It’s time to get tough with yourself

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

~ Steve Jobs

Hmmm…

I’ve been going back to this quote often over the past month. If I were honest with myself, could I say that I would have answered No many times over the past month. Don’t I dream of doing something else all the time? What am I doing tangibly every day to move that closer to realization?

Hmmm…

These are tough questions. Sometimes you have to get tough with yourself. Change is hard. But the alternative is harder. Unacceptable really: a life not truly lived.

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What is your legacy?

What are you building today to make a difference so that when you are gone you won’t truly be gone.  That what you did was important to someone or something and lives on.

Saying I don’t have a legacy is hard. What is your dream for your legacy? You know the one in the back of your mind or heart that you have never uttered aloud to anyone. Say it out loud so you can make a change.

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It’s time to give yourself a good talking to

Go stand in front of a mirror. Make sure you are alone. Bathrooms are great for this.

Now look in the mirror. Really look at yourself. Take a minute here. It will be uncomfortable. Change often is. Get used to it.

It’s time to get serious with yourself.

Start by telling yourself all about your dreams. Say it. Dream it.

Tell yourself your dream of your legacy.

Now make a promise to yourself: what you are going to do today or tomorrow to make it a reality. One thing.

Look yourself in the eye. Don’t look away. Straight in the eye. Make the promise.

Now go and do it!

When you’ve done it. Go back to the mirror and thank yourself.

Then make a new promise for the next day.

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