Written by You agree with yourself to get out of the matrix (rat race) and become what you feel you are meant to be. This agreement becomes taxing. Mentally, you must balance your day-to-day life while still maintaining your dream. You are constantly stressing issues that are related to finances, home obligations, friendships, and relationships. Not to mention that self-care can easily be sacrificed.
Time management is another central duty that must be adhered to. There will not be many “hang out,” TV, or Netflix binges on the near horizon. At times you will feel like a hermit. It is one reason many choose to live within the status quo of life. Although that world is brutal also, it comes with some structure. It’s not as much of a DIY lifestyle as someone looking to get out of the rat race has. Also, there is the perception of a “guarantee” with that decision. The problem is that many will not see the life they dream of come to fruition.
It does happen for some, but that select few have made sacrifices along the way. Most people have bargained through life and settled for their piece of the pie, no matter how small. Hearing this statistic before, humans have a 10.2,685,000 (or 10 followed by 2,685,000 zeros) (Bowler, 2015) chance of being born. On your way to the egg, you, as a sperm cell, beat out over a million versions of yourself in the swim for life. Some of those versions could have done miraculous things if they made it into the egg. You may have outswam a version that could have helped cure cancer, solved world peace, or invented something to help progress humanity, but you were the version that got in.
My question is, now that you are here, what are your plans? I heard the late Dr. Myles Monroe say, “The wealthiest places in the world are not gold mines, oil fields, diamond mines, or banks. The wealthiest place is the cemetery. There lies companies that were never started, masterpieces that were never painted… In the cemetery, there is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential. There is a treasure within you that must come out. Don’t go to the grave with your treasure still within you.” I then heard Ray Lewis, the ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker turned motivational speaker, say in his hall of fame speech, “Listen, our gravestone has a date when you’re born and a date when you die, and they got a dash in between. And that dash defines what your life was.”
I add to that statement by asking, “How long do you plan your dash to be?” Do you want a Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, or Mother Teresa dash? One ripe with accomplishments before death, or would you be okay with a dash similar to many in the graveyard? A life of mere existence and not much accomplishment. I am not talking about personal achievements, like your children or the home you bought; I am referring to ones like the heroes you grew up admiring.
Many of those people are considered super-human, have great minds, or are just lucky. Not taking anything away from them, but many ordinary people do not consider the things these people have done. The fact that they were relentless in pursuing their goals, ultra-hard-working, and the many sacrifices they had to make to be considered by ordinary people as “superhuman” would make many people quit. Their work ethic, dedication to their craft, and talent separate them from others in their peer groups.
For example, Michael Jordan used to practice rigorously, and people wondered why he was so accurate with his shooting. Kobe Bryant used to practice up to an additional 3 hours after the team practice was over, and Beyonce practiced up to 11 hours a day to make her dancing/singing combination look effortless. The desire for greatness must be matched by the amount of work and the degrees of sacrifice made. Kobe was quoted as saying, “He denied himself his favorite snacks and fast food during the off-season,” These greats are examples of being “Uncommon amongst the uncommon,” as David Coggins puts it.
Desires and dreams are only elements of achievement. They must be backed up by grueling work, extreme focus, and discipline. No days off, no time to chill out, or hang out with friends. This must be the deal you make with yourself in this pursuit. The saying, “It’s lonely at the top,” holds, but it is full of rewards, also.
Balance is not afforded to those looking to achieve what many consider improbable. To overcome this, you will need to sacrifice many “wants.” Pursuing greatness also comes with a considerable possibility of failing; actually, it’s likely, but as Les Brown says, “You will fail your way to greatness.” This means that you must be OK with failing at something to achieve the status you desire ultimately. Constant practice, becoming comfortable with discomfort, and, as Will Smith said, “Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.” It is what you are in for when attempting to become free from the matrix.
Know that you can do it but realize what it takes. Being alone is a byproduct of the pursuit. Constant work, embracing mistakes, and getting out of your comfort zone are aspects you must sign up for and agree to. Earlier, it was stated that it is lonely at the top, but like Denzel Washington said, “To have what others won’t have, you have got to do what others won’t do.” It’s a trade-off of wanting to be yourself, which can also be the path to greatness and legend. In essence, it is the freedom to be you. Not the constraints that life has led you to believe you are supposed to be in.
You cannot cry for freedom while acting like a slave. Rigorously pursuing your goals gives you a chance to be the person you desire over staying married to the safety and security of the status quo. Know your worth. Understand what it will take to achieve and, most of all, believe you can do it.
BECAUSE IT IS WHAT YOU DESERVE.
Bibliography:
Monroe, M., Dr (n.d.). Dr. Myles Munroe Quotes about : #Treasure, #World, #You, #Cemetery,. Make Your Own Picture. https://www.allchristianquotes.org/quotes/Dr_Myles_Munroe/10030/
Hemsley, J. (2018, August 5). Read: Ray Lewis’ passionate Hall of Fame induction speech. https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/278725/read-ray-lewis-passionate-hall-of-fame-induction-speech
Coggins , D. (2018). Can’t Hurt Me (1st ed.). Lioncrest Publishing. https://doi.org/1544512287
[Youtube/Motivation Connection]. (2023, January 22). Fail Your Way to Success [Video]. YouTube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uj_0PJRf9U
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Uwumarogie, V. (2018, April 2). Beyoncé Only Gets 24 Hours In A Day, And She’s Spending 11 Of Them In Dance Rehearsals For Coachella. Madamenoire. https://madamenoire.com/1020030/beyonce-coachella-rehearsals/
Bowler, J. (2015, December 14). What Is The Likelihood That You Exist? Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/what-is-the-likelihood-that-you-exist