7 lies you must stop telling yourself

1. My past defines me.

The past only has the power to dictate the future if we let it. Just because you were in an unloving marriage doesn’t mean you aren’t worthy of being loved. Just because you got a fancy engineering degree from M.I.T. doesn’t mean you have to be an engineer, despite the fact you hate engineering.

2. Work is supposed to suck, that’s why it’s called work.

I have no issue with hard work and in fact, I advocate it. But working for the sake of working doesn’t make sense. Sure you have to pay your bills, but so do all the small business owners, online entrepreneurs, and people who are happily pursuing their dreams.

 3. I don’t deserve to be happy.

Unfortunately this is a deeply ingrained lie that can cause you to spend your life living just above average. From early childhood, you are led to believe certain things about yourself and many times, it’s negative.

Many of you falsely believe you are not good enough to be/do/have what you want in this life. And I’ll tell you with absolute certainty–it’s complete bullshit.

4. I can’t change.

Of course you can. It’s very challenging to change, especially permanently, but it needs to happen if you are going to improve your life. Doing the same things and making the same decisions every day and thinking something new will happen is madness.

Being unhappy can caused by a number of things, but chances are, it’s your negative, self-defeating habits that are the culprit.

5. This is just how life is.

This is ridiculous. Life is exactly how you make it and is a direct result of all the decisions you’ve made up until this moment. Life doesn’t just happen, you create it. Do not accept your fate and believe that life can’t or won’t get any better. Believe me, it can!

6. Things will get better.

Again, wrong. They won’t get better until YOU get better. The world doesn’t owe you anything nor will it just hand things to you. You have to work hard to get what you want. Hell, you’re already working hard now, you just may be directing your energy in the wrong places.

Start by taking small steps towards your goals. And if you have no goals, set some. Don’t try to go from miserable cubicle worker to lifestyle design magnate overnight, that will never work and will only serve to demotivate you. Instead, take it slowly and be realistic about what you can accomplish each day.

7. I have responsibilities.

And while this may be true (I don’t know any adults who don’t have them), they shouldn’t be limiting your happiness.

People tend to let their boring jobs not only define them, but dictate how they live their lives. I’ve heard it a million times, “I can’t quit, I have responsibilities.” They believe they can’t quit because that would be selfish, lazy, and irresponsible.

Written by Steve Roy