Fear and Ego

We're officially a week to the finish line. The last week before Christmas is when the chaos reaches its peak before it sets into quiet. It's almost past the delivery timelines of all major couriers, some trending toys are probably already out of stock, those extra Christmas cards you realized you needed just won't make it in time now.

The race will be done and we're left to accept it is what it is. We'll do better next year. The first signs of New Year resolutions. A list of wants, of magical transformations, of renewed hope that "this is it" the coming year.

But how many years have gone by with the same resolutions creeping back into your list? Maybe instead of filling another page with changes, we just focus on these seemingly recurring, unresolved items in our annual life wish lists. Not just jot them down, but chip away as to why they don't seem to manifest.

This might be a long shot to encapsulate them so simply, but I think the "why" falls into two categories: fear and ego. They might seem like two separate ideas but they do come together more often than you think, especially when it comes to tackling life-changing decisions.

Take a look at the things that seem to show up on your list of resolutions year after year. What made you not stick to the plan, at least long enough to get some traction?

That dream body, that dream client, that dream figure in your bank account, name it. Then honestly answer this: Is it because you've tried multiple times before, and failed? Maybe thinking what makes this time any different?

Is it possible that deep down, you're scared to try again and be met with the same familiar failure? I mean, what would others say? And what they do have to say - how do you think that would affect your ego?

So you, subconsciously, self-sabotage the effort, raise the white flag a little too prematurely, and don't even give it an honest-to-goodness effort. As if you already know what the result is going to be. A classic self-fulfilling prophecy.

I think the key is taking the first crucial step of not giving a crap. About how many times you've failed at it. At what others have to say. At how long it might take. At how painful the road might be.

You're going to put your head down. Quietly but steadily show up and do the work. Over. And over. And over again. Despite how stupid you feel not seeing any results, how painful every part of your body feels, how mentally drained you might get, how pointless the whole thing might seem.

YOU. SHOW UP.

EVERY. FREAKING. DAY.

AND DO IT.

No social media posts about it. No endless yapping about it to your friends. No complaining to your spouse. No matter how it hurts. No matter if there's not even a semblance of a flicker of light in sight.

Because I promise you. If you don't bullshit the process. If you don't bullshit yourself...a light will emerge. Faint at first, but it will shine brighter and brighter the longer you stick to it. It won't be a matter of weeks. We're talking months, likely at least half a year, before you notice anything substantial.

But if you show up, not giving a crap about any of the noise and simply do what you promised yourself you'd do, you'd come out before the end of next year finally and officially crossing that off your list of resolutions.

So, what will it be?