Sometimes it takes a healthy dose of tough love to snap people out of their sluggish existence. If you want to lead a successful life, you need to confront these seven harsh truths today.
1. The grave is where you will end your life, so it’s not like you have anything to lose.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ― Mark Twain
You are going to die. Sure, you can eat healthy and exercise to add years to your lifespan, but there is no escaping the inevitable fate of death. Since the grim reaper will find you no matter how hard you try to hide, don’t you think it’s time to do the ambitious things you have always dreamed of doing?
2. Nothing you care about matters, so you need to stop worrying about everything.
“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” ― Horace Walpole
You are obsessed with trivial things. Yes, it is a bummer to go through a nasty break-up or job-loss, but you’ve gotta confess such things are trivial when compared to the grim realities of poverty and violence that are every day occurrences in other countries. Since positive action trumps negative thoughts every time, don’t you think it’s time to get over it?
3. “Reality” is a safety net built by people who had the balls to do it, so you should break rules more often.
“I have certain rules I live by. My first rule: I don’t believe anything the government tells me. Nothing. Zero.” ― George Carlin
You are a sheep. I know, you’re afraid of getting criticized or upsetting people; but if no one is rattled by what you have to say, you are probably following a script that was determined by others. Since meaningful change is achieved by people who have the guts to march to the beat of their own drum, don’t you think it’s time to set the rule book on fire?
4. Agonizing over painful memories won’t get you anywhere, so you might as well deal with them.
“It’s so hard to forget pain, but it’s even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.” ― Chuck Palahniuk
You are a slave to your past. Yes, your life might include unfortunate events that are worth getting upset about, but these mishaps are meaningless when viewed through the context of your entire existence. Since your future happiness is determined by how you react in the present, don’t you think it’s time to forget about the past?
5. Being ordinary will get you nowhere, so you better get comfortable with taking risks.
“Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” ― Hunter S. Thompson
You are a weakling. Sure, it’s scary to stretch yourself beyond that bubble of comfort you have constructed for yourself, but the only way to accomplish audacious goals is through taking bold actions. Since bowing down to your fear of failure will cripple your progress before you start, don’t you think it’s time to take a risk?
6. Trying to impress people who don’t appreciate your true personality is stupid, so you need to knock it off.
“Happiness is when you feel good about yourself without feeling the need for anyone else’s approval.” ― Unknown
You are a people-pleaser. I know, life can get lonely without friends to hang out with, but a friendship built on lies isn’t a relationship worth having. Since you would be a lot happier if you focused on the true friends who appreciate you, don’t you think it’s time to stop giving a crap about the rest?
7. Doing scary things is the only way to achieve success, so it’s in your best interest to lean in to your fear.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” ― Marianne Williamson
You are spine-less. Sure, it’s difficult to overcome your feelings of unworthiness, but there is no way to achieve success without a firm belief in your ability to achieve. Since becoming fearless will create more opportunities than you could ever imagine, don’t you think it’s time to rip every ounce of self-consciousness out of you?
If your friends would be helped by these harsh truths, click the share button to pass along a healthy dose of tough love.
Featured photo credit: Moon rising: A Day After Supermoon/kaybee07 via flickr.com
