Next time you get out of bed, take a look in the mirror.
I want you to take a step back and look at yourself from head to toe. Then take a step closer and look into your own eyes. Take a minute and really look. Stare deep enough to actually see the blood pulse through your veins.
Then step away and think about who you just saw. Not just the “what” like the physical attributes, but the “who”. Who is this person that you just saw? How well do you know them? Is this a person that you look up to? Is it someone you admire and trust?
Does this person consistently lie to you? Justifying all the bullshit you know you shouldn’t be doing?
Is this someone you want to be?
There’s a chance you might not like what you see, and maybe you won’t like your answers. But answering these questions honestly will point you towards the changes in your life that need to be made.
If you’re like most of us, there are some things you need to get better at. There are some habits in your life you need to break, and some changes that need to be made in some very important areas.
And sometimes you have to go to a very dark place in order to find out more about yourself. Think about what has lead you to today. What events have occurred that shaped the person you are right now? Why have these events affected you (whether good or bad) and how have they impacted the decisions you currently make?
We all have some darkness buried deep in the pit of our souls. Those who go back to the darkness and pull it out in a healthy way usually see the light and remove a giant weight off their backs. Those who are afraid of their darkness tend to remain in a place of anxiety and doubt. They are afraid of their past and the pain that comes with it. They are shackled by fear and insecurities and never experience the true joy of this life. Their decisions are fear based which leads to more regrets at the end of the road.
Believe me I understand how difficult it can be to go into the darkness. I’ve been there… But if you don’t search for answers you will never truly know who you really are. But first you have to be very, very honest with yourself, and I’ll bet money that many of you reading this are thinking “I don’t have any darkness”. Well, maybe. But odds are you’re full of shit. Don’t be afraid of opening up the gates.
Going back allows you to change the things that are currently holding you back from living the life you want – From becoming the person you want to become. And it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past.
What matters is that you DECIDE to change TODAY!
Maybe the decisions you have made in the past have lead you to being overweight, unhealthy and unhappy. Or maybe you’re someone who has done some things in your life you aren’t proud of. Maybe you’re currently addicted to drugs or alcohol and need to change your life, but the things you’ve done in order to get your fix keeps you awake at night.
Maybe you’ve hurt someone. Maybe someone hurt you… Whatever your past, remember this.
Your history IS NOT your destiny.
What you’ve done in your past does not stop you from becoming the person you have the potential to become.
So don’t be ashamed, no matter what it is you’ve been through. You have the potential to make any changes that you want, and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. But that brings me back to doing some digging and finding out what’s really holding you back.
Why do you self-sabotage and eat the crap you know you shouldn’t? Why do you lie to yourself and say you’ll be ok if you just have one drink, when you know damn well you won’t be.
People will tell themselves anything to justify something they know they shouldn’t do. We lie to ourselves and make emotional decisions. We become reactive instead of proactive which usually leads to more poor choices.
If you want to make a real change in any area of your life, here is what you need to do.
- Decide
- Go back and find your darkness. What’s holding you back? Why do I keep failing?
- Create a plan
- Be honest with yourself. Cut the bullshit
- Surround yourself with people who support you and will be honest with you
- Commit to the process
- Execute consistently
These seven steps will impact your life more than you realize. They may seem simple, but in my opinion simplicity is the key to success in anything. Just remember, achieving success is simple, but it is not easy. There’s a lot of work to be done so don’t confuse the two.
It doesn’t matter where you’re starting. All that matters is that you start!
And you can start by taking a good look at the man you see in the mirror. Find out who you are and unleash the man you always wanted to become.
Thanks for reading.