Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his social insights and bi-weekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle.
Guest Author: Sahil Bloom
I recently came across a quote from the late Anthony Bourdain that hit me hard:
“There’s a guy in my head, and all he wants to do is lay in bed all day long, smoke pot, and watch old movies and cartoons. My life is a series of stratagems, to avoid, and outwit that guy.”
Let’s start with an important truth: We all have “that guy” somewhere in our head.
It may look a bit different from person to person, but the general archetype is universal:
It’s the voice that tells you the bed is warm and cozy.
It’s the voice that says not to take that step into the unknown.
It’s the voice that wants you to put off that hard conversation.
It’s the voice that declares you aren’t capable of that new thing.
It’s the voice that begs you to be realistic.
We’ve all felt the pull—the subtle force of that voice in our life.
It wants all the short-term pleasures and none of the friction, pain, or struggle.
It is loud—especially at the start, when you have no evidence to prove it wrong.
The harsh reality: You can never silence the voice, you simply learn to resist.
To resist that subtle force is to take control of your life.
To resist that subtle force is the ultimate act of service to your future self.
To resist that subtle force is the most meaningful fight of your life.
Another important truth: Everything meaningful in life is on the other side of hearing that voice loud and clear and acting in spite of it.
That won’t be fun—at least not in the traditional sense of the word—but everything worth wanting in life is on the other side of something painful to endure:
Want meaningful relationships? You’d better be willing to endure hundreds of difficult conversations.
Want a strong, fit body? You’d better be willing to endure hundreds of hard workouts and bland meals.
Want a calm mind? You’d better be willing to endure hundreds of hours of difficult stillness.
Want a powerful career? You’d better be willing to endure hundreds of hours of painful focused effort.
Want financial freedom? You’d better be willing to endure the pain of forgone material pleasures as you invest in your future.
Resisting that voice in your head—acting in spite of it—is never easy, but if you zoom out, it is always worth it.
Life is hard, but fortunately, you get to choose your hard.
It’s always going to be easier to let “that guy” in our head win.
But always remember: This is the fight of your life, and you are in control of the outcome.
Today, and all days, I hope that you outwit “that guy” in your head.
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