I don’t know about you but I’m going to live the most fulfilling life possible. If I were to die tomorrow, I promise I’ll have no regrets.
When I was in my 9-5 working as the design lead on the #1 sports game in the world, I woke up every single day since I was 19, excited to go to work while most people my age dreaded Mondays and only looked forward to weekends. When I quit my perfect, comfortable white-picket-fence life, I went on a sabbatical with the goal to find that same passion in the next season of my life.
I’m addicted to passion and I felt it with my entire soul. That’s what drives me to never settle for mediocrity because after experiencing true passion, you can never go back.
I’m not bragging but to show you it’s possible! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I hate it when people instill their limiting beliefs in you. Ever heard of the 4-minute mile?
You’re going to hate hearing this again but it begins with your mindset. The things you say to yourself. I like to use the power of mantras and affirmations because your subconscious is listening to everything you say, think, and do. It never shuts off.
12 Contrarian Philosophies For The Long Game
1. Embrace living life in seasons.
You can reinvent, rebrand, or pivot at any point in your life. Don’t listen to anyone who’ll tell you otherwise, especially those who don’t walk the talk instilling their own limiting beliefs onto you. Life is too short to stick to one thing forever, so don’t be afraid to change things up and explore new avenues.
2. When you truly begin to focus on yourself, you attract everything you need.
This includes the inner work (healing traumas), and outer work; taking care of your body with exercise, food, and space. This is one area you can’t take shortcuts, and you know you are when you’re not getting what you want.
3. Understanding how your brain works are the secret to happiness.
According to Dr. Daniel Amen, there is no such thing as mental illness but a chemical imbalance in your brain. He hates the term “mental health.” What if we re-imagined mental health as brain health— it’s much more tangible and besides, your brain needs to completely understand the problem before it can come up with solutions. Take care of your brain, and your mind will follow.
4. Your daily habits are more important than your end goal.
We often underestimate a day, yet overestimate a year. Soon, a year has passed and you achieved nothing! Hence the importance of being consistent with small actions and habits you perform daily, no matter how short or long that day. All that matters is that you did it because that maintains momentum. That’s difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is consistency.
5. Nothing lasts forever. The good and the bad.
Life is forever transient. Once you understand this and learn the importance of adapting, your life will be much easier because you’re mentally prepared for everything. Feelings and emotions are also temporary. Knowing they don’t last forever is an agile technique to quickly switch your mental state.
6. People come into your life for a reason or a season.
People enter your life to teach you a lesson. Some of them stick around for a while, and others flitter away as fast as they come in. Some will project their traumas onto you. Some deserve your attention. Most won’t. Understanding this will give you profound inner peace because we only have so much energy to give. There are 8 billion people in the world and most of them aren’t made for you so stop being a people-pleaser and help yourself, first.
7. Don’t forget to pause.
Life can be a rollercoaster, and sometimes, we get so caught up in the craziness of it all that we forget to slow down and enjoy the ride. Don’t let that happen to you. Waking up every day excited for a cup of coffee and ending the day ecstatic to curl up in a warm bed, also esctatic to begin the following day may sound insane to some, but it’s the little things in life that count, right? The sunrise and the sunset— and everything in between is an enigma to me. I’m not exaggerating but this is how I truly see life. Every-fucking-thing delights me.
8. Perfection is boring.
Perfection is boring. It’s true. We all have that nagging voice in our heads telling us we need to be perfect, but that’s a trap, friends. Embrace the imperfections, the quirks, and the flaws that make you unique. They’re what make you interesting and lovable. And let’s be honest, who wants to be boring?
9. Life will never be fair.
Life will never be fair. I know, it sucks, but it’s the truth. But hey, complaining and playing the victim won’t change that. So, instead of dwelling on the unfairness of life, focus on what you can control. Create your own happiness and be the master of your destiny.
10. There’s no growth without adversity.
There’s no growth without adversity. It’s the setbacks and challenges in life that shape us and help us grow. So, when life throws you a curveball, don’t run away from it. Embrace it, learn from it, and come out stronger on the other side.
11. If you’re the smartest person in the room, leave the room.
I mean, why stick around if you’re not learning anything new, right? Surround yourself with people who challenge you, who inspire you, and who make you a better person. And don’t be afraid to be the dumbest person in the room, either. That’s where the real learning happens. Of course, stay balanced by applying the Pareto Principal: 80/20 so keep around some friends on your level or below so you can give back and help them grow.
12. The comfort crisis is our biggest epidemic.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency and stick to what’s comfortable. But guess what? That won’t help you grow, my friend. So, push yourself out of your comfort zone, take on challenges, and build the mental resilience you need to tackle whatever life throws at you. Cold showers or a bike ride in the rain, anyone?
