He walks through life pretending he’s safe because he wears armour; but he doesn’t feel it.
He’s spent a lifetime polishing the armour and enveloping himself in an impenetrable wall of defence.
Yet he’s afraid of everything.
He doesn’t know this armour not only keeps people out, but keeps the rancor in.
Only when he looks inward and confronts the demons does he start to feel safe.
It’s then that he learns true power comes not from the strength of his armour against the world, but in being able to take it off and live fully, baring his chest and heart, knowing he’s safe because the threat was within all along.
Let down your defences gentlemen. Let the rancor out.
Afraid to Wake Up.
It always rattles me a little bit when I think back on my life and wonder how I would have been so asleep for nearly 35 years.
Maybe that’s a little harsh because I don’t think we’re supposed to be switched on until maybe 10 or so…so let’s set the number at 25 years…or all of my (young) adult life.
The scary thing is that I wasn’t a total waste..not even close. I wasn’t the person who lived in the basement smoking pot and playing video games all day.
I was pretty active, did well in school, played on a bunch of sports teams, had friends, went to college and university (even finished near the top of my class in both), got the job and then got the promotions. I met the girl, bought the dog, had the kids…
…I was going through the motions. I was doing them well, but they were motions nonetheless.
But if you’ve followed me for any amount of time you’ll know my real journey started when I woke up. When I realized that I was unhappy not because I’d done anything “wrong” but that I just hadn’t even been aware of the fact that we have a purpose on this earth.
We have so much potential.
Potential for greatness.
Potential for legacy.
Potential for happiness.
Potential for peace.
Potential for fulfillment.
And it’s scary as hell.
I think a very small number of people begin to realize their true potential, and even fewer have the courage to step into that reality. It’s warmer and “safer” in bed, with our eyes closed, refusing to face the reality of the day.
Whether this is you – figuratively or literally (or both) – its important that you also realize how okay that is; how normal it is to be scared by this journey.
Because it is!!
Recognizing your potential necessarily means you need to see how far you are from living up to it. It requires that you look at yourself and see where you need to work. It means you need to challenge the overwhelming majority of the “truths” you have held to be true for your whole life.
Don’t be scared by this realization. Embrace it as the necessary courageous first step on a great journey.
For whatever reason, we just don’t teach this to our kids, so nearly all of us grow up into this routine that is safe, and easy, and boring….and it crushes us. All of us, in some way, are crushed by it.
When the reality sets in that we’ve been wandering about through life just going through the motions, moving further and further away from our true purpose in life, we get more and more miserable.
Only the fortunate few realize why this is and have the courage to do something about it in time to salvage a life that has yet to be lived. No matter how old you are, 20 or 90 or anywhere in between, you’ll no doubt do the math on how much time was wasted.
Stop it. It adds nothing.
One of my favourite quotes whose origin is unknown to me goes as follows: There are two perfect times to plant a tree. Ten years ago, or right now.
So start living and wake up, with the full knowledge that it will be hard and scary and that you’ll want to crawl back into your bed and escape the work. That is, until you don’t.
Heck, even Marcus Aurelius, widely believed to be one of the finest Emperors of Rome and a marvellous philosopher had to will himself out of bed.
At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Now, while Marcus may have been speaking literally, this same statement holds true about choosing to wake up and take charge of your life.
Whatever you’re facing. Whatever you’re afraid of. Whatever is holding you back. You’ve got this.
I still get scared by the magnitude of potential greatness and happiness every day. It’s weird to say, but I do.
And you will to.
The best news of all, is that you don’t have to go on this journey alone.
Book some time with me so we can chat and I can share my story with you, and you can tell me yours. I’d love to hear it.