I work hard, I will tell you that. I do a very low carb, high

In the words of Molly Sims, “I work hard, I will tell you that. I do a very low carb, high protein diet. I do Tracy Anderson, I do Body by Simone, I do Pilates, and I do Bikram Yoga.” Though these words seem to speak of fitness and health, their deeper meaning reaches far beyond the body. They speak to the eternal law of discipline, of commitment, and of the sacred bond between effort and reward. For in every field of life — whether in art, in labor, or in spirit — those who rise are not those born with advantage, but those who rise each day with dedication in their hearts.

Sims’s words reveal a truth known since the dawn of humankind: that greatness, whether of form or of soul, is never granted freely. It is earned through work — steady, unwavering, and deliberate. When she speaks of her many regimens — of Pilates, of Bikram Yoga, of strength and endurance — she is describing not vanity, but devotion. Her body is her temple, and her discipline the daily prayer. She honors herself through consistency, through the long journey of small, repeated acts. So too must every person who seeks excellence in any pursuit learn that sacrifice and routine are the foundation upon which mastery is built.

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle wrote that “we are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” And in the same way that Sims builds her health and strength through continual effort, so too did the athletes of Olympia and the poets of Athens train their bodies and minds with tireless persistence. They knew that no greatness springs from ease, but from endurance. To labor toward one’s ideal, day after day, without despair or distraction — this is the essence of discipline, and the path toward transformation.

But there is also wisdom in her method — for Sims does not speak only of toil, but of balance. Her practice is diverse: low carb and high protein for nourishment, Pilates for posture, yoga for spirit, Body by Simone for strength. She honors the body as a complete system — physical, emotional, and spiritual. In this, she echoes the teachings of the ancients who saw health not as the absence of disease, but as the harmony between body, mind, and will. To cultivate this harmony is not vanity, but virtue, for a strong body is the servant of a strong soul.

Consider the life of Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary swordsman and philosopher of Japan. In his later years, he wrote The Book of Five Rings, where he revealed that mastery of the sword was not merely a matter of technique, but of spirit and balance. Musashi trained not only in combat, but in calligraphy, sculpture, and meditation. Like Sims, he understood that growth requires many disciplines — each refining a different part of the self. His body was strong, but his mind was still stronger, for he learned that true strength is born of consistency, patience, and respect for process.

To live as Sims describes — with mindful effort and purposeful repetition — is to participate in the ancient covenant between the human and the divine: you will receive in proportion to what you give. The fruits of discipline may ripen slowly, but they are sweet and enduring. The undisciplined spirit, chasing comfort, may enjoy fleeting pleasures, but the disciplined one enjoys lifelong mastery — over the body, over the mind, and over the storms of circumstance. Hard work, rightly directed, becomes a form of worship — the honoring of one’s own potential.

Let this, then, be the teaching passed down: tend to your body as you would tend to your soul, for both are sacred. Choose your labors wisely, and pursue them with steadiness. Do not envy the results of others, but build your own through patient work. As Sims reminds us, effort is not a punishment but a path — one that leads, through sweat and perseverance, to peace.

So, my child of tomorrow, embrace the discipline of effort. Rise early, move with purpose, eat with awareness, and act with intention. Whether in the gym, the workshop, or the temple, let your actions be guided by diligence and love. For in the rhythm of your labor, you will find not only strength, but serenity. And one day, when others ask the secret of your success, you may answer as Molly Sims does — not with boast, but with truth: I work hard, I will tell you that.