If you hate it, then do something
The most powerful mindset shift of all
Photo: Saints Cyril, Methodius and Gorazd at Bratislava Castle, Slovakia, 2023.
What I'm about to say is a fact.
But even if it isn't, even if you don't think it's true, pretend that it is.
This belief doesn't have to be true for it to be useful.
Consider yourself extremely lucky. There are millions, if not a billion people or more, who would do anything to trade places with you. Their prayers would be answered.
Former versions of yourself would do the same. A younger you would love to be in the position you're in now. A bit older, wiser, healthier, with more life experience and money.
We often fail to realize how great we have it when we're in the thick of it. If the good times are wasted on you, then you'll never be content.
Love where you're at. Find this head space. Want only what you have now. Don't tell yourself the lie that you don't have it made right now.
That doesn't mean to stop striving for a better life or to stop chasing your goals. You can be grateful for where you are now while simultaneously pursuing what you want next.
Don't miss the beauty that's right in front of you. Be able to jump back into a space of gratitude when you have moments of doubt in your current state.
This is a part of being human. We will always find stuff to complain about. Use this reminder to pull yourself out of a scarcity mindset and back into an abundance mindset.
Realize that you've won the lottery.
Roof over your head, warmth when it's cold, cooling when it's hot.
Access to drinking water, an abundance of food in every direction.
You can speak English. This greatly increases your income-earning potential. You have internet access, a smart phone, a laptop. Which means access to instant education. The world's wisdom at your fingertips, literally always.
People in your life that care about you and love you.
Work that pays you well enough to survive, or even thrive.
Safe streets and neighborhoods.
In our current age of rampant entitlement, stand apart from the crowd by being the person who is grateful and takes responsibility.
Shift your focus away from how unfair the world is, how much suffering exists, how awful people can be. Unfortunately, this is how it is. It's been like this forever, and it will likely always be like this, despite humanity's endless efforts to change it.
We can keep trying to improve it, and we should.
So, shift your focus toward how you can make change. What are your unique skills that you can use to be useful to your own little slice of the world?
You can apply this way of thinking to yourself too. You know what you donβt like about the world, but what do you not like about yourself? Do you want to change that?
If you hate it so much, then do something about it.
We can help ourselves by operating from the starting line of gratitude and optimism every day.
Because the alternative sucks.
The negative mindset of "This is what I hate, and I deserve better."
It makes your life harder, with no benefit to you.
Pick up your tools, and use them to make an impact.
Or stop complaining.
I recommend both!