This week from My Life Sherpa : Ownership

I remember the late Senator John McCain sitting in my living room, just following my arrival back to the States.  Out of the kindness of his heart, he took the time to come over and share his strength and experience with me.  I looked like hell.  Have you ever looked at someone who was so injured that you could almost feel their pain?  That was me.  McCain looked at me and told me I looked like shit.  I told him, “so do you”, and our friendship was born.  Dark humor can sometimes be our best medicine.

His message that day was brutally honest, something refreshing to hear, coming from a politician:)  After sharing with me his incredible experience as a prisoner of war, he went on to make his point – that this was either going to break me, or make me…and that the road ahead of me was going to be no picnic.  He was right. 

Fortunately for me, resiliency and grit is at my core. I would “fall” again many times as I recovered, but I would always pick myself back up, and charge ahead. 

See, what I learned was, what dictates the quality of our lives is not what happens to us, but instead how we handle what happens to us.  My situation was not unique. Either is yours.  Many have come before you and overcame the same circumstances you are facing. You are not a victim. You are a flawed human being, just like everyone else.

Man’s greatest weakness is his inability to take ownership of his own domain.  Until we stop blaming our struggles on others, or on the injustices we have experienced, we will never go on to live the life we want…and more importantly, the life we are capable of living. If we want freedom, we must take responsibility for our own lives and move forward.  Ownership is the key to freedom and true happiness. Remembering the past is different than living in it.

The difference between adversity and opportunity… is our attitude.  We all are given adversities to grow and develop more as spiritual human beings. To build our mind and heart.  It seems lost in todays world, but true strength comes from the mind. Not the mouth.  If we spent as much time working on our mental fortitude as we do our physical, think how different things may be.  

You hear me say this often, but the way we see the world is how we will receive it. Overcoming our obstacles requires an attitude of gratitude.  We must be thankful just for the opportunity to overcome whatever it is that has been thrown at us.  If life has been easy so far, now is the time to prepare.  Stoicism is real.

The more “life” we experience, the more depth and enjoyment we can extract from our daily lives.  We develop wisdom and depth as a human beings.  We begin to see things differently. We grow.  We graduate to a new level of happiness that we previously didn’t even know existed. Our reality changes.

Whatever it is you are struggling with – your weight, insecurities, financial burdens, etc., you can overcome it. You can change your life completely any time you want. Really,  at any time you want. Don’t be a victim, become the person you want to be. Its your choice…and not anyone else’s. 

– matt 

Klarity Lifestyle Company

“Simple Living for Complex People”

For a free one hour Discovery session with Matt, to learn more about his speaking engagements or coaching, please reach out via our contact page.  A member of our team will be in touch shortly to schedule.  

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