The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Series Part Five

The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Series 

There is an art to living well, and even more so when living with depression, PTSD, or any other mental health condition. 

This field guide is a six-week blog series for those who want to master that art. 

Each “radical” is a practice. Together, they form a way of living. 

This guide is designed to help out during the toughest times. Chances are, if things feel like they are falling apart, if it feels like life isn't going how we would like it too, one of the “radicals” in this series is going to speak to you and be a call to action. 

Each “radical” is a little complex, a little nuanced. Some take a while to wrap your head around. Most of them contain within them a dialectic, or a need to hold two things true at once. 

Week five: Perseverance and Growth

Practices for when the work gets hard and motivation fades.

These are the practices people reach for when they want to quit, numb out, or give up on themselves.

Radical Commitment

Radical commitment means fully dedicating yourself to a goal, not just when it’s easy or exciting, but especially when it’s hard. It’s the decision to keep going even when you’re tired, frustrated, or tempted to quit. This isn't a one-time choice, it's a daily practice of choosing your goal over and over again, accepting that discomfort and setbacks are part of the journey. Radical commitment isn’t about feeling motivated all the time; it’s about staying dedicated even when motivation fades.

You probably know exactly what you need to be focused on right now. It is time to make a commitment to yourself to see it though. Challenge yourself to keep that commitment when it gets hard, when most people quit, when you don’t think you have the energy to keep going. 

Try this: Reach out to a friend and tell them what you’re all in on right now and what your goal is. Ask them to check in on your progress each time you talk. Accountability with regular check-ins increases the chances of achieving a goal 95%. 

Radical Resilience

You will fall. Get up anyway.

Resilience doesn’t mean being untouched. It means being remade, more honest, more tender, wiser.

“Nothing breaks you. It remakes you.”

Try this: Name one hard thing you survived. Thank yourself.

Radical Courage

Do it scared.

Courage isn’t about fearlessness. It’s about moving anyway. Bravery is in the small moments. It’s in truth-telling, showing up, staying open.

“Fear doesn’t get the final say.”

Try this: Do one small brave thing today, something that moves you closer to the life you want, even if your hands shake while doing it. 

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There will be days when this feels too hard. When progress stalls. When quitting seems reasonable. These practices exist for those moments. Commitment keeps you moving when motivation disappears. Resilience reminds you that falling isn’t failure. Courage asks only that you continue, scared, tired, uncertain, anyway. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to stay.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog.

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