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Searching For Happiness
What I Read During 75 Hard
Ryan Curtin
April 09, 2025
One of the tasks in the 75 Hard challenge is to read 10 pages a day.
Simple to do. Easy to forget.
There were mornings I smashed it out first thing, and nights I was half-asleep at 10:30pm wondering why I started this bloody challenge in the first place.
Fun times.
I’ve been reading self-improvement books since I was 17. My older brother Brady handed me Mindset by Carol Dweck—and I was hooked. Ever since, I’ve been a regular at the "Personal Development" section in bookstores, burning cash on anything that promised insight, growth, or maybe just a good kick in the arse.
So this part of the challenge? I didn’t dread it—I looked forward to it.
But here's the truth: The hardest part was admitting which books I actually needed to read.
I needed to learn how to enjoy life again. To have fun. To not take everything so seriously.
With that said, here’s what I read and why. I’ve included Amazon links for each one, in case you want to check them out. I don’t get anything from them—just the joy of saving you 10 seconds of Google searching. Just click on the books title :)
Key Idea: Most people suck at things before they’re good at them. If you’re okay being bad for a while, you’ll develop skill in almost anything.
Why I Chose It:
I’m hard on myself—as I’m sure many of you are. There’s so much I want to do, but I often get discouraged when I’m not instantly good at something. That leads to me giving up earlier than I’d like.
What I Took Away:
Success takes time. Yeah, a basic idea—but it’s true. Michael Jordan didn’t become great in a day, and neither will you.
If you give something time and energy, you’ll become proficient. Respect the learning curve. Don’t decide if something is “for you” just because you’re not good at it immediately. You won’t be.
Key Idea: Focus on fewer things. Do them better. Make meaningful progress, instead of doing everything halfway.
Why I Chose It:
The subtitle—The Disciplined Pursuit of Less—hit a nerve. It also came recommended by Chris Williamson on Modern Wisdom, which gave it extra weight.
What I Took Away:
Stop trying to be great at everything all at once. Do a few things well first, then earn the right to take on more. A top-tier read. Highly recommended.
Key Idea: Don’t judge. Make time for silence. Live in alignment with your values. Karma is real. Give generously. Detach from outcomes. Trust the timing of the universe.
Why I Chose It:
This was my fifth or sixth time reading it. It always brings me back to center. It reminds me to release control, to stop judging myself and others so harshly.
What I Took Away:
This time, I was hit by the idea of practicing silence. Be present. Detach from the outcome. Put in your best effort, then surrender to what comes.
Key Idea: Work doesn’t have to feel like a grind. You can make it enjoyable, rather than just smashing the mental discipline button over and over again.
Why I Chose It:
Even though I’m enthusiastic and positive, I often struggle to actually enjoy tasks. I want to make an impact, but procrastination gets in the way. So I wanted a healthier, more sustainable approach to work.
What I Took Away:
For productivity: Study with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme in the background. Reframe your tasks as “quests” or “adventures” instead of chores.
For procrastination: Don’t commit to an hour—just start with 5 minutes. Once you start, momentum usually kicks in.
Key Idea: If you intentionally soak in small moments of joy throughout your day, you can rewire your brain to be more naturally positive.
Why I Chose It:
There’s a theme here: I’ve struggled to enjoy life. And I see the same in others. I truly believe we deserve to be happier and kinder to ourselves. This book was a tough sit—but necessary.
What I Took Away:
Your experience of life is shaped by how you interpret it. You can train your brain to see more good.
Try this: When something small makes you smile—a sip of coffee, a kind word, a warm breeze—pause and let the feeling stretch.
And this line hit hard:
“People don’t suffer less just because you act miserable. It’s not a crime to be happy and excited about life—even if those around you aren’t.”
Key Idea: You can earn income by doing meaningful work that improves your life and the lives of others.
Why I Chose It:
I want to be a coach. A holistic coach—yes, I know, it sounds cliché. But I’m serious about it. I want to impact people’s lives, and I’ve struggled with the idea of charging for that. Dan Koe’s work helped shift my mindset.
What I Took Away:
Problems aren’t as unique as we think. Most of us wrestle with the same core issues: health, mindset, relationships, spirituality.
“You are not uniquely broken.”
If you’ve solved a problem, you can ethically and authentically help others solve it too. That’s value. That’s purpose. And yes—that can be profitable.
Summary
I love reading. Books change lives.
But here’s what I realised at the end of this challenge:
There are knowledge-based problems… and there are action-based problems.
Sometimes, you need to learn more.
Other times, you just need to do more.
Right now, I’m in a season of doing.
More fun.
More rest.
More movement.
More creating.
And most importantly:
Falling in love with not knowing what’s to come.
Thank you for reading. I hope this inspired you to pick up a book—or at the very least, be a little kinder to yourself today.
With love,
Ryan
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