Ninety-nine percent of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre.
The level of competition is thus fiercest for “realistic” goals, paradoxically making them the most time- and energy-consuming.
If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too.
Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.
Unreasonable and unrealistic goals are easier to achieve for yet another reason.
Having an unusually large goal is an adrenaline infusion that provides the endurance to overcome the inevitable trials and tribulations that go along with any goal. Realistic goals, goals restricted to the average ambition level, are uninspiring and will only fuel you through the first or second problem, at which point you throw in the towel.
If the potential payoff is mediocre or average, so is your effort.
The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits.
There is just less competition for bigger goals.
On top of functional health coaching, I’m thoroughly enjoying the work I do as a blood donation specialist.
I meet 20-40 new people every day, having 5-20 minute conversations with people who are donating blood of their own volition, with the sole intent of saving someone’s life.
I review their health history with them in private, perform a donor health assessment, and then collect a pint of their blood.
Nobody is forcing them to do this.
These are genuinely good-natured people.
Some people do fear needles (and we use some of the largest needles), making grace and empathy direct requirements, which is fantastic for better attuning myself to the spiritual life and developing spiritual discipline in heart and mind.
Ironically, after going from 0 needle sticks to over 100 in completely different people, my “gift and curse” with phlebotomy is that I’m “too gentle”.
I’ve been complimented incredibly often by donors on how they couldn’t even feel the needle penetration, and then almost every time there isn’t an initial flow, the reason is because I didn’t insert the needle deep enough on the first go.
An easy fix.
Developing the skill of phlebotomy at this level in just a few months, building real connections, and getting a deep, hands-on understanding of the biomedical services division, have all greatly boosted my confidence, competence, and appreciation for the type of work that goes on behind the scenes and saves lives.
Overall, this has been a fantastic experience.
(Views are my own and explicit permission was obtained for posting the photos with donors)
There is a certain type of person everywhere now, especially online.
He consumes endless information every day: philosophy, psychology, productivity, spirituality, neuroscience, business, self-improvement, history.
He knows a little about everything and deeply experiences almost nothing.
His entire identity becomes built around understanding instead of living.
He watches videos about confidence instead of speaking confidently. Reads about discipline instead of becoming disciplined. Studies relationships instead of learning how to love. Consumes motivational content instead of taking action.
He feels intelligent because he is constantly mentally stimulated. But stimulation is not transformation.
Most of the time, knowledge becomes emotional protection. Reality is unpredictable. Reality humiliates. Reality exposes weakness. Books and ideas do not.
Inside information, he can continue imagining himself as intelligent, deep, insightful, different from ordinary people. So he remains trapped in preparation.
He constantly feels as if he is "becoming" someone, while his real life remains strangely untouched. He develops sophisticated language for problems he never confronts directly. He can explain human behavior beautifully while being unable to handle ordinary discomfort, rejection, uncertainty, loneliness, or risk.
He slowly turns life into observation instead of participation.
The internet rewards this personality heavily. He receives validation for sounding aware rather than becoming capable.
Eventually, he begins confusing self-analysis with growth and information with wisdom.
But beneath the intelligence usually exists the same thing: fear. Fear of failure. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of reality answering back.
Because action destroys fantasy. The moment he truly acts, he can no longer hide inside potential.
A SINGLE DOSE of ibuprofen opens holes in your gut lining WITHIN 24 HOURS.
The FDA’s own label warns of bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the intestines. Even with short-term use.
Every ibuprofen you popped for a headache or a sore back — each one opened that barrier a little more and it never fully closed.
You’ve probably taken hundreds.
I vet potential friends on many factors and one is how well they’d mesh with my other friends.
The goal is a Mastermind of great people who get along with each other incredibly well and are better together than they are apart.
All my friends must be capable of being friends with each other, and if a newcomer is on a completely different level, all my friends must now level up (and they understand this).
Those who get it, understand that this is one of most enjoyable and growth-oriented bubbles to be in. We all grow together and have a collection of struggles and wins to look back upon.
20+ year friendships going strong.