It took me a long time to realize the importance of quality over quantity. Maybe it’s the society we live in where typically more is better and getting free stuff is an attractive offer. It’s easy to get caught up in going for the cheapest thing on the table because it’s typically the most accessible thing to get. Thing is, this doesn’t challenge you. I am a firm believer in the fact that there are things, people, and goals that can only be reached when you grow into them. You aren’t ready yet. The day that you can look yourself in the face and tell yourself that you aren’t yet built to tackle something is a very grounding, honest, and yet above all is…inspiring day

I think most people are disappointed in life not because they aim to high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit.

You have to be willing to make sacrifices for your own greater good.

You have to be willing to put your name on the board, but a goal with it, and give it everything you have.

And here’s the kicker, you have to be willing to elevate yourself at least 1% each and every day in order to turn yourself into something amazing.

I tell this story all the time when people ask me about the project and where it came from. I tell the story about how I sat down at my desk a miserable, lost, completely unmotivated, horrible writer and decided that I was going to turn it around. I found motivation through dumping feelings out and finding my potential. I became a decent writer by doing it every single day. I found happiness in my search to become a better man.

I’ve been pondering over the past few months with an idea that has really sparked my interest. It’s been primarily centered around my own project and what has given me the most joy. What I came to was this.

I didn’t search for happiness. I didn’t try to be happy. I didn’t partake in the typical “just be happy” nonsense. I improved on myself, did the things that I knew would make me happy, and when it was right I let happiness find me.

There’s so much out there about being happy… but I think anything, especially when it’s involved around an emotion, when tried at too hard can actually turn out to be a disaster or completely inauthentic. I think, in the long run, making incremental improvements on yourself and letting happiness find you because you are being the best version of yourself that you can possibly be will deliver you greater joy in the long run.

The foundation of your greatest self is going to be built upon sacrifice. Are you willing to do the things today that others don’t do? Are you willing to do the things that you know you are capable of but are really hard? It’s hard to look yourself in the face sometimes and say “I am going to compete with my potential today.”

What sacrifices are you going to make?

Oh, and make sure you don’t lose a diamond while chasing glitter. 

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project