Motivational Monday - Finding Your Inner Courage

One of the most frequently asked questions by my father was "Can you change it?" If the answer was yes, his response would be "So change it!" If the answer was no, his response was "So why are you wasting your time worrying about it?" 

Growing up we learn a lot from our parents. How to tie our shoes, how to drive a car, how to pay our bills. And all of those things stick with us, for us to pass on to our children. But what about all of the advice they give us? Do we remember it all? No. But the most life changing advice is what does stick with us. It didn't happen over night, and I'm still learning how to let go of the things I can't change or control, but I'm getting better. Now this isn't to say that my dad has perfected his own advice either. He was always a man of "Do as I say, not as I do." But I believe it's something that we will all struggle with during our lives. 

One of the best things I can say though is to take each situation as it happens and deal with it. Analyze each situation and decided whether or not it's an opportunity or if it's a loss. If there's something you can do about it, then take the opportunity to change it. If you can't change it, call it a loss and move on. Life will keep moving forward whether or not you decide to move forward too. So you might as well keep up with life. There's no reason to dwell on things we can't change. 

My dad used to tell me, and still does today, "The only person stoping you, is you." Also another very powerful life lesson. I learned that I can change myself, my situation, and my life. But I can't change others. I can exercise and eat healthy to lose weight. I can work harder to make more money. I can go to grad school to better my education. But I can't make John Doe do anything he doesn't want to do. 

All you can do in your life is love yourself and love others. Change your life and hope others come along for the ride. They say that you are most like the 5 people you are consistently around. Have shady friends? Well you might be a little shady to. To be successful in life and become the person you know in your heart that you are, you have to surround yourself with like minded people. This is an excellent example of being about to change your situation. 

Your life is yours and you only get one shot at it. Grab life by the horns and go forward at full speed. It's your life, it's about damn time you start living it.