Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays, I like to share experiences from my week—both with patients and in my personal life—that have left a meaningful impact. My hope is that these reflections offer you something of value, a bit of insight or encouragement that resonates with your own journey and inspires you in some way.
Something I loved. I heard a quote this week that I thought was amazing, “fear is a mile wide and an inch deep.” In other words, the hurdle or concern that we face often appears too overwhelming, vast, and foreboding to overcome. These issues are solvable, but it is our perception of the obstacle that is the real limiting factor. If we simply tested those same waters and started taking steps, we would still get wet, but we could overcome it with time.
As human beings we often overestimate the troubles we encounter while simultaneously underestimating our ability to work through them. We assess our circumstances as they are and lack vision for the potential to change them. My personal approach to the difficulties I face is to start trying something. That takes away some of the fear I may have while allowing me to collect additional information and fine tune what I’m doing. Before long, something that seemed impossible now appears possible with additional information, attempts, and perseverance. Do not allow yourself to drown in the 1-inch waters of fear that you could simply walk yourself out of.
Something that I do. My maternal grandfather was one of my favorite people ever. He was a boxer, amazing storyteller, and more. Much of my personality can be traced back to the fifteen or so years I spent with him. Near the end of his life, he battled a very painful cancer that metastasized into his spine. He knew he was on borrowed time but loved his family and grandchildren deeply. Thus, he used to set a goal to make it to the next major event such as Christmas, Easter, or my football season. Rather than worrying about how much time he had remaining, he simply set goals to make it to the next event. This helped him focus and made enduring the agony purposeful. I have come to use this same principle with great success.
When I was a newly single dad starting over in my career, I had many tough weeks but would always tell myself “Just get to Thursday” when I would see my sons again. In 100-mile races when I am at my lowest points, I only focus on making it to the next aid station to eat or drink something. No matter what form it may take in life, business, or athletics; I break up my long-term objective into a series of small, workable conquests. This makes things less daunting and allows me to focus better. Once I attain that objective, I begin the process again. Sometimes this seems easy and other times incredibly difficult. This simple tool has changed my mind set and gotten me out of some of the worst points in my life while propelling me toward outcomes that I couldn’t have attained otherwise.
An important decision. As a football coach and lifelong fan of the game, I often say there are two vastly distinct types of “problem” players. The first is the one every coach dreads, the athlete who doesn’t listen, avoids the hard work, lacks focus, and puts themselves above the team. Any talent they may possess is overshadowed by the disruption they create. A “me first” mindset doesn’t just limit their own potential; it quietly erodes the culture, confidence, and cohesion of everyone around them.
The second type is a “problem” in the best possible context. These players work relentlessly, elevate their teammates, master the fundamentals, and never stop trying to improve. They are a problem for the opposition because their impact goes far beyond raw ability. Their skills are amplified by effort, discipline, and leadership. Life works the same way. Each of us gets to choose which kind of problem we’ll be. The goal is to be a challenge for the obstacles in front of you, not for the people counting on you. Your attitude, habits, and daily choices decide which way you choose.
A recent interaction. A young chiropractor recently asked me for “10–20 questions” to determine whether he had the personality to open his own practice. This reminded me how we often overcomplicate decisions we already understand. My response was simple: the fact that he was asking told me everything I needed to know. Wanting reassurance is human, but entrepreneurship isn’t about having the perfect personality or circumstances, it’s about willingness. Thus, I offered him just one question instead: Are you ready to leave your comfort zone and do what it takes to make it happen?
When it comes to big decisions, we usually know exactly what the right move is. The fork in the road appears when we choose between finding a way forward or collecting reasons to stay where we are. Any pursuit of something great will always include uncertainty, discomfort, and hard work. No one is ever fully ready to start a difficult journey, yet those who do rarely regret it. Whether the goal is physical, athletic, financial, or professional, the principle remains the same. Growth requires risk, or, as the saying goes, “no risk-it, no biscuit.”
Some quotes I Love.
“Trees don’t hang out with the grass even though they started from the same place.”
“Fear has a large shadow but he himself is small.” – Ruth Gendler
“Don’t be afraid your life will end. Be afraid it will never begin.” – Grace Hansen