When was the last time you were really honest with yourself? If you are like me, not that often. We tend to hide to truth of things to ourselves, because with ourselves we cannot hide. Your mind knows exactly how you think, and you will know BS when you hear it. When I first started running, I looked at myself in the mirror and had a little truthful dialog. Did not like what I saw, and beyond the physical, I did not like my attitude.
So I had a little chat. I was brutally honest. I needed to hear it. This is why I changed my mindset. Of course, I have had many times where I have withdrawn back to the comfortable slacker side of myself, but for the most part I have maintained this truth fullness. This is self accountability. The 365 commitment formula that I have been following requires that every night before I go to bed, I have review on how I did. Am I really achieving what I set out to do? Am I doing the right things or am I taking the easy path. Every night I have had this moment of truth about the day. Many nights, I have completely failed. However, there are a few days, often enough, where I have success. A great day. A major accomplishment. I have had far more of those this last year, then ever before in my life.
I believe a key ingredient to this is being honest with myself. When some people tell you the truth you call them mean, ugly, a bully. When you tell yourself the same thing, when no one else is around – we call it cold hard reality. We need a bit of that thrown in our face a few times to wake up and start doing something to improve our situation. Many times, we surround ourselves with people that validate and affirm the false impression of ourselves. We lull ourselves into a false reality and everyone tells you that you are a winner and that you are great. Are those friends?
I think a good friend will tell you like it is. I know my wife is like that with me, my best friend for most of my life, will tell me what I do not want to hear. That is a good thing. Perhaps we should be a little more willing to surround ourselves with people that will remind us of the truth instead of helping us to dance around the obvious. I can tell you that the truthful you maybe sort of ugly, out of sorts, and downright hard to cope with. However, only the truthful you has the real power to make changes in your life. Changes that will lead to the outcomes that you most desire.
Maybe it is time to get to know the truthful you? Have a little chat with the one person that actually knows your reality for what it is – excuse free – you.
Guy Reams
365 Alumni
