The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little, not in our living above our ability but rather in our living below our capabilities.” Benjamin E. Mays
Always live your life with a level of discomfort. When we feel satisfied with our life we are complacent. We stop pushing ourselves; we give up and fall short of our dreams. If you want to live a life of regret go ahead. Live in your comfort zone. If you want to live a life of fulfillment and success, keep reading. Success, just like happiness, does not just happen. It’s earned. If you really want it you have to fight tooth and nail for it. It takes conscious effort and a focused mindset to attain both. Jeremy Young, CEO of Tanga says, “Success, for me, has always been in providing a great quality of life for my family, for those who work for me, and to my community.” Other notable CEOs shared their views of success in a recent Inc.com article. Your definition might be surprisingly similar. What’s important here is to make sure that your definition rings true to your inner desire and inspires you to greatness. Now here’s the hard part― working towards your goals. Success will not be automatic and failure is inevitable. But how do you maintain your focus and drive without giving up on what truly matters? Here’s the honest answer: pure grit. There are several lotions and potions out there trying to convince you otherwise, but the reality is nothing, not even technology, will ever replace hard work. I know it’s tough. But as Robin Sharma says, “Why hide your talent in the closet of complacency when you have greatness within you?” You have to be willing to fail not just once, not twice but as long as it takes until you reach your goal. Throughout the process you will gain invaluable insight about your strengths and experience tremendous growth.
Remember that guy who gave up? Neither does anyone else.” Unknown
Here are some hard truths that you will face when stepping out of your comfort zone:
- It’s not going to be pretty. At times you will feel overwhelmed and exhausted. And at first, things won’t work out as you planned. Refocus and start again. It takes a lot of energy to get that pendulum swinging.
- It’s going to be pee in your pants scary. Butterflies will be flying in your stomach regularly sometimes you’ll swear they’re bats. Breathe deeply and learn how to keep calm in stressful situations.
- You’ll have to learn to say no. You probably won’t win the popularity contest among your friends because you’ll be saying no quite often. Prioritize what is important to you. Keep on your game and resist feelings of guilt.
- You will change and some people won’t like it. Let’s face it, people hate change and when they see you changing they might not be so supportive or complimentary. Distance yourself from them and any other distractions. You don’t need it.
- Get rid of timers, they’re only good for making eggs. There isn’t a specific time things are going to happen. They just do. So be patient and enjoy the journey.
Embrace the pain, but remember:
- Set clear, actionable goals
- Stay focused
- Never give up
Because life is tough. Focus on being tougher.
Mishka Alarcon 