From local chapter to global movement: scaling the teach-the-teacher model one community at a time
In our previous blog, we explored the beautiful paradox of human flourishing—how we can experience deep meaning and growth even while navigating pain, anxiety, and sadness. Understanding this intellectually is one thing. Living it sustainably? That almost always requires community.
The transformation from seeing emotions as problems to seeing them as information happens best in relationship with others who are on the same journey. This is where Heroic Arizona comes in—not just as a local community, but as a pioneering model for how the broader Heroic mission can scale globally.
Heroic's audacious goal is to help 51% of humanity flourish by 2051. The strategy isn't top-down programs—it's the patient work of building local communities where people can embody these principles and naturally teach them to others. One person becoming a teacher at a time. One local community at a time.
Heroic Arizona serves as both a thriving regional network and a crucial testing ground for this global vision. As one of the first formalized regional entities, we're developing the blueprint that informal Heroic meetups worldwide can use to evolve into sustainable local communities.
From Local Paradox to Regional Strategy
Heroic Arizona represents something unique: a regional entity designed to support multiple local communities rather than being a single local community itself. We began with our own paradox—calling ourselves "Heroic Arizona" while hosting primarily in-person events in Tempe, in the East Valley of Greater Phoenix.
As we've evolved, we've discovered our real function is serving as backbone infrastructure for true local communities wherever they naturally form: in Tempe, Central Phoenix, Tucson, at Arizona State University, or any other location where groups gather around shared geography or interests.
Hybrid Model, Global Learning
Our weekly roundtables and monthly meetings operate in hybrid format—both in-person and virtual. People from Tucson regularly participate virtually in our Phoenix-area gatherings. Individuals from other states and countries join our sessions to experience what we're building and consider adapting these approaches to their own contexts. Our quarterly workshops provide deeper structured learning environments.
This hybrid model creates a learning laboratory where emerging communities worldwide can witness our experiments in real-time and adapt our lessons to their unique circumstances.
This October, we're expanding our regional support to include Tucson and Southern Arizona. This represents our evolution from a single local community to regional infrastructure that can support multiple local communities across Arizona.
The most powerful transformation happens in genuine local communities—groups small enough for real relationships, geographically close enough for consistent connection, and culturally coherent enough for deep trust. Our role becomes supporting these communities: providing facilitator training, sharing curricula, creating connections between communities, and maintaining the larger vision.
This expansion lets us test crucial questions: How do we support the birth of new local communities? How do we maintain connection between Tempe, Central Phoenix, Tucson, and future communities without losing the intimacy that makes local community powerful?
Every person who learns to navigate life's paradoxes becomes a teacher for others. Heroic Arizona members are showing up differently in their workplaces, families, and broader communities, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond our formal programming.
The parent who learns to hold space for their teenager's anxiety without rushing to fix it. The manager who creates psychological safety for their team to discuss challenges without shame. These are the multiplier effects that make community-based transformation so powerful.
Meanwhile, virtual participants from around the world witness these transformations and consider how to build similar local communities in their own regions. Every challenge we navigate in supporting multiple local communities becomes part of the playbook for other regional entities worldwide.
What we're building in Arizona is infrastructure for supporting local community transformation at scale. We're developing systems for:
Our evolution from single-location community to regional support infrastructure becomes a crucial model for the global network, directly informing how other regional entities develop worldwide.
As we expand our support to Tucson and Southern Arizona, we're looking for pioneers who want to help build local communities within our growing regional network. This is an opportunity to be part of foundational work: building local community infrastructure that connects to regional support and global mission.
Whether you're in Greater Phoenix, Tucson, or anywhere else in Arizona (or joining virtually from around the world), there are ways to engage: attending our hybrid programming, helping launch new local communities, or learning from our model as you consider what might be possible in your own region.
Heroic Arizona's role extends far beyond state boundaries. As one of the first regional entities in the Heroic network, we're pioneering sustainable infrastructure for local community support. When we reach the goal of 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051, it will be because we learned to build local communities where people can embody life's paradoxes and teach others to do the same—supported by regional infrastructure that provides training, resources, and connection.
And it starts with what we're building together right here in Arizona—one local community at a time.
Ready to be part of pioneering community-based flourishing? Join us for our weekly roundtables or monthly meetings in Phoenix, help us launch our Tucson expansion this October, or connect virtually to learn from our model. Because changing the world happens one local community at a time, and every great movement needs its pioneers.
Visit [link to Tucson expansion info] to learn more about getting involved in Southern Arizona, or reach out to discover how you can help develop the model that's scaling globally.
I'll be honest with you—this question has been keeping me up at night. How can we possibly be happy while experiencing pain, anxiety, and sadness? The very idea seemed contradictory, almost insulting to anyone going through real struggle. Yet the more I've wrestled with this paradox, the more I've realized it holds the key to understanding what human flourishing actually looks like.
This blog is my attempt to work through this puzzle, not just for my own understanding, but because I believe that grappling with these ideas openly—and learning to teach them effectively—is essential for anyone serious about helping others thrive. If we're going to help people live meaningful lives, we need to get comfortable with complexity, with paradox, and with the messy reality of what human thriving actually looks like.
Our culture has sold us a bill of goods about happiness. We've been taught that suffering and joy are opposites, that a good life minimizes pain, and that feeling sad means something has gone wrong. This binary thinking doesn't just limit our personal growth—it actively undermines our ability to live fully and support others in their growth.
But what if we've been asking the wrong question entirely? What if the goal isn't to choose between happiness and sadness, but to develop a more sophisticated relationship with our entire emotional landscape?
What We're Really After
When we talk about helping people flourish, we're not talking about perpetual sunshine and rainbows. We're talking about developing the capacity to live meaningfully through whatever life brings. Happiness, in its conventional sense, is like weather—temporary, changeable, dependent on circumstances. Flourishing is like climate—the underlying conditions that support growth over time.
Think about the people who inspire you most. Chances are, they're not the ones who've avoided all hardship. They're the ones who've learned to transform their struggles into wisdom, their pain into compassion, their challenges into strength. They've figured out how to be deeply sad about real losses while simultaneously feeling grateful for what remains. They experience anxiety about things that matter while staying grounded in their values and purpose.
The Ancient Wisdom We're Rediscovering
The Greeks understood this distinction through two powerful concepts: hedonia (the pursuit of pleasure) and eudaimonia (flourishing through virtue and meaning). Hedonic happiness asks "Do I feel good right now?" Eudaimonic flourishing asks "Am I living in alignment with what matters most?"
A parent staying up all night with a sick child experiences exhaustion, worry, maybe even frustration—but they're also experiencing one of the deepest forms of human flourishing: showing up with love when it matters most. This is the paradox we need to embrace.
Sadness as Depth and Connection
Sadness signals loss, which means we have loved something enough for its absence to matter. It connects us to our values, deepens our empathy, and often motivates us toward what we care about most. The person who grieves deeply often loves deeply. The capacity for sadness is inseparable from the capacity for meaning.
Anxiety as Care and Preparation
Anxiety, while uncomfortable, often reflects our investment in outcomes that matter to us. It can sharpen focus, motivate preparation, and signal that we're pushing beyond our comfort zones in ways that promote growth. The entrepreneur feels anxiety precisely because they care about their mission. The parent feels anxiety because their child's wellbeing matters profoundly.
Pain as Teacher and Guide
Physical and emotional pain serve as crucial feedback systems. They tell us when something needs attention, when boundaries have been crossed, or when healing is required. A life without pain would be a life without the navigation system that keeps us oriented toward what serves our long-term flourishing.
The Both-And Principle
Replace "I can't be happy while I'm sad" with "I can feel sad and still be moving toward flourishing." This isn't toxic positivity—it's emotional sophistication. It acknowledges that human beings are complex enough to hold multiple emotional truths simultaneously.
Meaning as the Container
Viktor Frankl observed that we can endure almost any suffering if we can find meaning in it. Flourishing creates a larger container—a sense of purpose, values, and direction—that can hold all of our experiences, pleasant and painful alike. The question shifts from "How do I avoid pain?" to "How do I live meaningfully through whatever arises?"
The Growth Mindset Applied to Emotions
Just as we can view intellectual challenges as opportunities for growth rather than threats to our competence, we can approach emotional challenges as opportunities for deeper wisdom, compassion, and resilience. The person who has never faced anxiety may lack the empathy to help others through their struggles.
Flourishing while experiencing difficult emotions isn't about pretending everything is fine. It's about developing what we might call "emotional sophistication"—the ability to hold complexity without collapsing into simplicity.
It looks like saying "I'm grieving this loss and I'm also grateful for what it taught me about love." It's feeling anxious about a presentation while staying connected to your excitement about sharing something meaningful. It's experiencing frustration with slow progress while maintaining faith in the direction you're heading.
It's learning to ask not "How do I get rid of this difficult emotion?" but "What is this emotion here to teach me, and how can I honor both its message and my larger purpose?"
My own struggle to understand these concepts has taught me something crucial: the best teachers aren't those who have transcended difficulty, but those who are learning to dance with it more skillfully. Every time I wrestle with anxiety about whether I'm explaining these ideas clearly enough, I'm practicing the very integration I'm trying to understand.
We're all learning to become better at this—not through perfecting ourselves first, but through practicing these principles in real life and sharing what we discover along the way.
The path forward isn't about choosing happiness over sadness or flourishing over struggle. It's about developing the capacity to hold all of it—the pain and the joy, the anxiety and the excitement, the grief and the gratitude—within a larger framework of meaning and growth.
This understanding transforms everything: how we support our families through difficult times, how we show up for friends in crisis, how we navigate our own challenges, and how we think about what it means to live well.
The paradox isn't something to solve—it's something to embody. And while this understanding can be cultivated individually, it's infinitely more powerful when practiced in community with others who are on the same journey.
In our next blog, we'll explore how communities can support this kind of flourishing and what it looks like to build networks of people committed to embracing life's full complexity together. Because while understanding the paradox is the first step, living it sustainably almost always requires the support of others who get it.
Bottom Line Up Front: Imagine every leader on your payroll showing up with 20% more energy, 30% sharper focus, and a protocol for antifragile confidence—all by next quarter.
You know the scenario: You've invested years developing high-potential talent, but a single behavioral bottleneck is capping their ROI. The fearful high-achiever who freezes under pressure. The brilliant but arrogant leader whose team keeps churning. The perfectionist who misses deadlines analyzing every detail.
The hidden cost? You're already paying for these patterns through slow cycle times, duplicated work, team turnover, and lost market opportunities.
The Executive Challenge: Unlocking Underperforming Talent
Here's what we see repeatedly across organizations:
Why Traditional "Training" Fails
Executives don't buy training—they invest in risk mitigation and performance leverage. Most development programs are too slow, too theoretical, and lack accountability systems for lasting change.
The Heroic difference: We compress six months of habit change into 48 hours using the same science-backed protocols trusted by US Special Ops and Fortune 100 teams.
What Leaders Walk Away With
Immediate Deliverables:
Measurable Outcomes Our Clients Report:
Two Opportunities This August
For Individual Leaders & Entrepreneurs: Heroic Arizona One-Day Workshop - Perfect for business owners, nonprofit leaders, and emerging executives ready to architect their next level of performance.
For Leadership Teams & Corporations: Unlock Your Team's Potential: 2-Day Heroic Corporate Workshop - Designed for organizations ready to systematically develop their high-potential talent pipeline.
Both workshops feature certified Heroic instructors and include the Areté book, one-year Heroic AZ premium access, and comprehensive app-based follow-up.
The Risk-Reverse Guarantee
If the agreed-upon KPIs we set together don't move within 12 weeks, we refund the tuition. We're that confident in the transformation our participants experience.
Join the Movement
This isn't just about individual development—it's about creating a world where 51% of humanity is flourishing by 2051. When you invest in Heroic, you're joining a global community of leaders committed to elevating themselves and others.
Early bird pricing ends September 15th. Seats are intentionally limited to ensure deep, personalized work.
As Stanford graduate and successful coach Stephanie Clerge shared: "Heroic gave me something I hadn't found elsewhere—a thriving community and transformative protocols that helped me lose 25 pounds, refine my systems, and connect with others deeply committed to becoming their best selves."
Your high-potential leaders are already costing you through inefficiency and friction. Two days can flip that liability into your greatest leadership asset.
Ready to unlock your team's true potential?
→ Unleashing Your Best Self with Heroic Arizona’s NEW Workshops
→ Heroic Arizona One-Day Workshop for Entrepreneurs and Nonprofit Leaders
→ Unlock Your Team's Potential: 2-Day Heroic Corporate Workshop
Questions? Contact Scott McIntosh at Scott.McIntosh@heroicaz.us
The best time to develop your leaders was yesterday. The second best time is now.
Scott
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." - Marcus Aurelius
TL;DR - Key Takeaways
Jump to Section
Personal Context: My 33-Year Canadian Experience {#personal-context}
Before diving into this analysis, let me share why this matters to me personally.
I am American through and through, but I have been working in and out of Canada since the early 1980s. In the 1990s, my wife and I lived in North Bay, Ontario for four years, where I grew a global-scale business with Canadian headquarters. Some of our closest friends in the world are here in North Bay—relationships that have endured for 33 years as we spend most summers in Canada.
Why This Essay Matters: My wife and I just spent three weeks in North Bay, and it's clear that while our friendships remain strong, many friends are feeling genuinely hurt by how President Trump has treated Canada and Canadians. I completely agree with their sense of being disrespected.
These past weeks, I've been navigating these issues with deep empathy and curiosity—seeking first to understand what my friends are feeling. This essay stems from the total respect and love I feel for Canada and represents my attempt to work through these complex dynamics with the people I care about most.
The Heroic Framework: Building Toward Global Flourishing {#heroic-framework}
My perspective is shaped by deep involvement in the heroic movement. I am a large investor in Heroic Public Benefit Corporation and founded Heroic Arizona as the first of what will become many global/local communities working toward the ambitious goal that 51% of humanity will be flourishing by 2051.
The Stoic Foundation
This movement is grounded in ancient Stoic philosophy and modern positive psychology, teaching that obstacles, when properly approached, become the pathway to growth and strength.
The heroic philosophy teaches us that growth requires facing difficult truths with courage and wisdom. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do—whether as individuals, friends, or nations—is to have the difficult conversations that comfortable relationships often avoid.
The Scale of American Global Subsidization {#subsidization}
Here's the uncomfortable truth: American taxpayers effectively subsidize global prosperity across multiple critical sectors. The numbers are staggering.
Pharmaceutical Innovation: Funding the World's Medicine
The Reality:
The Dynamic: American consumers effectively subsidize global drug development through higher prices, allowing other countries to access these life-saving innovations at substantially lower costs.
European R&D spending growth has been outpaced by both the US (5.5% annually) and China (20.7% annually), creating a growing innovation gap that further concentrates the burden on American investment.
Maritime Security: Protecting $14 Trillion in Global Trade
The Numbers:
The Reality: The US Navy pays a steep price keeping aircraft carriers with escorts on station to protect critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, benefiting the entire global economy while American taxpayers bear the costs.
Maritime security operations include counterpiracy, drug interdiction, environmental protection, and law enforcement measures that benefit every trading nation worldwide.
Technology Infrastructure: The Foundation of Modern Life
What America Provides for Free:
The Pattern: These technologies were developed through massive US government investment, yet the world benefits while bearing none of the development costs.
✈️ Aerospace and Defense: Dual-Use Technology Development
2023 Numbers:
The aerospace industry benefits from massive US defense spending that develops technologies later used commercially worldwide.
China's Systematic Exploitation {#china-exploitation}
The global subsidization problem becomes exponentially worse when you factor in how China systematically exploits American-funded innovations.
Intellectual Property Theft: Trillions Stolen
The Scale:
The Method: This isn't opportunistic theft—it's a systematic, state-directed transfer of wealth from innovating companies to their competitors.
Forced Technology Transfer: Market Access as Leverage
How It Works:
The Result: American companies invest billions in R&D, only to have innovations appropriated by Chinese companies that then compete globally without bearing original development costs.
This targets advanced technologies like AI, biotechnology, and virtual reality—technologies with dual military and civilian applications.
️ International Organization Manipulation
The Problem:
The Warning: Without vigorous democratic response, Chinese, Russian, and other authoritarian influence in multilateral institutions will grow significantly.
Canada: A Case Study in Comfortable Dependency {#canada-case-study}
This brings me to the most delicate part of this analysis. Canada is among the world's strongest democracies and shares fundamental values with the United States. However, the relationship has developed asymmetries that mirror the broader global pattern.
️ Energy: The Perfect Example
The Current Reality:
The Opportunity: Current pressure is finally catalyzing the diversification and infrastructure development that should have happened decades ago.
The Alberta Parallel: Canada's Internal Imbalance
Here's an uncomfortable parallel my Ontario friends might recognize:
Alberta's Frustration with Ontario/Quebec mirrors Canada's relationship with the US:
Recent Alberta sentiment (actual polling quote): "Stop transferring money to Ottawa for Quebec and Ontario. We are a have not province since all our federal politicians are doing nothing for oil and gas."
The Pattern: Power concentration—whether in Ontario/Quebec within Canada, or the US globally—creates resentment among those who bear disproportionate costs while having limited voice in decisions.
Trump's Approach: Right Issues, Wrong Execution {#trump-approach}
This is the most challenging part of this analysis. I must be absolutely clear:
❌ What I Completely Reject
Trump's language and tone with Canada are unacceptable:
My Position: Canada has been America's steadfast partner through countless challenges. Canadians share our values, have fought alongside us, and consistently demonstrate commitment to democracy and human rights. They deserve respect, not public hectoring.
✅ The Uncomfortable Reality: Legitimate Underlying Issues
However—and this requires heroic honesty—many of Trump's underlying concerns about imbalances are legitimate:
The Parenting Analogy: When Tough Love Becomes Necessary
I've witnessed this dynamic with two close friends whose children went completely astray. After every gentle approach failed—encouragement, reasoning, incentives, counseling—these parents ultimately had to use the toughest form of tough love: refusing to let destructive behavior continue in their homes.
The children's reaction: Felt their parents were cruel, unreasonable, even bullying.
The result: Forced development of independence, responsibility, and adult life skills that gentler methods had failed to achieve.
The European Example: When Gentle Approaches Fail
What Happened:
Current Result: European nations are finally taking greater responsibility for their own security and trade relationships.
The Learning: Sometimes disrupting comfortable but unsustainable equilibriums forces the strategic thinking that should have developed decades ago.
The Canadian Response: Growth Through Challenge
From a heroic perspective—the Stoic principle that obstacles make us stronger—this pressure is producing positive results in Canada:
Infrastructure Development
The Fragility of Comfort
The uncomfortable truth: Canadians have become comfortable—perhaps too comfortable—with the existing US relationship.
Business Reality: Depending on a single customer is clearly suboptimal.
The Growth: Current pressure is catalyzing the diversification that should have happened years ago.
Heroic Insight: A truly strong and independent Canada should thrive with diversified markets, robust infrastructure, and the ability to contribute substantially to global systems from which it benefits.
Obstacles as Strength-Builders for Nations
This Stoic principle applies to nations and relationships between nations:
Current Pressure Will Make Countries Stronger:
The Heroic Vision: The 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051 depends on nations embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.
The Path to Stronger Partnership {#path-forward}
The Goal: Heroic Partnership Based on Mutual Strength
Not ending the relationship but evolving it into something far stronger and more sustainable.
This means:
Enhanced Partnership Opportunities
Where Canada Can Lead:
️ Addressing the Language Problem
The Heroic Approach would involve:
Future Leadership Lesson: Address necessary issues that previous administrations avoided, but do so with the respect that shared values and friendship require.
My Strong Belief: A Far Stronger Future Relationship
I have deep conviction that once this difficult recalibration period concludes, the USA-Canada relationship will be far stronger than ever before.
Why I'm Confident:
The Heroic Vision: Global Flourishing by 2051
The heroic movement's goal of 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051 depends on creating sustainable partnerships between democratic nations that can collectively address global challenges while resisting authoritarian exploitation.
This requires:
Conclusion: The Heroic Path Through Obstacles
The relationship between the United States and Canada stands at a crucial juncture. While I completely reject the harsh language and disrespectful tone that has characterized recent pressure for change, I must acknowledge that many underlying issues are legitimate and long-overdue for address.
The heroic approach: Face difficult truths with courage and wisdom, seeking solutions that strengthen all parties.
The obstacles currently facing Canada—pressure to diversify energy markets, develop independent infrastructure, and take greater global responsibility—will ultimately make the country stronger and more resilient.
For My Canadian Friends: I hope you understand this analysis comes from a place of deep love and respect, informed by decades of shared experience and unwavering belief in the strength of our friendship. The goal is not to diminish Canada or defend indefensible behavior, but to work together toward a future where both our nations can thrive as equal partners.
When this period of difficult but necessary adjustment concludes, I believe we will see a partnership between two strong, independent, democratic nations that is far more capable of promoting global flourishing than the comfortable but unbalanced arrangement of recent decades.
The heroic path is never the easy path, but it leads to genuine strength, sustainable relationships, and partnerships that can achieve the essential goal of global human flourishing. The obstacles we face today are not impediments—they are the very challenges that, properly navigated, will make that achievement possible.
What do you think?
Have you experienced similar dynamics in your relationships—personal or professional—where comfortable arrangements needed difficult recalibration? How do we balance loyalty to friends with honest assessment of challenging situations?
Share your thoughts below, and if this resonates, please share with others navigating similar complex relationships in our changing world.
Learn more about the heroic movement at heroic.us and connect with our Arizona community at HeroicAZ.us
"Want the full story?
This blog only scratches the surface of a much larger pattern of global subsidization that most people never see—dive into the comprehensive essay with detailed research, extensive statistics, and the complete case for why these uncomfortable truths about US-Canada relations actually point toward a far stronger partnership ahead.
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news from Heroic Arizona (heroicaz.us) about two transformative workshops we’re rolling out in partnership with Three Pillars Performance and led by Certified Heroic Workshop Instructors Bradley Lewis and Kelly Dean Yagelniski. If you’re ready to take your personal and professional growth to the next level, these workshops are designed to help you do just that, building on the incredible foundation of the Heroic Public Benefit Corporation’s Heroic Clarity and Antifragile Confidence Workshop.
The Foundation: Heroic Clarity and Antifragile Confidence
For those unfamiliar, the Heroic Clarity and Antifragile Confidence Workshop is a globally celebrated half-day experience that’s impacted thousands through the expertise of hundreds of certified instructors like Bradley and Kelly. This 3-to-4-hour session distills ancient wisdom, modern science, and practical tools from over 600 of the world’s best personal development books. It’s a proven process to optimize your Energy, Work, and Love, helping you become more energized, productive, and connected than ever before.
Participants walk away inspired, but many ask, “What’s next?” The depth of wisdom packed into this half-day workshop is profound, yet it often leaves attendees hungry for more time to fully integrate its life-changing insights. That’s where Bradley and Kelly come in, stepping up to address this need with an innovative solution.
The Next Step: Expanded Workshops for Lasting Impact
Recognizing the demand for deeper engagement, Bradley and Kelly have developed a comprehensive set of workshops that expand on the half-day experience. Ultimately, this will be a 4-day program, but it’s designed to be flexible, offering 1, 2, 3, or 4-day experiences tailored to specific groups like CEOs and their leadership teams, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, educators, adults, and youth. These workshops dive deeper into the core principles of the original, giving participants the time and tools to fully embed this wisdom into their lives.
Here’s what you can expect from these workshops:
Two Exciting Opportunities to Engage
Heroic Arizona is proud to launch two new workshops to bring this transformative experience to our community:
Hear from Bradley and Take Action
Curious about what makes these workshops so special? I encourage you to visit the splash pages and click the links below to hear directly from Bradley and Kelly. Their passion and insights will give you a glimpse into the transformative power of these experiences. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or nonprofit leader, these workshops are your chance to unlock your potential and lead with Areté.
Heroic AZ Workshops | Bradley Lewis on Purpose, Energy & Performance
HeroicAZ Workshops: Kelly Dean: Learn how leaders and teams benefit from Heroic Workshops in this video
Join Us on This Journey
I’m personally so excited about these workshops because they represent a bold step forward in helping Arizonans live their best lives. Bradley and Kelly’s vision, combined with Three Pillars’ expertise and Heroic Arizona’s mission, creates a powerful opportunity for growth. Don’t miss out—visit the Tucson or Phoenix splash pages to explore the details, sign up for an information session, or register for a workshop today. Let’s activate our best selves together!
Struggling with pain—physical, emotional, or otherwise? Discover how I found relief from chronic back pain through purposeful action and meditation. Learn 3 simple steps to transform any pain into a path to flourishing. Read my story and join Heroic Arizona’s mission at www.heroicaz.us! #PainRelief #Purpose #Flourish
Relieve Pain of All Kinds with These Three Simple Steps
As a 75-year-young member of the Heroic community, I’ve been navigating a challenging chapter of my life: chronic lower back pain. This pain, not caused by injury but by the natural process of aging, has been a significant disruption. Five weeks ago, I underwent major back surgery—a “double cage” procedure to immobilize affected spinal joints. The hope is that, after a six-month-plus recovery involving bone growth to stabilize the joints, the pain will significantly reduce or even disappear. Yet, post-surgery, I’m experiencing more continuous pain than before, though it feels different—a pain tied to healing, I hope. This journey, steeped in uncertainty, has led me to a profound awakening, one I want to share with you through the lens of Heroic’s mission and the wisdom of Phil Stutz, mentor to our founder, Brian Johnson.
Phil Stutz teaches that we are never exonerated from three things: pain, uncertainty, and hard work. For me, this resonates deeply as I confront not just physical pain but the broader spectrum of human pain we all endure. Beyond physical discomfort, we face emotional pain (grief, sadness), existential pain (questioning life’s meaning), social pain (rejection or isolation), psychological pain (shame or guilt), moral pain (witnessing injustice), spiritual pain (disconnection from higher purpose), and intellectual pain (grappling with uncertainty or complex ideas). These pains, like my chronic back pain, can feel fixed, eternal, and unending. But through my decade-long practice with Headspace, particularly a 30-day meditation series I’m on day 7 of, I’m learning to shift how my mind perceives pain—physical and otherwise.
This morning, during my daily meditation, I had an awakening: when I’m deeply engaged in activity—especially purposeful activity—my pain fades. Writing this blog post right now, I feel no pain. Curious, I wondered, how can that be? The Headspace series is teaching me that while chronic pain signals may persist (nerve signals traveling to the brain), how we process those signals is largely in our control. This insight applies not just to physical pain but to all forms of pain. Whether it’s the ache of loneliness, the weight of moral injury, or the disquiet of existential doubt, our minds can learn to reframe these experiences through purposeful action.
My chronic pain, while less severe than what others may endure, has been disruptive enough to reshape my daily life. Yet, as Stutz and Heroic wisdom suggest, I’m leaning into it. The surgery may or may not fully resolve my physical pain—life is uncertain, as Stutz reminds us. But I’m bringing tools like meditation to bear, exploring how to manage my pain rather than control it. This distinction feels important: management implies working with pain, not fighting it. Purposeful action—like writing this post, engaging with the Heroic community, or pursuing meaningful work—seems to quiet the pain, shifting my focus from suffering to creation.
This brings me to Heroic’s ancient wisdom about human flourishing, which I see as boiling down to three pillars: health (managed as best as circumstances allow), purposeful work, and meaningful relationships. I’m not yet certain if any action reduces my pain, but I’m convinced that purposeful action does. When I’m aligned with my purpose—whether through writing, connecting with others, or contributing to Heroic Arizona’s mission—the pain recedes, and I feel alive.
Some may hear Stutz’s quote about pain, uncertainty, and hard work and find it depressing. “If life is just pain and struggle, where’s the joy?” they ask. That’s the key to understanding flourishing. Joy and happiness emerge from leaning into the hard work, from embracing obstacles—whether physical pain, social rejection, or existential uncertainty—and transforming them into opportunities for growth. By doing the hard work to understand our pain, fostering meaningful relationships (which can sometimes bring their own pain), and pursuing purpose, we find fulfillment. My meditation practice, guided by Headspace, is helping me explore my pain, not eliminate it, but reframe it as a teacher.
To anyone experiencing pain of any kind—physical, emotional, existential, or otherwise—here are three key steps to modify, if not eliminate, the pain you feel:
Lean into the pain, uncertainty, and hard work. Through purpose, action, and community, we find joy. Join me, and let’s flourish together.
Are you ready to transform challenges into opportunities? Join us for the MAC6 Book Club Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM at MAC6 (in-person or virtually) as we explore The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday. This powerful book distills Stoic philosophy into practical wisdom for navigating life’s challenges, making it a perfect fit for the Heroic Arizona community, where Stoicism forms a cornerstone of the ancient wisdom championed by Heroic (heroic.us) and its Heroic Premium App.
Mark your calendars, as registration will open soon! This event, led by MAC6 Vice President Al Loveland, a lifelong practicing Stoic, promises to spark meaningful discussions and inspire you to live with resilience and purpose.
At Heroic Arizona (heroicaz.us), we believe in harnessing ancient wisdom to become our best selves. Stoicism, a core philosophy behind Heroic’s mission, teaches us to focus on what we can control, embrace adversity, and act with virtue. The Obstacle Is the Way brings these principles to life, offering actionable insights to turn obstacles into stepping stones. Whether you’re a Heroic Premium App user or new to Stoicism, this book club is a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your practice of living heroically.
Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way draws on the timeless teachings of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. Here are three core ideas from the book that resonate deeply with Heroic’s mission:
Perception Is Everything Holiday emphasizes that obstacles are not inherently good or bad—it’s our perception that shapes their impact. By choosing to see challenges as opportunities, we can reframe setbacks as chances to grow. This aligns with Heroic’s call to master our mindset and focus on what’s within our control.
Action Over Inaction Stoicism isn’t about passive acceptance; it’s about disciplined action. Holiday encourages relentless persistence, breaking problems into manageable steps, and moving forward with courage. This mirrors the Heroic Premium App’s focus on small, consistent actions to build a virtuous life.
Embrace Adversity as a Teacher Obstacles aren’t roadblocks; they’re the path to strength and wisdom. Holiday shows how embracing adversity builds resilience and character, a principle at the heart of Heroic’s philosophy of thriving through challenges.
For a quick dive into these ideas, download the Philosophers Note on The Obstacle Is the Way—a concise 6-page summary perfect for preparing for the book club, especially if you’re short on time to read the full book. Download the Philosophers Note here (link to be provided).
Engage with Stoic Wisdom: Led by Al Loveland, a lifelong Stoic, this session will unpack how The Obstacle Is the Way applies to modern life and aligns with Heroic’s mission.
Connect with Community: Join fellow Heroic Arizona members and MAC6 community members to share insights and build meaningful connections.
Flexible Participation: Attend in person at MAC6 or join virtually from anywhere.
Inspiration for Your Heroic Journey: Discover practical tools to embody Stoic principles and live with greater purpose, both personally and professionally.
What: MAC6 Book Club Lunch and Learn discussing The Obstacle Is the Way
When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 11:45 AM–1:00 PM
Where: MAC6 (in-person) or virtual
Led by: Al Loveland, MAC6 Vice President and practicing Stoic
Registration: Opens soon—stay tuned for details!
Haven’t read the book yet? No problem! The Philosophers Note on The Obstacle Is the Way is a fantastic 6-page summary that captures the book’s essence. Download it from the link just above to prepare for a rich discussion. For those diving into the full book, you’ll find Holiday’s insights both accessible and profound, offering a modern lens on Stoic wisdom.
As partners with MAC6, Heroic Arizona invites you to join this book club to connect with Stoic principles that empower us to live heroically. The ideas in The Obstacle Is the Way echo the ancient wisdom woven into the Heroic Premium App, helping us overcome obstacles and become our best selves. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and grow.
Mark your calendars for August 13, 2025, and prepare to turn obstacles into opportunities. We can’t wait to see you there!
Thank you HeroicAZ Member Dr. Mohamed Hilali for this blog...
Too often, debates about human rights, social policy, and economics get stuck in the same old binary: scarcity or abundance. Are we doomed to fight over a limited pie, or can we grow it so everyone gets a bigger slice? While this “two-dimensional” thinking is common, it misses a much deeper truth—a truth that nature, faith, and experience teach us every season.
The Corn Kernel Lesson: Nature’s Law of Multiplication
Consider the humble grain of corn. In a typical season, one kernel might yield a single stalk, with a modest harvest. But under the right conditions—nourished by rich soil, water, sunlight, and care—one seed can sprout into seven stalks, each with a hundred kernels. In just one generation, the original seed multiplies a hundredfold. In the next generation, the multiplication repeats, expanding exponentially. This is not just arithmetic growth, but geometric flourishing.
This lesson isn’t unique to corn. It is seen in fruit trees, ecosystems, and the cycles of life. It is even immortalized in scripture: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain [of corn] which grows seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains...” (Qur’an 2:261)
From Nature to Society: The Power of Regeneration
What if we applied this natural, regenerative logic to our society? Instead of viewing resources, opportunity, and dignity as things to be divided or even simply “grown,” we could recognize their potential for multiplication—across generations and communities.
A Regenerative Approach to Human Rights
This three-dimensional, regenerative view urges us to move beyond the limits of zero-sum thinking. Yes, some resources are finite—but human potential, knowledge, creativity, and compassion are not. When we build systems and policies that empower people, nurture talents, and support each seed of potential, we create a virtuous cycle: flourishing that grows, multiplies, and compounds.
True flourishing, then, is not just a matter of what we have or even what we share—it’s about what we enable to multiply.
Policy Implications: Planting for the Future
Conclusion: Let Us Multiply Goodness
The challenge for leaders, educators, and communities is to adopt this regenerative mindset. Let us not be trapped by the fear of scarcity, nor lulled by simplistic dreams of abundance. Let us instead cultivate systems—economic, ethical, and spiritual—that turn each act of investment, generosity, and care into a harvest multiplied for generations to come.
Let us, like the grain of corn, become the start of flourishing beyond what we can count.
Heroic Arizona, we’re part of a broader movement rooted in the mission of Heroic Public Benefit Corporation: to see 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051. But what does "flourishing" truly mean? The Flourishing Scale provides a clear framework with eight key indicators:
At its core, flourishing boils down to being in the best health we can manage given our circumstances, engaging in purpose-filled work, and pursuing purposeful relationships and endeavors. Cultural considerations further enrich this definition. Especially in some lower-income demographics, relationships, family, or other forms of social engagement and meaning can lead people to flourish even in difficult economic conditions, offering resilience where resources are scarce.
The Foundation of Flourishing: Beyond Survival
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that true flourishing may be out of reach for those in survival mode, struggling to secure food, clothing, and shelter. Abject poverty—marked by the absence of these basics—keeps individuals trapped, leaving little room to pursue education or participate in wealth generation. Our first task is to help lift people from this state, moving them up the chain toward stability. Yet, even as we address abject poverty, relative poverty emerges as a subtler challenge. In regions with abundant opportunity, individuals may have their basic needs met but feel unfulfilled when comparing themselves to others with more. This highlights that flourishing isn’t just about meeting a global baseline—it’s also about perception and context.
Cultural and Global Perspectives
Flourishing looks different worldwide. In collectivist cultures, contributing to community well-being might outweigh personal achievement, while individualistic societies may prioritize self-actualization. For those in lower socio-economic brackets, flourishing might mean stability and dignity, whereas in wealthier contexts, it could involve creative expression or legacy-building. As members of the Heroic movement, we must consider these diverse lenses, ensuring our 2051 goal embraces every human experience.
Happiness as a Journey, Not a Destination
Happiness, often tied to flourishing, isn’t a fixed endpoint. Life is fraught with pain, uncertainty, and hard work—there’s no easy path. Instead, it’s a journey bolstered by antifragile confidence, a resilience Heroic Arizona helps cultivate. This confidence allows us to build fulfilling lives amid adversity. Drawing from Martin Seligman’s work, flourishing transcends mere survival; it’s about thriving and contributing to something greater. From a Heroic perspective, the meaning of life lies in this pursuit—using our strengths to create value for ourselves and others, aligning with a purpose that echoes beyond our individual existence.
A Call to Action
To reach 51% flourishing by 2051, we must first address survival needs, then support education and economic participation to elevate individuals. Simultaneously, we must tackle relative poverty’s emotional toll, fostering gratitude and purpose even in abundance. Heroic Arizona stands ready to guide this journey, building antifragile communities that thrive through challenge and contribute to a greater whole. Join the conversation by commenting on this blog and participating in Heroic Arizona’s weekly roundtables and monthly meetings as we explore these and other topics. Visit heroicaz.us to learn more.
This 4th of July morning, as I celebrate the boundless opportunities of this great country, I’m filled with joy for the vibrancy of life and our freedom to inspire a flourishing world. Yet, amid the fireworks and festivities, I’m mindful of the debates in our political system—and across the globe—about fairness, equity, and what truly constitutes human rights. As I prepare to spend four weeks in North Bay, Ontario, with dear Canadian friends, I anticipate lively discussions on these topics. In Canada, perspectives on human rights sometimes differ from American views, occasionally sparking division. As an American deeply rooted in the mission of Heroic and Heroic Arizona, I carry these reflections to my friends abroad, hoping to bridge understanding through our shared goal of a thriving humanity.
As members of the heroic community, we share a bold vision: to foster a world where 51% of humanity is flourishing. But what does it mean to flourish, and how do human rights fit into this equation? To answer this, we must grapple with the definition of human rights and consider which rights are truly universal—and which might conflict with the very freedoms they aim to protect.
Defining Human Rights: The Foundation of Flourishing
Human rights are often described as universal entitlements inherent to all individuals, regardless of nationality, creed, or circumstance. They are not granted by governments but are instead recognized as intrinsic to our existence—whether you attribute them to a creator, a universal truth, or the nature of life itself. In the United States, the Declaration of Independence eloquently names three core rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights form a bedrock for human flourishing, as they empower individuals to live freely, own property, create value, and chase their unique version of joy—without impeding others from doing the same.
But the conversation around human rights often grows complex. Some argue that rights extend beyond these fundamentals to include things like universal healthcare, housing, or education. These propositions raise critical questions: Who guarantees these rights? And can a right truly be universal if its enforcement requires taking away someone else’s freedom?
The Role of Government: Guarantor, Not Grantor
In human society, governments are the primary entities tasked with guaranteeing human rights. They exist to protect our ability to exercise our freedoms while ensuring that one person’s rights don’t trample another’s. However, governments are unique in their authority to take away property (through taxes), time (through incarceration), or even life (in extreme cases). This immense power demands caution. If we vest governments with the responsibility to enforce certain rights, we must carefully consider the cost—both to individual liberty and to the balance of a flourishing society.
The Nature of Rights: Fundamental vs. Entitlement-Based
Not all proposed human rights are created equal. Let’s break them down into two categories:
The Universal Healthcare Debate: Right or Privilege?
Take universal healthcare as an example. Many argue it’s a human right, asserting that access to medical care is essential for a dignified life. On the surface, this seems compelling—health is undeniably foundational to flourishing. But guaranteeing universal healthcare requires significant resources, typically funded by taxing citizens. If I’m compelled to pay for someone else’s healthcare, my property (money) is taken, potentially limiting my own pursuit of happiness. If I refuse, the government’s authority to enforce payment could encroach on my liberty. This tension suggests that universal healthcare, while a worthy policy debate, may not qualify as a fundamental human right in the same way life or liberty does.
This isn’t to say society shouldn’t provide healthcare or other benefits. A compassionate, flourishing community might choose to prioritize such programs. But labeling them as human rights risks muddling the concept of rights altogether. True human rights should stand alone, requiring no one’s sacrifice to exist.
Wealth Distribution: A Barrier or a Boost to Flourishing?
Another critical debate tied to flourishing is wealth distribution or redistribution. Some argue that to achieve a world where the majority of humanity thrives, we must redistribute wealth to ensure equitable access to resources, regardless of what we define as human rights. While the intention is noble, this approach raises serious concerns about both fairness and long-term societal health.
First, let’s acknowledge the progress we’ve made. Data shows the world is getting better: over the past 20, 50, 100, and 200 years, humanity has seen unprecedented reductions in abject poverty and remarkable increases in access to education, healthcare, housing, and opportunity. Today, more people are rising into the middle class than ever before, and the environment is benefiting from technological advancements. This progress isn’t perfect—challenges remain—but it’s undeniable that free enterprise capitalism and democracy have been the engines of this transformation. These systems reward innovation, foster opportunity, and empower individuals to create value. Rather than abandoning them, we should stay the course, refining and improving as we go, because humanity’s trajectory is one of continuous improvement.
Second, the call for wealth redistribution often hinges on taking from some to give to others. This approach is problematic for two reasons. One, it violates the fundamental human rights of those whose property is taken. Forcibly redistributing wealth undermines the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness by seizing what someone has earned through their efforts. Two, even if you set aside the rights argument, giving without requiring effort fosters dependency. Dependency erodes self-worth, which can spiral into destructive behaviors like substance abuse, family breakdown, and societal degradation. While giving may feel compassionate in the moment, history shows that unearned handouts often do more harm than good in the long run.
That said, a flourishing society must support those who are genuinely unable to care for themselves due to mental or physical limitations. A well-funded social safety net is a moral imperative—not as a human right, but as a societal choice to offer a hand-up rather than a handout whenever possible. For the truly frail, a handout may be necessary, and that’s okay; we should care for those who cannot care for themselves. But for those capable of mind and body, handouts risk personal and societal decline. True flourishing comes from empowering individuals to earn their way, not from redistributing wealth at the expense of others’ rights.
A Balanced Approach for the Heroic Community
As we strive for a world where 51% of humanity flourishes, we must anchor our efforts in a clear understanding of human rights. The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are universal because they empower individuals without diminishing others. They align with the heroic community’s mission by fostering a world where people can innovate, create, and thrive freely.
When considering additional “rights” like healthcare or wealth redistribution, we should approach them as societal choices, not universal mandates. A flourishing society might decide to provide healthcare, education, or a safety net—not because they’re inalienable rights, but because they reflect our collective values. The distinction matters: conflating societal benefits with human rights risks empowering governments to overreach, potentially undermining the very freedoms that allow us to flourish.
Conclusion: Rights as the Bedrock of Flourishing
Human rights are the foundation of a flourishing world, but not all proposed rights are equal. The heroic community’s mission to see 51% of humanity thrive demands clarity on this point. Let’s champion the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—rights that empower without taking away. And let’s engage in thoughtful debate about societal benefits like healthcare and wealth distribution, recognizing that their implementation must respect the freedoms we hold dear.
What do you think? Should universal healthcare or wealth redistribution be considered human rights, or are they better framed as societal goals? Share your thoughts below, and let’s keep the conversation going as we work toward a flourishing future.
