conquer these 7 limits to align your life

read on:themovementmemo.com

read time: 7 minutes 

Welcome to The Movement Memo, a bi-weekly newsletter where I share actionable tips to help you live your best day ever, every day.

Today's Programming 

• Movement: Strength followed by a metcon

• Quote: Campbell on the life that is waiting for you

• Lesson Learned: 7 Limits You Must Overcome to Build an Aligned Life

• Optimization: The importance of nitric oxide and vasodilation

Today's Movement 

Complete as a strength-specific session: 

• Tempo back squat 3 x 3 at 80% (5-3-1-1)

• Tempo front squat 3 x 3 at 82%

• Power Clean 2 x 2 80%

• Power Clean3 x 2 85%

• Squat Clean 2 x 2 80%

• Squat Clean 3 x 2 85%

Complete 6 rounds as fast as possible:

• 15 cal echo bike, 

• 10 db front rack lunges 50#

• 8 box step-ups 24”

Today's Quote

Let go of the script you thought you had to follow, the one someone else created for you. 

The life you’ve been chasing might not be the one that’s meant for you. Real growth comes when you stop clinging to your old plans and embrace the possibilities ahead. 

There’s something better waiting—trust your intuition and step into what’s next.

Today's Lesson Learned

The 7 Limits You Must Overcome to Build an Aligned Life

Fifteen years ago, I started making two lists after each day. Much of this clarity came during my long rides, runs, and swim sessions, training for Ironman. Time alone, in nature, with my heart rate elevated, gave me a sense of clarity I hadn’t experienced before.

These were my lists:

• Aligned: All the activities, people, conversations, and environments where I was fully present, felt valuable, and could be my authentic self.

• Out of Alignment: All the activities, people, conversations, and environments where I felt disconnected, wished I were somewhere else, or found myself drained.

Over time, these lists became my compass. I began building my days around alignment, determining where I could add value, and then figuring out how to monetize portions of it. But what I quickly realized was that aligning your life isn’t easy. There are limits you must overcome. And the more aligned your life becomes, the more clearly you see where those limits are.

In today’s piece, I want to highlight 7 limits you need to overcome to build a life aligned with who you are and what you truly want.

1. The Limit of Misplaced Energy

One of the first limits I encountered was realizing that energy is a finite resource. 

I would pour energy into the wrong things—overtraining, trying to be fast when I needed endurance, or forcing myself into social settings that drained me. Misplacing your energy is like trying to run a marathon while sprinting the first mile. You burn out quickly, and the real race hasn’t even started.

Takeaway: To overcome this limit, you have to direct your energy purposefully. Instead of burning yourself out on things that don’t move you forward, channel your efforts into what truly aligns with your values and goals.

2. The Limit of Uncomfortable Adjustments

When I started aligning my life, I realized that the environments and routines I had grown accustomed to no longer fit. 

Making adjustments was uncomfortable—like wearing shoes two sizes too small after years of comfort. These adjustments didn’t just change how I spent my days; they shifted how I saw myself and the direction I wanted to go.

Takeaway: To break through this limit, you must accept discomfort as a necessary part of growth. Real alignment often requires shedding what no longer serves you, even when it feels unfamiliar or unsettling.

3. The Limit of Unrewarded Effort

One of the most frustrating limits is feeling like your hard work isn’t paying off. 

There were many training days where I pushed myself hard, but the progress didn’t show. It’s easy to feel like you’re stuck or that your effort isn’t being rewarded. But here’s the truth: not every effort yields immediate results. The work you put in today might not pay off until weeks, months, or even years down the line.

Takeaway: To overcome this limit, you need patience. Trust the process, even when the results aren’t visible. The effort you put in now is a crucial part of your future success, even if you don’t see it yet.

4. The Limit of Being Misunderstood by Your Former Self

As I started to align my life, I found myself questioning whether I was making the right choices. 

The old version of me—the one driven by different values—didn’t always agree with the new path I was on. I felt like I was betraying who I used to be. But part of growth is realizing that the person you were is not the person you are becoming. That internal conflict is a sign of progress.

Takeaway: Overcoming this limit means reconciling with your past self. It’s okay to outgrow your former values and desires. The friction between who you were and who you’re becoming is natural and necessary.

5. The Limit of Letting Go of Old Competence

One of the toughest limits I faced was letting go of what I was already good at. 

In Ironman training, I had to abandon my focus on short bursts of strength and instead build endurance. This required me to shift away from a competency I had mastered and start learning something new from scratch. In life, aligning yourself with what truly matters often means letting go of the skills and habits you’ve perfected in favor of learning what you need for the next stage.

Takeaway: To break through this limit, you need to embrace the discomfort of starting over. Letting go of what you’re already good at creates space to grow into what you need to become.

6. The Limit of Seeing What Others Don’t

As I became more aligned, I started to notice things others didn’t. 

I saw misalignments in my life—and in others’ lives—that weren’t immediately apparent to them. This awareness felt isolating at times, as it placed me on a different wavelength than those around me. Awareness can feel like a burden because once you see the truth, you can’t unsee it. But this deeper understanding is also a gift.

Takeaway: To overcome this limit, you must be comfortable navigating a path that others may not understand. Trust your own alignment, even if others don’t see the same patterns you do.

7. The Limit of Saying No to “Good” for the Sake of “Great”

One of the hardest limits to break is turning down good opportunities in favor of great ones.

Saying no to things that seem appealing—opportunities, relationships, or paths—can feel counterintuitive. But aligning your life means being selective, choosing only what truly serves your bigger vision. This limit often feels like deprivation at first, but it’s actually the key to unlocking more meaningful success.

Takeaway: Overcome this limit by being disciplined in your choices. Saying no to good things clears the way for great things, the ones that truly align with your values and goals.

What Limits Are Holding You Back?

These seven limits aren’t barriers to stop you—they’re challenges you must overcome to build a life aligned with your deepest values and goals. 

Over time, I’ve learned that these limits are not walls but thresholds, waiting to be crossed. 

The question is: What limits will you choose to overcome today to move toward a more aligned life tomorrow?

Today's Optimization

Today I wanted to explore the benefits of citrulline, a natural amino acid known for its vasodilation properties, which is extremely valuable for individuals looking for natural ways to boost their cardiovascular health, athletic performance, and sexual wellness. Enhanced blood flow aids in better athletic performance, supports faster recovery and can improve endurance while reducing fatigue. I recently started taking Joymode, which contains science-supported doses of L-Citrulline, Arginine Nitrate, Ginseng, and
Vitamin-C. 

The Importance of Nitric Oxide and Vasodilation

• Nitric oxide, produced from citrulline, is a potent vasodilator that improves blood flow.
• It is beneficial for various cardiovascular functions and physical activities.

But, there is a common misconception that vasodilators are only for sexual health. In reality, they enhance overall cardiovascular health. 

Boosting blood flow through natural means like citrulline supplements contributes significantly to overall well-being. And I’ve felt significant improvements in both physical and mental health since I started taking Joymode. This is why, I am excited to share: Joymode is offering Movement Memo Subscribers a Deal: 20% off their order using code HINMAN20 at checkout!

Know friends, training partners, or co-workers who would take value from weekly tips on a healthier lifestyle, enhanced accountability, and improved routines? Thanks for sharing!

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU? Sign up here!

QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? Reply to this email!

Publisher: Eric Hinman

Editor-in-chief: Bobby Ryan