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Tag: self development

You Don’t Have The Same Options

When we’re itching for change and want to throw it all up in the air, it’s easy to peak over at your friends and incorporate some of what they’re doing.

But you don’t have those options.

No matter how similar you are to someone else, whether that be a guru, mentor, friend, or family member– your path is your own.

We’ve lost self-discovery, mostly thanks to social media.

What would otherwise happen in the dark, is now advertised.

You have to learn to love every part of your own journey. Even if it’s not what you prefer, which is the case for a lot of us, it is crucial.

Embracing every moment is what’ll lead you to living an incredible life. You opt out of fulfillment every time you compare yourself to others.

Within you, there is a better self (higher self, soul, whatever you want to call it).

We have the ability to mold our character into more than we are, but that only happens when we get to know who we are.

Learn to see your life for what it is, a movie, played by you. If you don’t like the character ark or the story’s development– change it.

The best realization you can have is that everything, every single thing in your life is in your hands.

Who cares about what you can’t control. Don’t bother thinking about that.

The things you can change are all that matter.

Stay focused on your movie.

Ask yourself: How can I play in a way I admire? What would make this story more interesting?

And then, incorporate a little of that each day into your life.

At any given moment, the story can change.

#Playlife

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Follow Your Genuine Curiosity

Human beings are all too good at rationalizing, and as we get older– we become even better at it.

This doesn’t make us any more rational, just explaining machines.

The problem with it is we don’t always know why we’re doing the things we do, and we often get caught in our own mind loops– doing this, to get that, to then go here….

….we get stuck chasing/doing things we never really wanted.

When true fulfillment and success come from a different attitude, and it isn’t one of explaining. It’s asking questions, because you’re genuinely curious.

Being a learner is fulfilling. Dedicating yourself to a craft, subject, or field– because you genuinely enjoy it is worth everything.

The human mind thrives on this, and yet most of us shy away from this type of commitment, myself included.

Ironic.

You’re putting off living in hopes of something one day intervening and bringing life into your life… it doesn’t work like that.

You have to bring the fun to everything you do, and with such a fluid approach, you’ll be able to pivot through different interests until you settle on one or few.

To be curious, you’ll have to go back to your childlike approach– where you actually gave a shit to even ask the question. The problem is, when we hit 30 (some even sooner), we default to the attitude of “knowing what we need to.”

It’s a miserable existence to have to be right, to take life seriously, to not play.

There is no wisdom or coolness behind that approach, it’s just a pathetic way of hiding deeply seated fears and insecurities.

That’s coming from the once “cool and aloof” kid.

You’re looking for “that thing” –we all are. A book won’t point you there, a mentor can’t advise you, this is only found through exploration.

Something we were all born to do, but haven’t been conditioned to practice.

Want to fight old age, live longer, happier and healthier, while enjoying every bit of life? Let’s return to our roots, quit trying to be right and be curious.

#play

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Reach Peak Success through Authenticity

Oftentimes, it’s the overused “timeless” phrases that actually hold the answers you’re looking for.

Unfortunately we’re so familiar with them, that we don’t really consider it– at least not on any meaningful level.

Know Thyself.

We’ve all heard the expression– and when you tell someone this, they immediately nod back and flash a peace sign, “wurd.”

The vast majority seem to think they’re born knowing themselves. They never question why they do what they do, or why they believe the things they do, but somehow– they’re experts in the field of their wiring??

I think people live shit lives because they DON’T know themselves, and they’re too willfully ignorant to uncover more.

Knowing yourself is a developed skill, not a born trait. It takes time, it’s hard, and it should be uncomfortable.

….in truth, you probably suck. Sure, there are things that are awesome too, but all of us suck to some degree.

Everyone wants to be special in their own story.

I guess growth is when you lose that need to maintain your own delusion. Today, I see myself as far less “chosen” and far more just here figuring it out and that doesn’t hurt me.

I’m free of myself, because I know myself. I spent my entire life not knowing– so I chased random ideas, businesses, paths, none of which fit me or my character.

But thanks to my relentless pursuit for truth, I found myself in the end. That led to a life that suited me, and as I continue to strengthen my relationship with who I am, my life continues to improve in every way.

If you want to keep losing at the game of life, then continue taking yourself seriously. Before you can ever succeed, you need the right attitude… which most people can’t even get to this step.

Being afraid to introspect, not being able to laugh at yourself, that’s a super shitty life. When you can accept everything about you– the good and the bad, then you can start to fully live.

Until then, you insecurely chafe against the world and put yourself in depressive experiences because you think it all means more than it does.

Sit for a second, imagine you’ll lose everyone you love… what if you got that call today? Was acting all serious and stuck up worth it?

Did it matter in the end?

We’re all dying and nothing clears the mind like death.

If you want to succeed, which I define as living life in a fulfilling way unique to you, you need to get real…. get real and let go.

#FoolAround

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Compounding Character

The other day I found myself thinking new for the first time.

No anger, no emotional turmoil, no delusional dreaming— just pure acceptance for everything in my life.

This is different for me, very different.

I used to be someone who wanted to change everything, and all the time. I’d drive myself miserable seeing the worst in people, comparing myself to others, and constantly wishing to be something else.

But lately, I haven’t been thinking like that.

For someone who has always been emotionally intense, yesterday I felt strength for the first time.

The storm came like it always does, but this time it did not move me.

All those years of experimenting, of constantly learning and trying to be more, failing and starting over– none were wasted. It compounded, and that’s what I wanted to pass onto you.

Don’t ever stop. Even if it looks like nothing is helping you, it will in the long run.

Back then, I wondered how I’d use all the useless shit I learned. I read, I practiced new disciplines, but still I’d fall back into my own weak-habits. The difference for me was I never stopped. I never wrote myself off– despite how much I failed, I just kept moving.

One day you’ll see it.

Everything you’re doing will all of a sudden compound, and you’ll be far better for it. You’ll be stronger, composed, wiser, and more fulfilled.

It’s not like I have everything figured out all of a sudden, but this feeling, where I am right now, is worth everything to me.

This isn’t temporary happiness, this isn’t circumstantial.

This is character.

Compounded from trial and failure.

For the first time, I’ve let go of my own prison. All the things that used to have a hold on me– don’t.

Through understanding, we end suffering.

I didn’t until now.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, continue no matter what. Push forward, and endure.

You’ll eventually meet your own potential.

#AlwaysForward

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Sharing Single Player Games

Forget goal setting.

As an ex-miserable setter, I used to live for my future desires which ironically meant, putting off to live til I achieved them.

I’m living now more than I ever have, seeing success, and I’m honestly enjoying my life.

There isn’t anything to complain about and that’s from the compound interest of me refusing to accept the defaults of my mind and constantly seeking to maximize my environment.

There’s some value in that “make yourself at home.”

Not in the sense of comfort, but more so not being afraid to move things around to better suit you.

This is key to life and should be applied to everything.

The mindset I’m constantly forcing myself to practice is this: There are a ton of things I don’t like and don’t want to do, but since I have to do it– F**K IT, I’ll go all out and bring the fun.

Play brings success.

Life is largely a single player game, and you’re responsible for your own happiness. But most of us are shit at this.

We tie our fulfillment to future destinations that may or may not happen, that we may or may not want, and then find ourselves feeling uninspired to move towards those very things because each day feels lifeless.

Maximize the game itself or rather, “make yourself at home.”

Too often, we’re mentally cheating reality to dream up some dumb world where we’re inspired and fulfilled 24/7. What in life actually works like that?

Even the things you enjoy took developing.

The more you do something, the more you find joy in doing it.

I’m not saying don’t dream and don’t aspire for more– rather, practice being happily dissatisfied.

No matter what, I’ll play this game while still being ambitious and moving towards more.

The difference here is I’m not waiting or fantasizing, just maximizing what I can.

Live today.

#FoolsGold

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Wanna be Free? Find Where To Submit

Occasionally I’ll still have days where I relapse into my old mindset– that internal voice that assures me I’m better than my responsibilities.

It took me learning one major lesson to finally understand this, I was never going to find freedom.

What I really wanted was freedom from myself and that comes from surrender, total submission to the path itself.

The more you chase freedom (new experiences, relationships, places, careers, etc.) the less you’ll have it. All chasing does is open more doors, and that’s the irony. Those that constantly start anew, never reach it.

Submitting to a practice, being totally engaged in all before you– this is what frees you. When I stopped chasing ideas, I started building my own life and as a result, became more free.

Free of delusion.

It’s not enough to focus on goals, you’ve got to create a different dynamic with your own life. This is as much of an attitude and approach as it is a philosophy. Just yesterday, when I was feeling complain-y because I was randomly assigned a bunch of shit I didn’t want to do, I stopped and reframed.

If I’ve got to do this, I’m going all out.

I bring the play. It doesn’t come to you.

You’re an amateur at the game of life if fun is selective. You bring the fun. This has been a huge game changer for me.

There’s a bunch of things I don’t want to do, but since I’ve got to– might as well go all the way out and embrace it.

LEAN IN.

Freedom is a mindset, an attitude, and an approach– NOT a destination.

If you want to be free, let go.

It was always right in front of you.

#StayIntheNow

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Walking Dead Mirage: If you’re like this, you can’t succeed

You know what’s unbelievable to me? How little we actually change.

Don’t think so?

Keep a private journal for over a year– and watch. Those thoughts, complaints, desires, they almost never change. Even when you finally are able to pull yourself out of the loop, it’ll always be your soft spot in the brain– one you’ll forever need to guard against.

So this selfish post, not unlike all my others, is a letter/reminder to future me.

The reason you don’t get to pursue that all or nothing passion and desire– is because it doesn’t exist for you (STOP COMPARING YOUR PATH TO OTHERS).

Love never motivated you, so why would passion?

When I read those journals and see where I’m coming from, it’s gross. Destiny, purpose, I need, I want, my calling…. bitchin’ bitchin’ bitchin’.

You threw away every single day whining about some imaginary desire that if you somehow lucked into and got– you wouldn’t know it. What a complete waste of life, and to be fair– you’ve been doing well.

For the last year, you’ve not only managed to pull away from this behavior, but to deepen your relationship with reality.

I immediately saw success when I leaned into the present moment. (LAW #1).

It turns out, mastery fulfills me far more than anything imaginary ever did– and so everything in front of me will receive total commitment.

I’ve lost my need to chase false dreams. It’s just some flaw in my wiring that constantly seeks Neverland.

Being practical, being ruthlessly rational, has cured my life of every detractor– including and especially, me.

This post is a note to self, the most important one knowing my weakness, never walk through the mirage.

When you start dancing with devils, you can’t see what’s important.

Stay Practical, Stay Present, F**k Fantasy.

#FoolForward

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Mind Map: Keeping a compass when it gets murky

Hey Fool.

You ever look through old photos of yourself and cringe?

Imagine being able to see the thoughts that went along with youthful cringy you, that’s the exact perk of journaling. If you possess that natural, “I’m the shit” attitude, nothing humble-pies you like journaling.

I’ve now crossed the one year mark of writing and publishing every single day. What started out as something with no expectation, has slowly transformed into the best tool for strengthening my relationship with myself and bettering my own mind.

I believe what we’re all after is a better way to live, but we look for this in all the wrong places. You don’t need a role model, you need a mental model.

Without something to track and guide us, we spend our entire lives chasing our own tails. My journals are all the same with the only distinguisher being dated differently, but the “struggle” is repetitive.

Until now….

Only now am I not after what I longed for my entire life, and why? I got better of it when I realized it was delusion, it was just suffering from my imagination, and best of all: It wasn’t real.

You have this. We all have some form of this.

But only you can know where it is, and to do that you have to track yourself. You need to write. Writing is capturing photos of your thoughts– If you want to get ahead, and unstuck from your own loop– you need THIS compass.

There’s no right way to do it. Just start.

I started with letters to myself, where I’d ask questions, write my own feelings, and give myself a space to be openly curious about myself.

That’s all you’re doing with this– allowing yourself to get to know yourself.

It’s the best thing you’ll ever do for your mind.

#Writeitoff

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24/7 Recruiting: You’re Nothing But a Number to a Group

Everyone thinks themselves independent.

They proclaim they’ve done their research and so that’s why they stand where they do, cozying up against the comforts of back-up, surrounded by the same individuals with the exact same opinions.

Every single person today is an expert.

And if you’re not an expert, you’re supposed to blindly trust them– as if they’ve never been wrong.

As if society actually gives a shit about you one way or the other.

People go wild within groups. They can express repressed emotions, let out feelings they’re normally unfamiliar with, are easier influenced, and lose their touch with rationality.

There is no such thing as the “GOOD GROUP.”

If you’re a part of a group, you give up your individuality to conform– to join, that is the nature of the collective. It doesn’t matter what color your team is: blue, red, green, no one cares.

So why do it anyway?

Because a lot of people are cowards.

They’ve never faced themselves, spent their entire lifetime avoiding conflict, avoiding introspection, avoiding thinking– and to be apart of a group and finally be able to vent the pain that comes from repression, it feels good…. in the short term.

But it doesn’t change what’s going on. These are not the people you should be listening to or following or even giving the time of day.

They say learn from everyone, sure. I can agree with that, but not what they say– rather observe their actions.

Where does this individual become irrational?

Where are they hypocritical?

It’s amazing to me that faced with a global threat, rather than come together– we split up the haves and have-nots, or the vax and anti-vaxed. Each side naming the other “the problem,” which is lazy and pathetic and completely untrue.

But you if your research comes from your team and only your team, your voice isn’t worth listening to.

You don’t even know what you’re saying.

This is true for most people.

My only point for this post is to speak to the individuals– those who’ve decided to stand alone and not run to a group offering free candy, don’t pick.

Stay Alone.

You’re right to be independent, you’re right to not trust either. Do your own research and make your own mind on these things.

The hard part is to not get consumed by either side, but as an individual you’ll odds are great.

Don’t listen to actual FOOLS.

#MindYourself

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Understanding > Consuming: Why I’m Reading Less

Hey Fool.

By nature, I’m not a reader.

Sitting alone with nothing but a book to delight me isn’t something I ever wanted to do. But as I got older, I gradually discovered the non-fiction section of the book store.

Suddenly, those once-worthless-paperbacks were now seen as human brain upgrades– the ultimate tool for me to get ahead and strengthen my weaknesses.

Now, I could “hack” my way to success.

And with this seed planted, I became a “reader.” I went through every imaginable self help book, when it comes to approach and niche– none were off limits. It didn’t matter to me if the strategies were proven scientifically– or if they were total spiritual gobbledygook. All I cared about was could I use this immediately to advance towards my goals?

Enter the apprentice phase.

This part of my life is interesting. For years, all I did was consume. Non-stop content on what you should do, how you should think, disciplines to practice, habits to hold, etc.

Reading led to more reading.

It felt like I couldn’t get the information as quickly as needed. But then years passed, and I made very little improvements…. worst of all, I felt disconnected.

YOU DISCOVER YOUR PATH.

There is no book, course, mentor, or whatever that can recommend how to move forward. You need to do it blindly, that’s part of the game and whatever happens, happens.

We’re meant to do it for the first time, to do it on our own. And really, I mean think about– how can someone who isn’t you tell you to live your life?

It doesn’t make sense.

If you can read and apply systems loosely, then it’s worth it. But if you’re struggling like I did with the distance part, and end up intensely worshipping all of it– drop the book.

You can’t read your way there, you need understanding.

Reflecting through journaling will yield more results than just reading one book to the next.

Authenticity is the key to success, which means figuring out yourself and nature and then applying it appropriately.

Input does equal output, so careful what you consume.

#Fool

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Too Adult For The Sandbox

Hey Fool.

It’s no easy task to live fully, at the same time I liken it to falling asleep– more effort, equates to more difficulty.

The other day I wrote about identity and how carefully crafting yours based on reality will help you achieve fulfillment.

But today the thing most on my mind is playing with the toys you have.

To quote Captain Jack Sparrow, “The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude about the problem.

Why do we lose our sense of play? Why do we take ourselves so seriously?

Have you ever noticed how much easier life is when we roll with it? When we’re in a state of play our stiffness is replaced with fluidity, and most of our problems slide rather than stick.

I think it’s a quote from Alan Watts that went something like, “We suffer because we take serious what the Gods made for fun.”

It’s funny. I won’t speak for you, but I think a lot of us somehow got the idea that the ironic and cynical attitude is cool. The cold and aloof person– they somehow possess intelligence and power, when in fact it’s the opposite.

Optimism takes strength, especially today.

It’s easy to be cynical. It’s easy to be a pessimist. It takes ZERO effort and ZERO courage. In a way, it’s a result of having given up on life itself.

The hardest thing in the world is to stay positive surrounded by cheap default negativity. This is what I’ve decided to make my way.

My way and my approach to life will be a willful optimism. I’m naturally skeptical and harsh by nature, I can’t pretend that away.

But I’ll choose to shift my perspective.

Willpower is necessary to start, and I’ll use all of mine to live a fulfilling life.

Wherever you are– play.

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Building Your Human: The Promethean Task of Identity

The greatest determining factor of what kind of life you’ll live and what you’ll achieve is identity.

A lot of us misinterpret what this actually means.

I mean, we are who we are and we are how we are, so what is there to do? While it’s true that your personality is set, your identity is different.

Identity is made up of values, beliefs, and personality. While you can’t change the last, the first two are very much upgrade-able.

My conflict has always been this– I want to be who I truly am underneath, but I also want to be better than I am. How can you be more and be the same?

Well, I think I’ve got it.

Your nature is unchangeable. I’ve tried everything in the book, all the lessons from all the masters, and can tell you it’s pointless and depressing to attempt to pretend away your core.

It doesn’t work and serves to make you delusional and even worse, disconnected.

The way to evolve is to take that unique core, figure it out as much as possible, study yourself like a scientist and then find areas in life to better channel it.

If I naturally have a highly charged emotional nature, the flip side of that coin might be a creative mind– choose a skill that can better channel this and to ensure you dominate the skill and stay the course start saying I AM THE PERSON WHO…. (fill in the blank).

(Why dominate the skill? Because it takes total commitment to the path for you to fully evolve. I wish it didn’t… but it does).

The catch here, you have to choose something you care about, something you actually want to learn and have an interest in, and once chosen that little I AM statement will ensure you re-configure your identity to constantly embrace that task.

Here are some examples of things I’m learning that I use I AM statements to better build myself and ensure I keep the focus on learning:

I AM A MARTIAL ARTIST.

I AM A WRITER /DIRECTOR.

I AM A STUDENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

What is the point of doing this? It might seem affirmational, quirky, or law of attraction-y but it isn’t.

This is psychology.

For whatever reason, each of us is bound by social contracts– even to ourselves. The brain upgrades software through consistency, knowing this feature, you can leverage it to your advantage.

So, you should be who you truly are.

That’s what destiny is.

It’s you uncovering what you are to the core, what makes you unique and living that out– AT THE SAME TIME, when you know your uniqueness intimately, you can better channel it to build yourself into something more.

Enjoy re-discovering yourself.

Play, in truth this entire process should be nothing more than play, which is brought about by genuine curiosity.

#PlayFoolish

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Don’t Get Sucked In: Your Blindspots are Blackholes

Hey Fool.

Is there anything *supposedly* good for you, that makes you feel like shit? If that thing is remotely related to your genetic blind spots, don’t attack it directly.

For most people, having purpose and direction is incredibly important. It’s uplifting and provides a greater resilience…. but for me, who has craved an all consuming reason for existence since my inception, it’s a blackhole.

Blackholes are the areas of our lives that we want more than anything, where we’re delusional, unreasonable, childlike… for whatever reason, we’re always drawn to this area but reality is distorted here.

Everyone has their own blackholes.

Moving towards them directly never leads to any good– you’ll get sucked in and spit out. A lot of us won’t ever learn, we just keep repeating the cycle (think the person who wants to be a singer, but can’t hear how awful they sound– and pursue it forever).

Anytime I’ve chased my delusional dreams– fantasies, the thing I think I want for no apparent reason, my life becomes complete chaos. I lose my progress, stability, and end up having to start over.

The result of you believing in your magic, in these fantasies, is being stuck in a spiral of never getting ahead.

Ruthless practicality is the only way to become a better astronaut.

Once you’re more skilled, then maybe you can see the blackhole for what it is and possibly navigate it, if that’s still the goal.

But all of us share the same first step– we have to see our blindspots and then get better of them.

I suffered from imagination (and still do) and always will. That sounds spiritual, but what it looks like is my mind constantly craving the world, achievement on the biggest stage, accolades and success, and my life to have ZERO dull or boring moments…. is that really a lot to ask for?

What I came to realize is my mind is wrong in this area. When it comes to career and purpose, I don’t trust it. This is how I got ahead.

Knowing that reality is distorted for me here, I instead went practical. I considered my skills, my temperament and natural inclinations, and started there.

That’s how I began a new career, got financially ahead, and started building a life I enjoy.

Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t resemble the craving blackhole at all. But who cares, now I have a life.

Waiting for those fantasies robs you.

FUCK desire. What can you build?

Stop wanting. Start small.

#FoolForward

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The Easiest Way To Achieve Your Dreams: Wake Up

Why is it that the more we build something up in our minds, the farther away we move from it?

We’re all masters of illusion.

We convince ourselves of what we want, who we are, where we’ll go and why we’re here. Everything in our lives is a result of some myth we play in the back of our mind, while we autopilot our way through our environment.

Years go by like this, we’ve got that dream…some desire, it’s always been there and it’s completely unchanged.

It’s the “meaning” in your otherwise meaninglessness.

And yet… it isn’t real.

The reason most people never reach their dreams is because they try to dream their way to achievement.

The more I wanted something, the harder it became to start. I was less practical and having built the thing up in my mind, I felt overwhelmed by it– which ended with my failure to launch.

You have to wake up.

The only way to build a life for yourself that you measure a success, is to be ruthlessly practical.

The smallest advancements came from me “waking up.”

Being honest with myself, seeing my actual faults and where I needed work is what led me to starting a suitable career and finally making progress in my life.

Dreams take you back, reality launches you forward.

In reality, you might not be suitable for the things you’re chasing. I used to think I wanted to be a movie director… the idea just lived in my head without me ever doing it, learning about, or practicing it.

Not only did it not suit me at all (being impulsive, short tempered, quick, production oriented, results driven, and never caring about art in my life) but I didn’t even like it.

I just had it in my head, and never scrutinized the idea itself.

When I go back to dreaming about the rockstar life, because I still do– I just remind myself all the things my dreams got me.

Unemployed, depressed, isolated, skill-less, and broke.

And then without fail, I return to practicality which has always helped me achieve– BECAUSE it’s real!

If you want progress and a life of fulfillment, stop chasing happiness.

What are you inclined for? What are you naturally good at? What type of intelligence do you possess?

Take that and start exploring niches you might be interest in, and start there.

The process of achievement is really the process of waking up, and I never really put this together until my typing it right here– but that’s why I’m so against those spiritual practices surrounding goal setting.

Because for me personally, they’ve only moved me away from my goals.

Take inventory of yourself.

Figure out what you’re like, and find where that’ll suit you.

#FoolForward

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Re-learning to Live

Hey Fool.

I finally get that our dreams, hopes, and achievements don’t actually change our lives– not in the way we think they would.

We might hope for a grand reset through moving to a different state, changing careers, building a new friend group and these things might initiate a little momentum.

But it doesn’t last because change doesn’t come from addition, it comes from revision.

I was always focused on my calling, finding my purpose– I was so tunnel vision on these things I didn’t understand that I was the wrong person to create them.

Overly focused on why I was born, I missed every opportunity to fully enjoy all that the human experience had to offer.

And as I did succeed and inch towards all the things I wanted, I was the same discontented individual.

Then I finally came to understand it, I never re-learned how to live. In my youth I found survival mode.

I was ultra-skeptical, discerning, critical, closed-off, I was mentally distant from the world– because it served me to be. A lot of us enter these phases, but it’s a mistake to let them alter your character and perspective- which I did.

I became someone who was numb to pain… and as a result– numb to joy.

I chased highs to feel something, rather than drugs my choice was risk. Danger made me feel closer to my youth.

But it was always temporary and as soon as the adrenaline wore off, I was me again.

It was made obvious no amount of external anything can change you, regardless of what it was. How lazy and pathetic of me to tie my fulfillment to temporary aspirations.

This isn’t some complain-y post where I drone on about the mysteries of unhappiness and how some of us are just built serious. Nay.

This entire post is about the great re-set. A super underrated ability every single human being possess, gifted to us by mother nature.

YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF AT ANY MOMENT.

I’ve always wanted purpose but what I failed to understand back then, purpose is not found it’s created.

I wanted my life to be full of awesome experiences, well those come from a shift in approach to the world, and that comes from an entirely new perspective.

So what caused all this misery?

A cynical attitude, perspective, and focus on negativity.

—So THAT is exactly where you need to start.

Rarely did I stop and appreciate what I had, and I had a lot. The whole, “it’s not enough” is just a garbage attitude that is easily changeable.

This is our superpower.

You don’t need to change who you are, you need to change how you are.

AND that’s entirely within your control.

To begin, you’ll want to shift your focus. Each day, start from a winning mindset. Focus on all you have, be thankful for where you are, and move forward positively– embracing what’s currently before you.

This isn’t easy. Your brain will want to revert and to stay the course you have to have some vision that excites you, about what your life could be. Write it down, feel it, look at it multiple times a day.

With this combination of gratitude and moving towards a new way of life, you will re-find what it means to live fully.

#StayFoolish

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Identity > Habits: Want lasting change? Then change.

Sometimes it really is so much simpler than we can even imagine. You sit there, pissed off at the shittiness of life, try new habits and practices only to fail.

You imagine it must be you, and you’re right but for the wrong reason.

I didn’t invent this, and neither did the author who wrote the best selling book on it, but if you can understand and embrace this– your life will change immediately.

Identity is everything.

It’s ONLY this. This is the reason you move backwards or forwards, form good or bad habits, succeed or fail… identity is the gps for the human mind, and for your entire life.

You might think its corny, but that story you tell yourself plays out every single day. In fact, our stories become our lives.

If I say to myself, “I’m a writer” and I keep identifying with being a writer, I begin to act as a writer. What happens? I end up writing daily, practicing my craft, conducting myself as a writer.

Had I said, I need to write or I want to write– maybe I do, maybe I don’t.

If I say to myself, “I’m a fighter, I train and care for my body the way a fighter would, and never miss a muay thai class because fighters don’t.

I’ve always formed new habits easily, but until recently only realized why.

I make them apart of my identity immediately. You keep saying you need to get healthy, and like that you never will. You don’t need to “get healthy”, that’s temporary. You need to become a healthy person.

So make it your identity. “I am that type of person who takes care of their health.”

If you think this is hokey- mystical crap, I can assure you it’s science.

Something happens to us when we make things personal. We become our habits, when they become our identity.

Your brain likes to hold onto the shitty version of you because you’ve trained it to. Saying, “that isn’t for me, or that just isn’t me” is TOXIC.

If you want to level up, grow, and gain a better life– it needs to become you, you need to become more.

How?

Simple. What do you want out of life? I want to be an entrepreneur who runs a successful advertising business, podcast, and newsletter.

Okay, great. So who is this person and what do they believe and practice daily- to achieve this life?

They are a student of human nature, welcome all challenges and adversity because they love it, and always put themselves in discomfort.

I’m the type of person who’s always putting myself out there, attacking my fears, and learning.

Try it, the only thing you’ll lose is misery.

#FoolAround

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Lessons From Inside The Ring

They say to journal your fights afterwards to learn all you can from them. Well, it looks like my instincts are jumpy, overreactive, and ultimately unproductive.

Muay Thai is by far the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

It’s hard, physically demanding, technical, and demands a high level of skill.

The key takeaway here is not to lose your composure. Most people are jumpy in defense, strangely my default mode is attack… but its like a wild animal, and for a skilled fighter– easy to tame.

We make errors we normally wouldn’t when we “anticipate”.

In fighting, presence is everything while fortune telling, well… that’s a punch to the face (which I collected).

A friend and sparring partner did give me good advice, which I’m now going to put into practice next round.

“Take the shots.”

Don’t just blast people, stay composed, feel your opponent out, let them hit you a few times (while still defending), and let your mind be absorbed in the movements.

The relevant thing from this post is this: We fuck up our lives being overreactive. We create obstacles where there otherwise weren’t any, we drain our own gas-tanks “anticipating” what’s going to happen, and finally we’re knocked out (by life, an opponent, or whatever).

So, my takeaway from inside the ring.

Stay calm, stay composed.

#StayFoolish

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