I’m listening to this awesome book called “Personality Isn’t Permanent” by Benjamin Hardy.

I was so excited to simply see the title because I’ve always thought that personality was something that you could change. I’ve taken 5 or more personality tests in my lifetime and I’ve never fully agreed with any of them. I’ve always thought they were somewhat true but I’ve thought they were pretty general.

I’ve thought they were fun and I do think they can tell you about how a person thinks of themselves in that moment in time with their current circumstances and thinking. So I think they can be used as a tool, in fact, I use them with my business clients to get some insight but I don’t think they should be used too heavily or relied on.

It was so refreshing to hear that the author of the book dug up some debunking research and very solid principles as to why we shouldn’t just assume we were born with a certain personality that is unchanging.

I want to be growing and be different every day.

I want to look back at a year ago and think I have really changed.

I look back on 10 or 20 years ago and think…wow! I said that. I did that.

I like to think that I would never act, say or even prefer the things I did years ago.

I think we can really see major changes when we focus intentionally on a certain goal.

Most people choose a few goals and don’t really make sure those goals are focused on and followed through. They seem to give up easy or forget. I’ve been there myself. We listen to the evidence that tells us it’s hard or impossible and we stop.

How many times have you chosen 1 thing and decided that you were going to stay committed to that goal until you reached it?

The power that you can create with intention and massive action is undeniable. I really believe we can accomplish anything this way.

How much different would your life be if you were relentless with your goals? Or even just one.

What would your life look like If you were relentless in becoming someone different. Someone you might like a little better.

Someone you are proud of.

I’m not to the end of the book yet and I plan to read it over a few times but I love the story of a prison inmate. I can’t remember the name of the guy but I think it was Andre. That’s what we’ll call him for now.

He said that his life changed the minute he gave up playing the trumpet. I think it was a trumpet. You can tell I’m super good with details here.

Anywho!

Andre really enjoyed playing the instrument but was being bullied by some class mates and he wanted to be cool so he stopped playing the trumpet at 14 and ended up doing all the things to fit in. He now says that if he wouldn’t have quit he wouldn’t have gone to prison. He says that quitters go to prison.

Because he gave up on his love of music and his focus he followed the social norms at the time and joined a destructive group of kids. He increasingly did whatever it took to get what he wanted in the moment so eventually he was stealing and killing to get what he wanted. By age 18 his focus became being the highest ranking gangster. He did some really bad stuff and after a particularly bad set of decisions in prison he had a revelation. It’s like something just came out of nowhere and hit him.

He realized his focus was full of nothing. Nothing good anyway.

He asked himself why.

We can do the same.

We’d be wise to constantly be checking in and asking ourselves why.

Why do I do this? Why do I think that? Why do I want what I want?....Continued