I'll Tell You Who You Are
Today’s Idea:
You are not who you think you are. You are not who you want to be. You are what you do.
Why it matters:
We think changes are hard. And they indeed are. But they are also simple. If we consciously decide what to do and what to avoid, we do it consistently enough, we will become different people. If you understand this principle and focus on shaping your actions, instead of just your feelings, knowledge, and logic, you can change yourself rather quickly.
The story:
Are you frustrated with your situation and surroundings? Maybe your boss and coworkers are selfish jerks who annoy the bejeezus out of you. Maybe your parents are control freaks. Perhaps your spouse doesn’t give you enough affirmation. Or maybe your kids act like little demons who might have been reincarnated from people you murdered in previous lives.
And if there is a magic wand that you can wave, you would do it to turn them into better versions, ones who give out free hugs and ice cream sandwiches when you need them, but will leave you alone when you don’t. You would do it. Right?
Well, the reality is, we have very little impact on other people, especially positive ones. We can encourage, tolerate, cajole, scold, nag, mock, ignore, manipulate, and be passive-aggressive, but the results are usually not good. People are who they are, and they spend their entire life becoming the person they are today. You think you can change them?
But, there is one person you can change - yourself. You can become who you want others to be. And it’s pretty simple and straightforward (notice I didn’t say “easy”).
How do you change yourself?
Take actions. Repeatedly.
Vince Lombardi (legendary American football coach) once said - watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.
Since starting the Sisyphi Camps, I changed some of my toughest habits. I became an Early Riser, Focused Creator, Insatiable Learner, and Daily Achiever, and I’ve reduced my habit of yelling at my kids significantly.
Want proof? Well, my spreadsheet tracked all the work I’ve put into it. It is as objective as it gets.
Now, are these daily actions natural to me? Have I permanently reshaped my characters? And if I quit Sisyphi, will I still naturally get up by 6 AM, and spend time creating every day?
I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t care. Neither should you!
You are not who you think you are. You are not who you want to be. You are what you do.
An Early Riser is someone who gets up early, natural or enhanced. So if you continue to get up by 6, you are an Early Riser, period. And if you need Sisyphi as a tool for the rest of your life to keep up the habit, so be it. It would be an amazing tradeoff.
