What's your name?
I want you to repeat it.
My name is.
.
.
This is the interaction that we will have,
The one-on-one.
Recall the feeling of when you went past the expectations of what you thought we could do and shocked yourself,
And you felt that surge of newness.
You realized,
If I can do that,
What else can I do?
And that's exactly right.
This is the contrary to predictable,
Nagging thoughts.
Parts of our lives we can't move past that sit like an albatross around our necks.
It's old,
Dank,
And condescending,
Losing.
Because its only objective is to belittle you and make you tiny and even tinier.
So we combat that with surprise.
We prove it wrong.
Like that person we know who almost never shows up for us,
And one day who almost never shows up for us,
And one day who almost never shows up for us,
In a time we need it most.
Let's do that for ourselves.
Let's do that now.
Let's start mapping things on a list.
Task manager,
Calendar,
Post-it note,
Whatever.
Just put it in front of your face.
The same way annoying thoughts are in your mind all the time.
Fight fire with fire.
We will win this tug of war.
Surprise yourself.
Liberate.
Face a fear.
Fears are great.
I love them.
They tell me to rise up.
They tell me I've got work to do.
They tell me I've got victory waiting on the other side.
They tell me they want me to win.
Team fear works for me,
Not the other way around.
Surprise.
You are much more than you thought you were.
Use that Navy Seal 40% rule that says when you're wiped out,
You are still only at 40%.
Sign up for that public speaking class.
Meet up with that relative you have been ignoring forever,
Due to some incident that left you hurt.
Or at least write that email that you will make that call.
See what's on the other side.
Then you walk.
Then you can say,
I've done all I can.
Leave it all out there.
Most things we don't do,
Not because we don't have the interest,
But because we're scared to do them.
If you weren't interested,
You just wouldn't be thinking about it.
If you are thinking about it,
Then there is quite possibly a bridge you have yet to cross.
The mind reminds us of many things.
Surprise yourself.
Start something new and finish it.
Small wins are immensely better than great starts with no middle or end.
It is the G-Force that we carry is what amazes us.
Yes,
Accomplishing a marathon is epic.
Putting all you have into a relationship is commendable.
But ultimately,
It is the energy you are using that is filling you with pleasure.
You are not dormant.
You are actively spewing hot molten marble.
It's how a volcano is so mesmerizing.
Yet what is it doing?
It is active.
It is alive.
Shocking.
The epitome of heightened precious energy made manifest.
That rock.
That ash.
Used for harvest.
Exfoliates.
Disinfects blood.
Remineralizes.
Be surprised at the many benefits your fortitude,
Focus,
And finished tasks will hold for you.
Wear that name with pride.
With dignity.
Everything you do is elective.
Remember,
Everything you do is elective.
Even under threat,
Duress,
Blackmail,
Fear,
Hope,
Exchange,
Gratification,
Money,
Survival.
You choose to do these things.
Recognize your power of autonomy.
So with that power and capacity,
Do the unthinkable.
Prove someone wrong.
Prove yourself right.
Do whatever it takes to be a Titan.
A Titanaut.
In your world.
That's all that matters.
As long as you do it in your world.
No one is going to question that.
You know your personal truth.
So keep inching closer to it.
I guarantee you,
At the heart of it,
You will have to do things that will stun you.
To know that you have pulled off.
And if they don't,
Then think bigger.
Even if deep down you know you have the potential,
Visualizing and doing may be related,
But different ballgames entirely.
Take the steps to get there.
The road may be long and winding,
And it will be that much sweeter.
When you plan that trailblazing,
Hot new memory,
To push some of those old ragged ones out of the way.
Surprise yourself today.
Now.
Not tomorrow.
Not in an hour.
But right now.
And then continue to do this often.
Daily.
Integrate this as the way going forward.
It will become autopilot in no time.
Surprise yourself.
Surprise yourself.
