TRP has a name for only doing the hard work aspect of life, it’s often referred to as monk mode. As you can infer by the descriptor, it’s not meant to be a lifestyle. TRP is not here to only help you get your shit together but to provide you with the tools to find a sense of purpose while simultaneously enjoying your life.

What I’m getting at is it’s a good thing you want to enjoy your life. You are supposed to better your life as fast as possible but never neglect your need for fun and social interaction. It’s not an optional component of a well rounded out life with a positive trajectory.

I’ve been sick for the last two weeks and even though I was very productive, I can’t wait to get back to the gym, to training, to going out with friends and to talk to strangers, especially chicks.

You need to find a balance where you can simultaneously progress the 3-4 most important areas of your life but also give yourself room to enjoy yourself for 1-2 nights a week. It’s difficult to do, it introduces stress because a social life well led will be at odds with your fitness and career goals sometimes, that’s why you got to learn to decide for the right thing at the right time. One night per week at least the decision should be your friends, some fun event or some hitting on girls (you can do this anytime really).

What’s all the progress and TRP good for when you don’t go out and enjoy the fruits of your labor sometimes?

I graduated college and moved to the city. I was wild in college though had not hit many bucket list items. Once I moved to the city I was in restaurants, training martial arts, really into meditation and buddhism. I quit drinking and smoking, became vegetarian, began leaving my body, and I was just going on this crazy journey. I remember many nights way up above the city hearing all of the college kids close to my age whoop, cheer, and have the best time. I longed to be out there with them, to be the guy the girls were laughing at so loudly I could hear them on FL 13. I would tell myself that one day I will be that guy, and this is why I am working so hard.

I would wake up at 6am, work out for about an hour, hit an 8 hour shift in a restaurant, walk a mile downtown to class, teach and/or work out for 2 hours, assume another hour of volunteer responsibility after class, and then walk home a mile at night to go to bed and do it again the next day (40+hr/wk). I took a lot out of my walks home at night through the downtown on Thu/Fri nights. I would feel as though I was part of the night crowd even though I wasn't. Sometimes I'd go downtown and pretend to be homeless, sitting there meditating. It was interesting to see how people went out of their way to avoid you thinking you were homeless. Sometimes I'd go meditate secretly in some urban areas where people were close but couldn't find me. This might be late at night. Sometimes I'd go work out in a park late at night. Probably wasn't smart back then and still isn't now.

As life went on, I got married to my ex, took on more responsibilities, increased my career, bought assets which I still have, etc. Did not want this but when you are married you begin making the best decisions instead of your happiest decisions. I kept it kid free although I dream of kids one day. Anyway, as life went on, eventually I would melt away disciplines which were too strict, socially limiting, or I now had under control. For instance, I drink now. This started when work was forcing me to travel and I was attending a lot of drinking events and gatherings. It was bad business to be not drinking, and I had not drank for so long, and changed my lifestyle around so much, that now to introduce a drink was easy. I have not been drunk since college and my friends drink more of the alcohol in my house than I do. I don't like it, never did. Another example is that I now will orgasm with a woman. I used to always retain my semen because I used to have problems of spilling it too much. My ex wife often wanted me to just simply enjoy. Yes, I have learned to enjoy this again. Another example, I was a hardcore vegetarian. I went vegan for a few fight camps. I was vegetarian for many years but now I will eat sardines in water, cod liver, and oysters in water. Well, my meat diet used to be shit and I hated anything from the sea. After some vegetarian lifestyle, now I approach meat and eating animal with a whole different outlook.

If you ever knew a star athlete who could get laid with no problem any night, but did not because of their athletics, you might understand what you are doing for yourself. Treating yourself like a star athlete and your mind is the coach. Coaches let their athletes wild once in a while. My boys lived every day with perfection, including their imperfect days. What I mean is, their drive and discipline was blinding and impressive. Yet when they had the occasional wild day, their commitment to being wild and undisciplined was blinding and impressive.

Some of the best memories of my life are chilling on a beach somewhere on the Mediterranean with my brother catching the sun with countless hot European girls who are desperate for a summer fling. I wouldn’t trade these memories for any monk mode. Matter of fact, I think that was real self improvement. Once you’ve seen the world and smashed hot foreign 19 year olds left and right, being back in the states talking to some local 26 y.o. bitch with a soft stomach who doesn’t know anything makes her feel like nothing to you.