Have Tos, Choices, and Catch-22s

How many times have you said, “I have to…”?

The truth is—we actually have more choices than “have tos.”

So what are the real “have tos”?

✅ Eat & drink
✅ Sleep & rest
✅ Poop & pee (I know, I’m a turd.)
✅ Breathe & heartbeat
✅ Die
✅ Experience pain & discomfort

The rest? Choices—with consequences.

Looking at it this way is a game changer.

A parent once told me, “College sports is dirty. You can’t trust anyone—but we have to.”
Yes, sometimes it can be—but being part of it is still a choice. You’re not trapped.

Catch-22s always show up.
Pain, loss, discomfort? Those are “have tos.”

One of my Catch-22s?

When athletes I work with compete against one another in big games, I choose to:

Watch them use what they’ve learned.
Hope for excellence.
And hope no one gets hurt.

We think we can avoid pain and loss by numbing:

🍻 Drinking
🍔 Eating
💊 Drugs
🤯 Overthinking
💼 Overworking
😡 Judging & blaming

All choices—with consequences.

The lesson?

✅ Act according to your values
✅ Evaluate the pros and cons
✅ Even when it’s uncomfortable—choose courage

Don’t kick the can down the road.
Let’s change the conversation to mental fitness.

Reach out to find out how we can help your organization have conversations that create lasting change.