this process, and doubtful thoughts are recommended to be avoided. By trusting in a higher power, you find the strength and confidence to face challenges that may seem insurmountable.
Examples of Controlled Trials:
- The 7-Day Challenge by Tony Robbins: A week dedicated to mastering various aspects of life—from emotions to health, relationships, finances, behavior, and time.
- 75 Hard or Project 50: Programs designed to push you beyond your comfort zone by committing to strict physical, mental, and emotional challenges over a period of time.
Each of these challenges serves as a controlled trial, designed to help you build resilience, develop emotional regulation, and find joy in the process.
Breaking Through “The Wall”
In times of controlled or uncontrolled trials, you will encounter what seems to be a wall—a point where you feel like you can’t go any further. This wall represents your current limitations, but it is also an opportunity for growth.
From [The Compound Effect], Darren Hardy explains that true growth occurs after you’ve hit a wall. By pushing through, even when you think you can’t go any further, you multiply your results. When you encounter a wall, view it as an opportunity to prove to yourself that you are capable of more than you imagined.
The Ego as the Enemy
From [Ego is the Enemy], Ryan Holiday explains that talking about your goals without taking action robs your goals of the time needed to achieve them. Controlled trials force you into action—they leave no room for empty talk or unfulfilled promises. They strip away the ego and bring you face-to-face with the reality of what it takes to achieve greatness.
Conclusion: Embrace Controlled Trials for a Resilient Future
Controlled trials are not just a way to get stronger—they are a pathway to understanding yourself more deeply, to becoming the person you were made to be. They are the foundation that prepares you for whatever life has in store. When you create your own challenges, you take control of your growth and become proactive in shaping your future.
Life is full of uncontrolled trials—events that come when we least expect them and test us to our core. By engaging in controlled trials, you build the resilience needed to handle these unexpected challenges with grace and courage. You prove to yourself that you are capable of achieving great things, regardless of the obstacles in your way.
