What will you do with this one chance?
What will you do with this one chance?
I watched the movie Braveheart for the first time in its entirety this week. Ja, I know it came out 31 years ago, and I am probably the last person in the Western world to watch it, but it is still great, and I really enjoyed it. There are many iconic scenes, ranging from brutal to heroic, to funny and romantic, to heartbreaking and everything in between. Close to the end of the movie, Mel Gibson delivers a line that sums up the entire movie and the spirit of William Wallace perfectly:
“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”
I found myself saying out loud, “I hear you man”. Some characters in the movie betray Wallace and his followers in their quest for freedom because they want to protect their positions of quasi-freedom. These betrayers are essentially slaves to the king of England, but they prefer this lowly position to what is required to experience a truly free and fulfilling life.
It got me thinking whether the people closest to me and I are really living. Or have I and we accepted a position that subjugates us to something that is trying to keep us down? In the movie, the Scots attempt to take on and expel an oppressive regime by force and in the process become the masters of their own destiny. They need to muster the courage to fight for what they want most. Some of us might require courage to go after what we really want, with fear of the future being the main opponent holding us back. Our enemy can also come in the form of something from our past that we regret, yearn back to or cannot move on from. Or it can be something in the present that is distracting us from what we actually need to be doing or paying attention to.
These are all enemies that I’ve faced in the past, and I know how good they are at keeping me (and all of us) under their thumb. In a way, we become comfortable under their rule, all the time knowing that it is a sub-standard way of life. We do this because we know that being courageous, disciplined, forgiving, and dealing with past issues can be deeply uncomfortable. But, like charging an enemy army, freedom lies on the other side of it.
Most of us will (probably) never attempt to overthrow a government. Our battles are closer to home, as James Clear puts it:
“Getting what you want out of life (really living) largely boils down to (1) the story you tell yourself and (2) where you direct your attention.
What story do you tell yourself about what has happened to you, what you’re capable of, and what you hope to achieve? Is the conversation in your head each day empowering and encouraging you, or holding you back?
And are you taking control and directing your attention toward what matters or merely letting inertia pull you along? Most things don’t matter and most actions won’t deliver a result. Focus.
Master your internal monologue and master your daily attention. Most tips, tricks, and tactics ultimately come back to these two things.”
Both William Wallace and James Clear know what they are talking about. So what will you do with this one chance of really living your life?
As you might know, the Springboks kick off their international season this weekend. That is something that I (PJ) and Shinell (in particular) are both excited for. We hope you have a great weekend. Thank you very much for reading!
If you are having a difficult time trying to stay in your own lane and set healthy habits to avoid the downside of comparison, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
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