Welcome back to the 7-40 Challenge—seven core habits, forty days straight, no excuses. If you missed Day 1, here’s the short version: I refuse to drift through life. I’m locking in the seven core habits I described in yesterday’s post. And wouldn’t you know it—Day 2 hasn’t even ended and the challenge is already swinging back at me.
The First Punch Lands
I woke up yesterday with a neck that felt like it had been folded into a suitcase. How? I was asleep. Apparently, in my mid-40s, even unconsciousness is a contact sport. The ache lingered through Day 1, sharpened this morning, and tried to whisper the old lie: “Rest. Skip the workout. Tomorrow’s fine.”
That’s the pattern, isn’t it? The moment you commit, the resistance shows up—on time, every time.
Winston Churchill nailed it during the darkest hours of 1941:
If you are going through hell keep going.
He wasn’t talking about sore necks, but the principle is the same. Obstacles aren’t stop signs; they’re proof you’re moving.
I also like how Steven Pressfield described it in the War of Art:
The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear is what comes with the territory. He feels the Resistance and does the work anyway.
My Day 2 Reality Check
• Exercise: 60 minutes done—stiff neck and all.
• Nutrition: Food logged, hydration on point.
• Reading: One hour in the books.
• Faith: Morning Bible study and prayer, even when the body screamed louder than the spirit.
• Gratitude: Sent a personal message to a friend reminding them that I am proud of them.
• Writing: This post.
• Content Creation: Still learning this but will finish before end of day.
Every checkbox felt heavier than it should. That’s the point. Easy doesn’t forge anything worth keeping.
The Mindset That Wins
Resistance is inevitable. Response is optional.
Napoleon Hill spent 20 years studying the ultra-successful and boiled it down to this:
Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.
My seed today? the routine will carry me forward even when everything else wants me to slow down. Lean on the routine and do the work.
The 40-Day Horizon
I’m not here to hit a number on the scale (though it’s trending the right way). I’m here to become the version of me who doesn’t need another reset in 2026. Smarter, stronger, closer to God, useful to people—that’s the target.
Your Turn
How are you doing on your goals? What are you working on? I pray my journey is an encouragement to you. Knowing you are reading these words is an encouragement to me. Thank you for that.
Day 2 is in the books. Day 3 starts at 5:00 a.m. See you on the other side of the alarm.
Press on.
David Willis 