Category Archives: Attitude

STFU and Change Your Life!

18 June 2012

4 Comments

I’ll get straight to the point and leave the inspiring narratives for another day. Right now it’s time for a kick in the ass…

I often encounter people who feel victimized by life.

According to them, there’s no justice. If you listen long enough, you’d think the world exists for the sole purpose of making their lives hell. Yet, they seem content to just bitch about it instead of doing anything to fix the problem.

If you’re one of these people, you can’t do nothing and expect things to change. Feeling sorry for yourself, walking away from your problems, and complaining all do nothing to improve your situation. Instead of bitching and moaning about how terrible your life is, do something about it!

If you feel like you’re not living up to your potential, figure out why. Find what’s holding you back, create a plan to overcome that roadblock in your life, follow through with that plan and move forward. If someone’s treating you like shit, stand up for yourself. Tell them to stop. If that doesn’t work, maybe you don’t need that person in your life. If you’re not earning enough money to pay the bills, find a different job and/or stop wasting your money on things you don’t need. Are you bored with your life? Do something … here’s a huge list of ideas for you!

Improving your life isn’t difficult. You just have to quit bitching and start doing. With enough hard work and determination, you can have the life you want.

Go!

Who’s in Control of Your Life?

1 June 2012

Leave a comment

There are two types of people in the world: those who believe they’re in control of their lives, and those who think what happens to them is the result of fate or destiny. I’m a firm believer that people have complete control over their lives, and that we’re all responsible for the lives we’re living today. The decisions you made yesterday got you to where you are now, and the decisions you make today will determine where your life is tomorrow.

If you’re not happy with your life, change it.

Does your relationship suck? Fix it. If you can’t fix it, leave. Hate your job? Quit. Do work you value. Broke? Quit spending money and pay off your debts. Want to travel the world? Buy a plane ticket. Sick of being fat? Exercise.

If you feel like you’ve lost control of your life, what can you do to get it back?

Start taking responsibility for your life. You can’t change the past, but you can change tomorrow with the choices you make today. Keep doing what you’ve been doing, and nothing will change. You have to leave your comfort zone if you ever expect things to change.

Ignore the expectations of others. It’s your life, live it how you want. Ignore the pressures to conform, and stop letting other people dictate the direction of your life. When you breathe your last breath, will you be proud of what you’ve done, or will you wish you’d have followed your heart?

Be (a little) selfish. Stop trying to make other people happy. If you’re always concerned with how other people feel, you’re ignoring your own desires. It’s important to make your feelings known. But it’s just as important to know when to compromise…you don’t want to be a douche. Be pragmatic.

You’re in control. Now do something about it!

Don’t be Such a Chickenshit

14 May 2012

1 Comment

Sound familiar?

“I can’t do that because I can’t afford it.”

Or, “I’ve got bills to pay.”

And, “I need a place to live…and food to eat. Those things aren’t free!”

Oh, the excuses we make. The truth is, these aren’t the things that are holding you back.

Not really.

Making excuses is just our way of protecting ourselves from the unfamiliar. The reason your life isn’t how you want it to be has nothing to do with any of the excuses you’ve been telling yourself about why it’s not. The reason you aren’t doing what you want with your life is because you’re afraid. And as long as you have a reason why you can’t do something, there’s no need to face your fears.

You’re a chickenshit.

It’s scary to take risks. What if you fail? What will you do if you try something and it doesn’t work out?

Doing what you want, as opposed to what you’ve been told (either directly or indirectly), is difficult. It’s scary. People will think you’re crazy, and they’ll do everything they can to “bring you back to your senses.” They’ll tell you to be “practical.” Do you want to be perfectly ordinary like those people who want to bring you back to “reality?” I didn’t think so. To hell with those people! Surround yourself with people who lift you up, and who will support you and your dreams.

Whatever the excuse you’ve been using to keep yourself from living the life you desire, defeat it. Overcome the obstacles you’ve created in your life, and start plotting, planning, and scheming…always be looking for ways to accomplish your goals. The world is a beautiful and magical place, not dangerous and scary like the TV wants you to believe. Sure, bad shit happens. But I’ve noticed that when I turn the TV off, a lot of good shit happens.

Step out of your comfort zone. Get dirty. Look like a fool. Make mistakes.

A while ago I was struggling with my decision to join the Peace Corps. I was trying to rationalize why it’d be best for me to stay. What I should’ve said was, “Hey everyone! I’m afraid! Terrified, actually…” because that’s exactly what it was all about. I’ve wanted to join the Peace Corps for years, but that means my life, my happy little (read: comfortable) life, is going to be flipped upside down, and nothing will ever be the same. That’s pretty fucking scary.

But life’s not always going to be easy, and at times things are going to be scary. If I’m not able to confront those fears and destroy them, I’m going to end up mediocre…extraordinarily ordinary. That’s not what I want with my life. I wouldn’t be happy shuffling papers all day for a paycheck. That’s not who I am, and I don’t think that’s who most people are.

I believe most people, if they felt like they had the option, would chase after their dreams. But we’re locked into our lives, and feel like there’s no escape. And it doesn’t help that society does everything in its power to keep people in their place. There’s a certain protocol that we must follow. And if we don’t, all hell will break loose.

Or so we think.

If you’re looking for a way out, the key to the cage is inside of you. You’re the one who built the cage. Anything that’s holding you back is within your power to change.

Change it.