Podcaster, Speaker and Coach. I write about the most useful and important insights from personal development, mental fitness and psychology. Join a growing list of readers. Press subscribe to join.
Are you chasing the wrong mountain?
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Hey Reader, Let’s be honest for a second. Have you ever looked up from the grind—maybe after months or years of chasing a specific title, a certain lifestyle, or a milestone—and had a quiet, terrifying thought hit you: Do I even want this? Most of us spend our lives playing a game we didn't even realize we signed up for. We let our goals be quietly dictated by other people's opinions, cultural conditioning, parental expectations, or what looks good on a screen. We think we’re supposed to want to be the "best in the world" at something or hit some arbitrary financial or career summit. The dangerous part? You can actually achieve it. You can claw your way up the mountain, get right near the peak, and suddenly realize that the view is completely empty. That’s what happens when you play stupid games—you end up winning stupid prizes. You invest your time, energy, and youth into a target that was never truly yours. And when you finally get close enough to touch it, you realize it doesn't bring you any actual happiness or fulfillment. If you’ve ever felt that disconnect, I want to reassure you: that realization is a gift, not a failure. It’s totally okay to look at the sacrifices required to reach a goal and decide, “Actually, I’m good.” The real secret isn’t working harder toward the wrong thing; it’s getting radically clear on what you actually want. Finding Your True TargetClarity is everything when it comes to setting a direction for your life. But you can't find clarity by looking outward at what everyone else is doing. You have to look inward at your identity. What is identity, really? It’s your repeated beingness. It’s the framework of your core values, your first principles, and your personal philosophy. Ask yourself: What actually drives you?
Your core values shape your identity. Your identity shapes your daily actions. And your daily actions are what finally move you toward a target that actually matters to you—because it's authentically yours. We all want meaning, joy, and fulfillment. But those things aren't found at the finish line of someone else’s race; they're found in the actual pursuit of things that align with who you genuinely are. So, take a minute today to pause and ask yourself the hard question: What do I really want, and what are my true core values? Drop the expectations that don't belong to you and start playing a game you actually want to win. Watch the original video here QUOTE FOR YOU "If your life is dictated by other people's opinions, then it's not really your life. Don't spend your energy climbing a mountain just to realize you never wanted to be at the top." ACTION FOR YOU Audit Your Top 3 Goals: Write down the three biggest targets you are currently working toward (in work, life, or personal growth). Next to each, identify your core value driving it (e.g., freedom, creativity, security, status, connection). If a goal is driven purely by external validation or legacy habit rather than an authentic core value, either reframe it or cross it off your list today. JOURNAL PROMPT FOR YOU "What is one major goal I am currently pursuing—and if I achieved it tomorrow, would it actually bring me deep, personal fulfillment, or am I pursuing it to satisfy someone else's expectations?" SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY I do a podcast called Something for Everybody, listen here. This week’s upcoming episodes: Tuesday - 10/20 - Sam Eaton Friday - 10/23 - SOLO Episode Lots of love, Aaron Shop my clothing brand here 💬 TEXT US: Text “HELLO” to 201-534-3681 to get positive messages daily. |
Random Stuff Friday
Podcaster, Speaker and Coach. I write about the most useful and important insights from personal development, mental fitness and psychology. Join a growing list of readers. Press subscribe to join.
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