Everyone has the ability to be “the one” who beats the odds. And in fact, I see those people on a weekly basis. I will call these people the “outliers”. Yes, defying the odds. Week after week. What is their secret?
They start……
In a race, the sound of a gun triggers the racers to start moving. Ask anyone who has ever run a race and they will tell you….. it is instinctual – an almost unconscious reaction.
I find that most “outliers” are very similar. The alarm clock goes off and they just start.
However, for many people, this is not the case. The gun goes off and something prevents them from moving across that starting line. Fear, resentment, anger, bitterness, shame, guilt, envy….. We all have something that holds us back. Maybe it is the fear of failure. Or the guilt of not taking better care of yourself. It can also be a sense of bitterness and resentment towards the powers that be – that allowed this to happen.
Now, I want to be very clear. The feelings – in and of themself – are NOT the problem. In fact, you NEED to feel it if you ever want to heal it. But that is a topic for another day. The problem is when these feelings create resistance. If left unchecked, the metaphorical gun will send a different signal. A warning signal. A stop sign. Broadcasting…..warning ahead. Do not proceed.
For better or worse, you are in this situation. Shitty as it may be, it is here…….
But here is the thing, your life is NOT defined by your current circumstances. Nor, are your current circumstances a reflection of past mistakes. On the other hand, this moment – your current shitty circumstance – CAN be a defining moment pushing you toward the person you want to become.
Your life CAN be defined by perseverance, resilience, strength, hope, and optimism. You CAN be “that person”.
You see, these virtues are not things we are born with. And in fact, upon entering this earth, the odds are arguably stacked against us. But that’s it. That is what life is all about. It is about growing into the person you want to become. Letting go of the shame, guilt, fear and/or regret.
While at the same time, replacing it with:
Perseverance: “No matter how hard it may be, I WILL keep going”
Resilience: “I CAN pick myself back up again”
Strength: “I Can and I will”
Hope: “I will trust that good things will come”
Optimism: “I know that the future is going to be even better than my past”
The gun has been fired. Don’t stop and think, just move. Put one foot in front of the other. The race is long and the finish line is nowhere in sight. You trained your entire life for this. There were “good training days” and “bad training days”. And they all made you the person you are today. The one who can and will use this moment to leave a unique mark on this earth.