Humble Badass
Inspired by The Way of Excellence by Brad Stulberg
Sustained excellence sounds inspiring.
It’s ambitious.
It’s demanding.
It’s something many of us have built our lives around.
But lately, I’ve been rethinking what actually sustains it.
I’ve been deeply influenced by The Way of Excellence by Brad Stulberg — particularly his idea of the Humble Badass.
It’s shifted something in me.
Because for most of my life, discipline came naturally.
Self-kindness did not.
🎥 2:00 Watch — “Reclaim Your Excellence: The Path to a Meaningful & Joyous Life” (From The Rich Roll Podcast featuring Brad Stulberg)
💭 Why It Matters
For years, I believed excellence required a harsh inner voice.
Push harder.
Demand more.
Raise the standard.
And to be fair, that approach can work for a while.
Until it doesn’t.
Because eventually, the thing that drives you forward can become the thing that wears you down.
What resonates most about the Humble Badass is not balance. It’s the ability to hold two seemingly opposing truths at the same time.
Challenge and support.
Discipline and compassion.
Accountability and grace.
As a coach, I learned that growth requires both.
Too much challenge and they shut down.
Too much support and they stay comfortable.
Growth happens when both are present.
I’ve come to realize the same is true internally.
Many high performers are exceptional at challenge. We know how to push, demand, and strive. But when we fall short, our default is often more pressure, more criticism, and more judgment.
What’s often missing is support.
Not lowering the standard.
Not letting ourselves off the hook.
Just having our own back.
As Stulberg writes:
“It is important to remember that you can do hard things. But it is also important to remember that doing hard things becomes just a bit easier — and more enduring — if you can learn to have your own back and be your own friend.”
The challenge isn’t choosing between discipline and compassion.
The challenge is knowing when each is needed.
Sometimes growth requires a push.
Sometimes growth requires grace.
Wisdom is knowing the difference.
Some days I need challenge. Some days I need grace. I’m still learning to know the difference.
📌 Quote of the Week
“Heartbreak is unpreventable… the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control. Heartbreak is an indication of our sincerity.”
— David Whyte
💬 Reflective Questions
When things don’t go as planned, what is the tone of the conversation you have with yourself?
What might be possible if you offered yourself the same combination of challenge and support that you offer others?
✍️ Closing
The goal isn’t to choose between toughness and kindness.
It’s to develop the awareness to know which one is needed.
Hold the standard.
Have your own back.
Thanks for dropping in.
📅 Ready to lead from the inside out? Let’s connect.
See. Serve. Empower.
— Angel