1. Quit Stopping
I remembered back in the military when I was climbing up Mt Biang (The highest and harshest mountain in the Brunei forest to overcome), with 25 kilograms worth of weight on my back, a helmet and a rifle in front of me, there were so many times I wish I could just stop to take a breather. But if I stop, that would mean that the mission would have to be delayed and lead us to a mission failure. With my face all painted with sweat and camou cream (green and black coloured), my platoon boys and I braved the painful climb and the scorching sun. The day before, we have traveled almost 10 kilometers through the dense vegetation and we’re all hungry and exhausted even before we reached Mt Biang. Nonetheless, we did not stop despite the hunger and exhaustion. We continued on, one step at a time, and achieved mission success at the end of the day.
Sometimes, we tend to underestimate the power of our own will and the strength we possess to overcome challenges. We often forget that the path to success is not always smooth and that we may face obstacles and setbacks along the way. But it’s precisely in these moments of difficulty that we need to summon our inner strength and perseverance.
It’s important to remember that quitting is not an option if you truly want to achieve your goals. Instead, you need to keep moving forward, even when the going gets tough. One helpful technique is to break down the task into smaller, manageable steps. This way, you can focus on one thing at a time, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenge.
Another strategy is to surround yourself with positivity and encouragement. Seek out people who will support you and lift you up when you feel discouraged. Read motivational books or listen to inspiring podcasts that will keep you motivated and help you stay on track.
Ultimately, the key to success is to keep going, even when it seems impossible. Remember that every step you take brings you closer to your goal. So, stay focused, stay motivated, and never give up on your dreams.
2. Quit Saying Tomorrow
Procrastination is a common problem that affects many people. It is easy to put off things that we consider to be difficult, unpleasant or simply not as exciting as other options we have available. However, delaying or procrastinating around something that is important to us is a recipe for disaster. It can prevent us from achieving our goals and living the life we desire.
If you find yourself constantly saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” or “I’ll start next week,” then it’s time to stop and take a good look at why you’re putting things off. Are you scared to start because you know that it will be tough and challenging? Or, do you simply lack the motivation and desire to take action?
Take the example of wanting to start a new healthy eating plan. Yes, it may be difficult and require significant effort and sacrifice, but every day that you wait to start is another day that you’re not taking care of your health and well-being. Similarly, if you’re putting off finishing your degree, ask yourself if you’re really waiting until your kids are a certain age or if you’re just finding excuses to avoid studying.
Another common example of procrastination is paying for a gym membership that you never use. If you’re not motivated to go to the gym, then it’s time to find another form of exercise that you enjoy. There’s no point in wasting your hard-earned money on something that you don’t use or find beneficial.
Procrastination can be a major obstacle to achieving our goals and living a fulfilling life. It’s important to recognize when we’re procrastinating and why we’re doing it. By taking action and overcoming our fears and lack of motivation, we can move forward and achieve the success we desire. Don’t let procrastination hold you back any longer, take action today and start living your best life!
3. Quit Avoiding
Face it. We all have things we don’t want to do, but we have to do them because we’re adults, right?
After every mission out in the field, my boys and I will have to do the most dreadful task of all: Maintaining our rifle. It is super mundane and a no brain-er task, as we are required to scrub the metal pieces in the rifle for hours to remove off the rust and stains after it got soaked in the mud and rain for days.
These were the worst time for me because my body has been battered and the last thing I want to do is to scrub the metals in my rifle! But then again, if I were to stop taking care of my rifle, when time calls for me to really use it, it will be dysfunctional and it will not be able to “take care” of me!
Can I expect a dysfunctional rifle to protect me at war? No. Life doesn’t work that way. You can’t pluck the fun parts out and leave the tough parts on the table. You take all or none.
Success is often seen as the ultimate goal, but what if we could achieve it without any effort? Would we still appreciate it as much? The answer is likely no. The truth is, the harder we have to work for something, the more we value and appreciate it.
Sometimes we find ourselves putting off important tasks because they seem boring, hard, physically demanding, or tiring. But avoiding them only prolongs the discomfort and stress. The best way to overcome this is to simply get up and get it done. The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment we feel after completing a task that we’ve been avoiding is immeasurable.
Furthermore, the journey towards success is often filled with small rewards along the way. As we work towards our goals, we learn new skills, gain experience, and develop a sense of resilience that will serve us well in the future. These are all rewards in themselves and should not be overlooked.
Success is not just about achieving a specific goal, but also about the process of getting there. The challenges we face along the way are what make success so meaningful. So, if there’s something you’ve been putting off, don’t avoid it any longer. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the rewards that come with hard work and perseverance.
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