Two days ago, January 31st – for the first time in my life I achieved a huge goal I had set out to accomplish.
I had dreamed of the moment since I was 12, I had suffered through seven years of self-destructive habits that ruined my chances of reaching my dream, but through all of that…through all of the misery, pain, anguish…and even more – despite of myself, the dream stayed alive and I seized it.
I actually seized the day.
It’s hard for me to begin to describe to you what this whole process meant to me, how incredibly difficult it became right at the end, and the feelings I am feeling now.
In my new book that comes out February 20th, I will get into it a little bit more, but for today, I want to roll with whatever comes up in my head as I’m sitting here writing away.
Pride. This deep sense of pride comes to mind. It’s pride without the slightest ounce of arrogance. It’s the type of pride that comes from battling away for years and finally coming out on top.
Despite being at my lowest at times, I can tell you that over these past handful of years, never once did I actually believe that it couldn’t happen. I didn’t once say that it wasn’t possible and that I could never reach my dream.
While furious amounts of opposition came to attack me at all times, especially during the last few days, I just kept my head down and tried to stay focused on making in through the next hour, day, and week.
Chains and shackles fell a few days ago.
I’m sure there are many out there who are struggling with things that are controlling them in their lives. In fact, I am sure of it.
If any of you are like me, those vices and bad habits stick harder than sap to your fingers. If you let them, they will completely take over your life and any progress you have made trying to make moves forward towards your dreams.
They will fight you in your mind, and once they win that battle they have also won the war. I’ve lost many many times on account of losing the mind game, but this time was different.
This time felt different from the beginning.
I had an incredible support system, new and amazing people were attracted into my life in the most positive of ways, and I finally began to believe in myself. That’s exactly where I want to head today with this.
Belief.
Without it, nothing will be seen through. With it, the world is full of possibilities. I truly do believe that the man I was before all of this happened had wonderful intentions and a fantastic vision on helping other people live powerful and impassioned lives – but he himself did not have that one thing that helped him truly see the power of his dreams.
That all changed the other day. The feeling that struck me when it all happened went down deep inside of my bones…and I will forever be a changed man because of it.
You don’t need to be perfect to start. It’s probably safe to say that most people who began their journey towards achieving excellence or greatness had massive issues to begin with. They were either at significant disadvantages because of their current situation or had some other obstacle to overcome.
In many of the speeches I listen to on a daily basis, there is always a story of great strife before the hero was able to see the light. That’s how it is for all of us. We are all set up with certain cards, and instead of sitting there staring at the crappy hand you were given, you have to be able to learn how to play the game.
You have to be able to have faith that something good will come along or that your talents will give you the ability to get to where you need to go – no matter what cards you have in your hand.
There are going to be some situations that will be incredibly hard to work your way out of and there will be situations for others that seem much easier.
But it’s not our job to compare out lives against others.
Everyone deals with different issues in their own ways and it’s our job to be accepting and empathetic instead of judgmental.
I will never look at someone in the gym who is overweight and judge them for being there. I can’t do it because I know what it’s like to struggle and I know that encouragement will take them miles beyond what either silence or discouragement could ever produce.
Your dreams are very possible. They are so possible you might not even be aware of it. Your potential is massive. You have the ability to achieve things you probably never could even imagine.
Once you go down the path of dreams, you will also find that you have the ability to go far far beyond what you even dreamed up in the first place.
But you have to be willing to walk down that path. It’s scary. It’s going to take everything for you to not give up and run back to safety.
But if you keep going, you will land on the shore one day after countless days in the open water and the satisfaction and pride you will have running through your veins will be something that is incredibly hard to replace.
Ride that momentum.
Don’t take too much time off.
Success is one of the best motivators and placeholders for future success.
Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project