“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius.
In my mind, there are two things that fuel success and two things that determine failure – they’re the same two things, but the result simply comes from our reaction to the thing itself. The quote above by the great roman emperor Marcus Aurelius relates to the first major thing that can determine success or failure…
The Story Within.
By this, I simply mean the story we play in our minds. We all have a story that replays in our heads. Some of us, the dreamers, have stories of success and what we believe we can and will someday achieve. Others, most of us – including the dreamers, have a story of doubt, fear and/or judgments.
We have the dreams and success story too, but we doubt it. We fear what it will take to get there. We fear of failure and the judgments people will have on us whether we fail or if we succeed, because regardless they’ll judge us.
Just like Marcus Aurelius said, we have the power of our own minds – not anyone else.
So what does that mean? That means everything is truly about how we interpret the story we’re playing in our own head. Just as we can create a story of success and triumph in our head, we can create a story of failure and doubt.
I’d have you consider that most people who are extremely successful, simply told themselves they’d be successful on a daily basis until they became just that. Obviously there is a lot more too it, they hustled their assess off and learned their trade better than anyone else. But a strong mindset doesn’t happen from simply hustling and studying, it happens by creating the story that you deserve and that will create your personal success.
For some that may mean meditation, creating personal space, repeating mantras to themselves, reading self help books, journaling daily, or whatever else. But all these things are just other ways to empower our minds so we can have a stronger and bolder story to live out.
Now I’m not saying I’m a success coach nor am I claiming to be a rich business man, but I can tell you that I’m confidently getting there doing the things I love and am passionate about. And some things, cheesy things I might add, that I’ve stolen from powerful men and women that I have repeated on a daily basis since I was 18 years old have truly helped me get there. I remember staring at myself in the mirror every single morning, saying out loud “I will succeed. I will get ______. I will become ______.” while I looked myself in the eyes.
Looking back, that would be such a weird thing to walk in on… But the truth is, it got me fired up and it honestly made me not worry what anyone thought. If I could look at myself and say it, I could look at anyone else with confidence and say it too. And if you repeat something enough you start to believe it – whether it’s positive or negative. Which means if you let that story in your head repeat too often, you’ll believe that too.
The thing I’m trying to drive into your mind right now, is that everything starts within you. Not out there. Not with them. Not with a product. Not with a program or a book or a movie or a motivational YouTube video or a speech. With YOU.
Create your story, the way you actually want it to be and the way you deserve it to be. Things like meditation, reading books like “The Obstacle is The Way”, and using self-mantras are all great ways to start.
“The way to get started is to stop talking and begin doing”
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” –Walt Disney
So good, he deserves two quotes.
I told you there were two things I believed determined success and failure… To be honest, there’s a hell of a lot more that determines it. I just feel passionate enough about these two to say that they’re extremely important, they’ve pushed me more than anything else, and to write a blog post about them. The second one…
Regret Is Poison.
Watch this video below, it’s less then 2 minutes and will make you look at life a bit differently. I guarantee.
What he says is so powerful, because it’s the sad truth. Too many people grow old wishing they did more, wishing they took action on things, wishing they saw the people they loved more, wishing they traveled more, and essentially regretting too much.
We have this one unbelievably blessed chance to experience everything we possibly can. This one chance to do everything we truly want to do. This one chance to become someone we would be honored to look back on.
I always imagine that an author is going to take my life and write a book about it, no matter what. So whether my life is filled with joy, experience, and passion or my life is filled with the opposite and a lack of all that… It will be written and it will be read.
How do I want that book to be told? That drives me. Even though nobody is going to write it, it makes me think “What if”.
Strive to never say, “I wish I would’ve….”
Strive to regret less and reflect more.
Strive to fill your pages with memories worth telling and experiences worth sharing.
I woke up with a fire under my ass today and had to write it out, for you. Hope you consider this rant and it helps light a little fire under your ass as well – to live with power and passion, every single day.
