The Mental War

Today’s Topics

• Why the Inner War Matters Most ☮️

• Addressing The Gorilla in the Room 🦍

  5 Mins Read Time

Why the Inner War Matters Most ☮️

By Jo

There’s a reason the phrase “Reality Check” hits so hard. For anyone who's ever been through the mud—whether that's struggling to eat, dodging bad decisions, or carrying emotional trauma—it’s not just poetic, it’s survival.

This is a life where the external world is chaos: injustice, crime, betrayal, poverty. But what’s often overlooked is the silent chaos inside. And that's where the real war is.

We’re taught to grind, hustle, and react—to whatever life throws at us. But what happens when you’re still losing even though you’re doing everything “right”? That’s the clue. Sometimes, the real problem isn’t out there. It’s in here. Your 💓, your mindset, your perspective.

Fixing the internal is the hardest part. You might still be carrying the weight of your past, anger from how life treated you, or pain from choices you didn’t even know you were making. It’s complicated.

It can be hard balancing the streets, family expectations, systemic oppression, and the pressure to stay alive and stay sane. But… Everyday we have the choice to confront “growing pains” just to make it through the day (It makes us tougher + validates our struggle anyways).

Here’s the truth: you can’t fully win on the outside until you fix what’s broken inside. That doesn’t mean you need to be perfect. It means learning how to reflect, forgive, and let go—even when nobody taught you how. It means holding your pain without letting it define you. That’s the real power move.

No one walks through hell and comes out the same. But if you’re still here, still breathing, still trying? You’re in the fight. Get your soul right—not for approval, not for image—but because peace within is what gives you power outside.

Addressing The Gorilla in the Room 🦍

By Marcus

First off, I’m not here to rain on the parade of anyone who’s been enjoying the “Gorilla vs. 100 men” topic trend. I’ve been actively avoiding it, but somehow, it still finds its way into my timeline.

In the past, this might’ve been something I’d spend time on. Jumping from post to post or watching several YouTube videos. It’s entertaining. But I do think this is a good opportunity to explore how something as harmless as a viral conversation can quietly pull focus away from your goals.

Mental Real Estate

Realistically, we only have so much time and space available to do productive or mentally taxing work. Entertainment is a great stress reliever and something most of us enjoy. It has its place, so please don’t think I’m attacking one of your sources of enjoyment.

But when it comes to working through complex problems or daily challenges, we need as much mental muscle as possible. Stories about people who don’t know—or care—about you aren’t giving you the same attention and energy you’re giving them.

I used to watch a lot of sports (basketball mostly), play video games, and follow entertainment news. Now, I only have time for one. And 95% of the time, playing video games wins out. The others I had to let go so I could focus on higher-order tasks.

When I reflect on how much time I used to give to all these distractions, I feel a bit ashamed. But I’ve learned the value of protecting my headspace. The goal is to reach a place where I can enjoy more of my hobbies again. For now, though, it’s a season of hard work—not a final destination.

Attention Advantage

Whether we like it or not, we’re always in some form of competition. Jobs, resources, opportunities, housing, etc. That pressure can be exhausting, and entertainment offers a great escape.

But at some point, you have to ask: what new value is this giving me?

Eventually, you’re just stuck in a loop. Watching different people rehash the same storyline over and over.

What if the only thing separating you from someone else getting your dream job was two hours? They watched gorilla content. You spent that time researching, prepping, or building something. That’s your edge. Take it.

We may not have the best tools, connections, or conditions, but we have the power of focus. Use it.