The clock is always ticking as everyone knows, and it’s what you do with that time that matters.
Today, I want to share a lesson I learned when I was about eight to ten years old. The lesson is that if you do not seize control today, you will die tomorrow.
Pretty harsh of course, but it makes sense when we look at the details.
Surely, you have a goal; to lose weight, to get fit, to stop drinking, to stop smoking, to save extra money, etc… A goal, any goal, is worthwhile to have, but if you do not take action then there is no point in even having it. Thus, you must seize control of your actions today or risk death of yourself tomorrow.
The death of yourself, is that that of your character. An important aspect of life to recognize, because you are born with two things: a name and a character. It’s what you do with both that matter.
When you do not commit yourself to yourself and to your goals, slowly, but surely you assassinate your character. No longer garnering the strength to say, “yes I can” or “I will”. The lack of commitment bleeds from your control the character you know you can have. It’s an insipid thing, to shirk the accountability of you to yourself. It leads to your destruction. You will find yourself in dark places, asking how I got here and where I went wrong.
Thus it is important to seize control today. Knowing that you control you, at all times, in all things.
This phrase, “Seizing Control Today is Life and Death Tomorrow” comes from a children’s cartoon, Avatar the Last Airbender, and it is delivered by a princess that is plotting a coup of a great rival kingdom. Though succinct, the phrase resonated with me for a long time, and lead to me ask a lot of questions about me and where I was going.
If I do not work towards my goal today then when? What will I give up if I stop now? What happens if I even try? What do I do if I am not good enough?
I would say that mostly these questions plague everyone from time to time. Perhaps it is those that can say no to the inner voice that asks them to do more, are the strongest of us. Though my doubts run high, and I would offer that it is those that can say, “yes I can” the most often to themselves find the most success.
Regardless, you, like every other human have the same hours in a day. It is those that seize control of themselves that find all they are looking for.
Thanks for reading.
-Kyle
Note: The TV Show (Amazon link) Avatar: The Last Airbender is a work of art that can and should be enjoyed by everyone. It teaches many valuable life lessons from the perspective of Eastern philosophies, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Daoism. A sequel was created too: The Legend of Korra which is another tremendous work of art.