Embrace Discomfort: The Path to Inner Excellence and Fulfillment

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy - This book serves as a manual on mental toughness and performance under pressure, emphasizing a holistic approach to human optimization that delves deeper than just the mind.
• "The Best Possible Life: How to Live a Deep Content and Joy and Confidence No Matter What" by Jim Murphy - A smaller, easier-to-read book that provides a summary of "Inner Excellence" and focuses on the spiritual life.
• "Make the Impossible Possible" by Bill Strickland - This book is associated with an organization that provides job training skills and arts and crafts for inner-city youth and adults.
• "The Courage to Be Disliked" - This book highlights that many people organize their lives to avoid criticism, often hindering personal growth and societal progress.
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear - This book discusses the concept of making small, manageable steps to build habits, such as starting with putting running shoes by the door to begin a running routine.

People Mentioned

• AJ Brown - An NFL player who was seen reading Jim Murphy's book "Inner Excellence" on the sidelines, bringing it widespread attention.
• Shane Claiborne - A Christian activist who moved in with the poor and does amazing work in inner-city Philadelphia, particularly in Kensington.
• Bill Strickland - Author of "Make the Impossible Possible," known for creating centers that provide job training and arts for inner-city communities.
• Tom Brady - Referenced as a highly successful football player with a "mixture of fuel," implying both purpose-driven and "chip on his shoulder" motivations.
• Jerry Seinfeld - Mentioned for his perspective on why he continues to work, illustrating the cycle of achievement for self-worth.
• Michael Phelps - Referenced as an athlete who achieved extreme success (23 Olympic gold medals) but still experienced a feeling of emptiness.
• David Foster Wallace - Quoted for his idea that "everyone has a god," meaning everyone worships something.
• Daniel Kahneman - Mentioned for inspiring the concept of creating rules for oneself rather than relying on choices, particularly in the context of daily workouts.
• Lewis Gordon Pugh - An endurance swimmer who swam a kilometer at the North Pole in a speedo, demonstrating mental toughness by breaking down the goal into smaller, manageable segments.
• Emily Balcetis - A doctor whose research on runners and athletes hitting a "wall" suggests changing the area of focus to smaller, immediate goals.
• Teddy "Scotty" Scheffler - The caddy and coach of world number one golfer Scottie Scheffler, who advises clients to lower their expectations to what they know they can do to foster presence.
• Nick Osborne - Jim Murphy's spiritual mentor, who uses the analogy of God giving a jacket that's two sizes too big to illustrate growth through discomfort.
• Brian Urlacher - A Hall of Fame linebacker who distinguished himself by not becoming tentative after making a mistake.
• Gary Brooker - Attributed with the quote "Aging is the aggressive pursuit of comfort."

Organizations & Institutions

• McGraw Hill - The original publisher of Jim Murphy's book, "Inner Excellence."
• Barnes & Noble - A bookstore chain that eventually pulled Jim Murphy's book from its shelves due to low sales before its resurgence.

Websites & Online Resources

• remarkable.com - Website for the "Remarkable" paper tablet, designed for distraction-free note-taking and focused work.

Other Resources

• Aura Ring, Whoop, and Biostrap - Wearable devices used by Jim Murphy to track his physiology and share insights with clients, demonstrating a commitment to research and personal optimization.