ONE QUESTION

How much is enough?

ONE THING TO PONDER

What made you ‘weird’ as a child makes you valuable today.

ONE PERSPECTIVE

I use the book below as a catalyst for transformation. It challenges my limiting beliefs in both my personal journey and professional direction.

Imagine holding a book that whispers the final, hard hitting truth of those about to leave this world. A truth that screams: 

"I wish I'd had the courage to live MY life, not the life others expected."

The book sits at my dining room table as a reminder of the choices we have now that others weren’t able to recognize before their time was up. 

I'm convinced everyone would agree that living a life true to themselves is very important… I'm not convinced everyone has the courage or willingness to live life this way. 

Living a life that others expect of you has its perks, otherwise why would we do it?

• Being quiet feels safer and less confrontational. We get to avoid discomfort, only to be tackled by resentment towards others and regret for not speaking up. 

• Fitting in is easier. We strive for acceptance over authenticity.

• There is safety and less conflict when you do what others expect. 

• External success masks internal emptiness. You can actually gain a lot of external success when you’re really good at something - even if it gives you little joy or fulfillment. 

But here seems to be a painful truth - you’re not avoiding pain, you’re just postponing it. 

Achieving success and a comfortable life while being completely unfulfilled and unhappy is the trap that very few can or choose to escape from. 

So instead, they accept it only to have it loom for decades and end with regret, resentment and frustration. 

Living a life that you expect of yourself has challenges of its own.

• You have to be prepared to disappoint people, and have the strength to accept their judgment without anger. 

• You’re going to feel alone because only you understand your path, even when logic doesn’t ride shotgun. 

  Yet understand, you will feel more lonely trying to fit in as someone you’re not than you will choosing your path and following it. 

• You’ll feel rejected at times. Don’t trade your authenticity or dreams for approval. 

My suggestion would be to learn how to deal with rejection while gaining your peace rather than striving to be accepted while selling out. 

So what is your path forward? 

That is only for you to decide. 

Stop looking for the answer outside and get friggin honest with what you know to be true for yourself. 

Learning your path forward requires more listening to yourself rather than trying to talk yourself into what would look good or look right.

When was the last time you lost track of time?

What feels like pure, unfiltered YOU?

What whispers are you refusing to hear?

You’re not likely going to get your answer today, tomorrow, next week and likely even next month. This takes some time. 

At the end of our time, we get to answer the question “did I live a life true to myself or that expected from others?”

Stop trying to have less fear, just work on having more courage. 

From the deepest part of me, I encourage you to ask yourself that question today and help it guide your decisions now rather than when it’s too late!  

Onward and upward! 

PODCAST

Simon Sinek Unfiltered: The Trap Leaders Must Avoid

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
by Bronnie Ware

LEADERSHIP IMPACT : Training Testimonials