17 Dec 2025 · 0 min
Brian Johnson on treating obstacles like dragons instead of lizards. Pick worthy challenges that demand audacity and persistence. Raise the level of difficulty to actually grow.
You're listening to Optimize with Bryan Johnson More Wisdom in Less Time this is a mini chapter from Brian's book A Philosopher's Notes. You can find it on Amazon.
Dragons and Lizards Hero's Journey Traveler Tip when faced with the inevitable challenges that arise as we push our edges and see what we're capable of in this precious little life of ours, it's helpful to remember that the hero battles big, ugly, stinky, fire breathing dragons, not lizards. If there weren't obstacles to overcome and demons to face, everyone would do it and it would be called an average person's journey, not a hero's journey, right? So if you're getting your butt kicked around a bit, know that's just part of the deal. Take a deep breath, appreciate your audacity, and go back to giving it your best shot. And if all you're doing is sidestepping lizards, you might want to turn it up a notch or three. Just sayin'.
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