Stepping beyond comfort requires courage, especially when life feels peaceful. That sweet spot of having a flexible job, lovely home, great marriage, and beautiful children had me feeling oddly complacent. Something was missing—the exhilaration of challenging myself, pushing boundaries, growing in new ways.

Enter the 75 Hard challenge: two workouts daily (one outdoors), a gallon of water, personal development reading, progress photos, and clean eating for 75 consecutive days. Miss anything, and you restart from day one. For someone who once had unhealthy obsessions with fitness, this program could have been triggering. But years of therapy have given me the self-awareness to approach it differently now—not as punishment, but as a catalyst for growth.

As I approach 40, I'm craving vibrancy. I want to feel strong, energetic, and comfortable in my skin through sustainable habits, not restriction. The timing feels perfect as summer brings abundant fresh produce and opportunities for outdoor movement. But what makes my approach unique is adding components not in the original program: daily play and service. Because while self-discipline matters, so does connection and joy.

Just one day in, I noticed the afternoon energy crashes disappearing. The persistent bloating began subsiding. Most importantly, I felt a spark—that feeling of aliveness that comes from intentional living rather than autopilot existence. This journey isn't about achieving a certain look but about proving to myself I can commit to something challenging and emerge stronger, clearer, and more intentional on the other side.

Follow along on Instagram @being_lauren_barrett as I document this journey, or message me if you're inspired to join this challenge. Sometimes the most profound transformation begins with simply deciding that comfort isn't enough anymore.