The Mortality Mindset

Wouldn't life be so much easier if everyone simply agreed with you and saw things your way?

In his book Do the Work author Stephen Pressfield speaks about using resistance as a compass. In this episode, I adapt that idea and suggest that we could be using our fear as a compass - pointing us towards where we most need to go.

"Because fear is based on an imagined future, my focus on the present makes me fearless." - from The Mortality Manifesto

In this episode, I talk about the danger of letting your fear stop you from choosing and living the life you want. I make a confession about my own fear and give you a powerful tool to help you begin to step away from the grip of fear.

By the way... here's the quote from Marianne Williamson that I mention in this episode: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

I believe the three most important questions in life are:

• Who Am I?
• What Do I Want?
• How Am I Going to Get It?

The last two episodes (EP009 & EP010) looked at the first two questions. Today we addresses the last question: How am I going to get what I want?

Warning: The answer may not be what you're expecting.

Are you consciously choosing what you want, of do you find yourself simply reacting to things you don't want?

This episode is about taking a close look at what we want in our lives. Sometimes choosing what we want can leave us feeling one of three ways:

• Overwhelmed at all of the choices
• Dejected about your current circumstances
• Confused about making the "right" choice.

Life may not give you exactly what you want, but making the choice to live with passion and take action will make everything worthwhile!

I believe that the three most important questions in life are:

• Who Am I?
• What Do I Want?
• How Am I Going To Get It?

In this episode, I examine the first question and talk about some of the false beliefs that can get in the way.

Yes - you really do get to choose why you are! If you don't believe me - watch this video clip of Barb, the mother I mention in the episode. https://youtu.be/77iM2fqqNSU

For some people the idea that they only get one chance triggers tension, pressure and anxiety. "I can't mess this up or I'll blow everything!"

For other people the idea that they only get one chance creates a sense of freedom and energy. "One chance? Forget playing it safe - I'm going full-out!"

And of course, most people swing back and forth between those two extremes.

In this episode, I talk about these extremes and how self-compassion is the key to finding a productive balance.

Aristotle said: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

In his book The Power of Habit, bestselling author Charles Duhigg wrote: "If you believe you can change - if you make it a habit - the change becomes real. This is the real power of habit; the insight that your habits are what you choose them to be."

In this episode, I present an interview I did with Duhigg in December of 2013. We discuss how to diagnose your current habits and how to change them.

We also answer the age-old question: How long does it take to form a new habit?

In the past few episodes, I've been focusing on ACTION.

Today, I want to make a clear distinction between being in action and being in reaction.

Some thrive on reaction because it creates a sense of excitement and drama in our lives. But if we are simply reacting to outside influences we are very far from choosing and living the lives we want for ourselves.

It's not about having goals. It's not about completing checklists. It's about having a sense of direction and purpose in our lives. The Mortality Manifesto is a key tool that can help you develop that sense of direction and purpose and move you from reaction into action!

In EP004 I discussed the Trap of Perfectionism. EP005 continues that discussion with a focus on taking ACTION.

As my friend @Andrew_Gregory pointed out: life is like riding a bike - you need to be moving in order for it to work properly.

In this episode, I mention a few points made by Kyle Eschenroeder in an article called: 10 Overlooked Truths About Action. I discovered Kyle's article on Brett McKay's website ArtOfManliness.com. You might also want to check out Brett's podcast.

I also mention Stephen Pressfield's great book: Do the Work I simply can't recommend that book enough!