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.
An important concept. Something I think many people struggle with is what I call “preliminary excuses.” These are the reasons we give ourselves for not pursuing something meaningful before we’ve even truly attempted it. Statements like, “I don’t have time to work out,” “I don’t have enough money to start,” or “It’s probably too complicated” often sound logical but are usually based on assumptions rather than reality. Deciding in advance that something cannot be done eliminates any chance of discovering what we’re capable of achieving. Many dreams, goals, and opportunities don’t fail; they simply never get started.
Instead of immediately looking for reasons something won’t work, try replacing that with curiosity. Take a few minutes to research the idea, ask questions, seek advice, or better yet, take the first small step. Usually what seemed impossible turns out to be merely difficult, and difficult is doable. Progress in fitness, business, relationships, health, and personal growth almost always begins when we stop focusing solely on obstacles and start exploring possibilities. Don’t allow excuses to remove you from the game before it even begins. You are more capable than you realize, but you’ll never know unless you give yourself the chance to find out.
Something I believe. In my opinion, many people in our lives tend to fall into one of two categories – either rocket ships or rocks. Rocket ships are the people who elevate us. Through their example, integrity, encouragement, work ethic, and positive influence, they help us grow into better versions of ourselves. Rocks, on the other hand, weigh us down. They tend to be overly negative, judgmental, dramatic, or constantly focused on problems rather than solutions. While no one is perfect, who we spend the most time around has a tremendous impact on our mindset, energy, and direction. That’s why I believe it’s always wise to gain a rocket while losing a rock whenever possible.
Regardless of where you are in life, adding another high-quality person to your circle can be transformative. Positive and disciplined people tend to raise our standards simply through their presence. They inspire us to think bigger, work harder, and carry ourselves better. At the same time, reducing the influence of those who consistently drain our energy can free us to focus on what truly matters. We must choose our company carefully because the right people can help launch us toward our goals, while the wrong ones quietly hold us back.
A great reminder. Recently, I spoke with two people who have made remarkable transformations in their lives. One had gotten into incredible physical shape, while the other had successfully launched a new business. What struck me was that both journeys began with painful experiences and disappointments caused by other people. Rather than allowing those events to define them, they chose to channel the hurt into something productive. They took difficult emotions and converted them into positive action. Hearing their stories reminded me that adversity often presents us with a choice of “get bitter or get better.”
A crucial lesson here is that while what happens to us is not always within our control, how we respond to it absolutely is. Progress begins when we decide to move forward rather than remain stuck. The second lesson is that emotions, when directed properly, can become powerful fuel. Anger can become determination, frustration can become discipline, and sadness can become motivation to create a better future. Difficult experiences will come to us all, but they do not have to be wasted. I have tremendous respect for people who recycle life’s setbacks into catalysts for growth in their health, business, relationships, or personal development. The challenge is not to avoid adversity but rather to transform it into something meaningful.
A common mistake. A few weeks ago, a father approached me seeking advice about an issue involving his son. He spoke passionately about how much he cared and how important it was to him to help his child succeed. I spent considerable time thinking through the situation and offered several practical ideas that he was excited to implement. Not long afterward, however, he followed up and admitted that he had done essentially nothing with the guidance. He still planned to address it someday, but the drive he seemed to have to make a difference days before was now gone. It was a reminder to me that caring about something and acting on it are not the same thing.
The truth is that our actions reveal our priorities far more accurately than our words ever will. If we continually talk about improving our health, strengthening a relationship, growing a business, or helping someone we love, but never take meaningful action, our desire to change is not as strong as we claim. Discussing what needs to be done or that we’d like to do is different than actually doing it. The most successful people I know seem to follow a simple formula. They spend less time talking about their intentions and more time quietly going to work. Their focus is not on explaining what they plan to do someday but actually executing that plan.
Some quotes I Love.
“Do you know that the harder thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing? Nothing that has meaning is easy. ‘Easy’ doesn’t enter into grown-up life.” – Michael Caine
“Either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.” – Al Pacino, Any Given Sunday