Welcome Back to the Living the Dream Newsletter!

This past week was a struggle. As you’ll see in today’s article, I dragged myself through multiple days—moving slower than usual, but still moving forward. And that’s what matters.

It was a learning experience, and I’ve turned it into this week’s challenge: to catch yourself in those tough moments and grow through them. Because growth doesn’t happen when everything is easy—it happens when we push forward despite the resistance.

Last Week’s Challenge Update

Last week, I challenged both myself and you to commit to a small habit—something that moves you closer to becoming the person you want to be.

I committed to:
✔ A minimum of a 20-minute walk every day
✔ 70 kettlebell swings, twice a week

So far, I’ve kept up or exceeded my goal, and I’m extending it to 30 days—maybe even upping my minimums along the way.

I also added jump rope into the mix, but like I said last week, we’re starting with small, easy minimums to build consistency first. I can walk for an hour, run, or do pushups, but my bare minimum—no excuses—is a 20 minute daily walk and 70 kettlebell swings twice a week.

What about you? Did you stick to your challenge? Hit reply and let me know how it’s going!

4-Minute Gratitude Journal – Want to Test It?

I’ve been making great progress on the 4-Minute Gratitude Program, and I just put together a rough draft of the optional journal to accompany the program and daily prompts.

📌 The plan? To create both a physical and digital version for subscribers.
📌 Want early access? If you’d like to test it out and give me feedback, I’ll give you a free week or two of 4-Minute Gratitude as a thank-you!

💌 Just reply to this email, and I’ll get you set up.

Next Week’s Newsletter: Purim Edition! 🎭

Purim is coming up, and next week’s newsletter will probably be Purim’s related. I’ll try to get it out before Megillah reading so you can enjoy it before the Purim madness begins.

Stay tuned, and as always, thanks for being part of this journey!

Let’s keep moving forward—no matter the speed.

Amir

L’fum Tzara Agra – The Struggle Is the Reward

I Thought I Had a Superpower

Since I started in 2017, I believed my ADHD meds gave me a superpower.

Six hours of laser focus.
Six hours of clarity.
Six hours where my brain worked the way I always wished it would.

I felt unstoppable. I could think, write, create, and execute at a level that finally felt right.

Then, I realized something that shook me.

I wasn’t gaining a superpower.

I was just getting a glimpse of what normal feels like.

And then—I crashed.

When Everything Slows Down

Last week, I ran out of meds. A mix-up at the pharmacy left me without them for a few days.

Suddenly, my world changed.

My mind felt like it was wading through thick mud.
Every task—writing, thinking, even just responding to a message—became ten times harder.

I stared at my screen, unable to focus.
The motivation to do anything was gone.

But I pushed myself anyway.

I went to minyan. I davened. I learned, barely.
I sat at my desk, trying to work.
I forced myself to take that 20+ minute walk.

And still, I felt like I was failing.

Then, something clicked.

Maybe this wasn’t failure.
Maybe this was the real work.

The Hardest Reps Matter Most

There’s a concept in weightlifting:

It’s not the first few reps that make you stronger.

It’s the ones where your muscles are burning, where you’re shaking, where you don’t know if you can lift the weight one more time.

That’s where the real growth happens.

Life works the same way.

It’s easy to put in the effort when you feel great.
It’s easy to be productive when your mind is sharp.
It’s easy to be kind when you’re well-rested.

But when every step feels like a struggle?
When your brain is foggy, your patience is thin, and nothing comes easily?

That’s when it really counts.

That’s when Hashem values your effort the most.

L’fum Tzara Agra – The Reward is Proportional to the Struggle

L’fum tzara agra.
“According to the effort is the reward.” (Avot 5:23)

We tend to think of the struggle as something to endure—a painful but necessary step to get to the reward.

But what if we have it backward?

What if the struggle itself is the reward?

What if the moments where you push through, even when everything inside you screams to quit—what if that’s when you’re being shaped into the person you’re meant to become?

The days when it all feels easy—that’s not when you grow.
But the days when it feels impossible, and you show up anyway?

That’s where the real victory is.

When the Struggle Makes Us Shine

This isn’t just about productivity.

It’s about who we become in the hard moments.

Anyone can be kind when they feel good.
Anyone can be patient when everything is going smoothly.

But when you’re exhausted?
When you have a headache?
When everything feels like it’s working against you?

That’s when your true character is revealed.

When you push yourself to smile instead of snapping…
To be kind instead of irritable…
To keep going when you want to quit…

Those moments don’t just lead to growth.

They are the growth.

The Real Test

We’re not in a race against anyone else.
We’re only competing against who we were yesterday.

The only question that matters is:

Am I doing the best I can with the circumstances Hashem has placed me in today?

If the answer is yes, then you’re winning.

Not despite the struggle.
But because of it.

Your Challenge

Think back to a time when you pushed through, even when everything inside you wanted to quit.

That moment wasn’t a failure.

It was your victory.

Practical Tips: How to Strengthen Yourself in the Struggle

Struggles are not just obstacles—they are the very moments that shape us. Here are three powerful ways to embrace challenges and turn them into growth opportunities:

1. Reframe the Difficulty

🔹 Instead of thinking, "Why is this happening to me?" ask, "How is this making me stronger?"
🔹 Struggles are not setbacks—they are setups for growth.

📌 Try this: Each time you feel overwhelmed, pause and find one way the challenge is refining you. Even if it's just increasing your patience, resilience, or humility.

2. Focus on the Next Small Step

🔹 When everything feels heavy, don’t focus on the entire mountain ahead—just take the next step.
🔹 One tefillah. One act of kindness. One minute of Torah. That’s how growth happens.

📌 Try this: The next time you feel stuck, break your challenge down into one small action you can take right now. Then do it.

3. Recognize That Hashem is Watching the Effort

🔹 Hashem doesn’t expect perfection—He wants your best effort, today.
🔹 L’fum tzara agra—The struggle determines the reward.

📌 Try this: Before going to bed, reflect on one moment from your day where you pushed through a challenge. Recognize it as a win—because it is.

Your Weekly Challenge: Find Strength in the Struggle

💡 This week, notice one moment where you feel like giving up—but instead, push through.
💡 Write it down. Even if it’s a small moment, acknowledge it as a victory.
💡 Share it. Either with a friend, family member, or by replying to this email—because your growth might inspire someone else.

🚀 Remember: The struggle isn't proof that you're failing.
It's proof that you're growing.

📩 Hit reply and tell me—what’s one challenge you overcame this week? I’d love to hear your story.

Join Me on This Journey – Be Part of the Mission 🚀

If my content has inspired or helped you, here’s how you can support this mission and help more people grow:

✅ Start Your Own Growth Journey

Explore resources designed to help you grow, gain clarity, and live with more gratitude.

🔹 4-Minute Gratitude – A simple daily practice to build lasting gratitude & positivity.
💡 Plans: $9.99/month | $49.99 for 6 months | $89.99/year [Join Here]
🎁 Want a discount? Reply to this email, and I’ll send you a special code!

🔹 1-on-1 Coaching – A 6-week, high-impact program designed for personal transformation.
📅 Not sure if it’s right for you? Schedule a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit! [Apply Here]

🔹 Divrei Torah on the Parsha – Weekly insights to spark deeper Shabbos conversations. [Read Here]

🔹 More Offerings Coming Soon! Stay tuned for courses, live sessions, and more!

✅ Spread the Inspiration & Get Rewarded!

You can help grow this movement and bring more people into a life of meaning—and I want to thank you for it!

📌 Invite Friends & Earn Rewards!
🔹 Refer 3 friends to this newsletter, and I’ll send you a special gift as a thank you!
🔹 Refer 5 friends, and you’ll get a free month of 4-Minute Gratitude 
🔹 Refer 10 friends, and you’ll get 3 free months of 4-Minute Gratitude OR a 25% discount on coaching!

How to Refer:
1️⃣ Send your friends this link to subscribe: [Link]
2️⃣ Tell them to mention your name after they sign up.
3️⃣ Once you hit 3, 5 or 10 referrals, send me an email, and I’ll send you your reward! (I’m working on a better system but this should work for now.)

✅ Follow & Connect With Me

Want more inspiration daily? Let’s connect!

📍 Instagram: [@yidinyeg]
📍 TikTok: [@yidinyeg]
📍 YouTube: [@AmirLehrer]

✅ Share Your Experience

Has my content helped you in any way? I’d love to hear about it!

Reply to this email with a quick message or testimonial—it means the world to me and helps inspire others.

Let’s keep growing together!

Amir