Everyone Has A Sad Story

JP | #Intangibl3
Sep 14, 2017
5 min read

Isn't it strange that we see so many people professing supposed self-improvement dreams, yet so little actual self-improvement? Everybody likes to talk about getting shit done, but the majority just don't do it. Why?

Well, put simply, it's because of their past.

Or their abusive parents.

Or their injuries.

Or their depression.

Or their addictions.

I'm not trying to make light of any of these things, as they can all be quite serious. Having abusive parents does not make for an easy path. Physical injuries obviously pose a huge challenge when trying to improve oneself. Depression is one of the leading causes of suicide in the United States.

Yet, as difficult as these things are to overcome, or even just to live with, I can't help but call a little bit of bullshit. And that is because EVERYONE has issues like these. Everyone on the face of the fucking planet (and below said face of planet for all you hollow earthers out there) have problems. Everyone has gone through some real bad shit, to put it eloquently. People are beaten down and dragged through the mud by a rope tied to the back of a pick-up truck every day.

Shit happens.

All of the people you see in your day-to-day life - they each have depression or suicidal tendencies; an eating disorder of some kind; or they suffer in an abusive relationship; have broken several bones; have gotten the shit kicked out of them; have had their house burn down; have gotten in a bad car wreck; have lost everything; can only cope with life by drinking themselves stupid; have lost someone they hold very dear; have cancer.

All of these and so many more terrible things afflict humanity. Nobody has it easy and nobody ever has. That's the way of things here on the third rock from our little sun. Pain is a constant thing here. Pain is the only way that we humans grow. Without it we make no progress - none. Hate it all you want but embracing and trying to overcome your pain, your disabilities, your insecurities, your fucking issues, is the only way that your life is going to get better or begin to make any sense at all.

I want you to let this sink in: you aren't the only person who has problems.

Everyone likes to play the "woe is me" game, somehow believing that they are the only one who has gone through their specific brand of bullshit. That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. There are more than 7 billion humans on Earth, but your the only one who's been hurt in the way that you've been hurt?

Come the fuck on.

That's ridiculous and you know it is. Your problems - your past - your pains, are not unique to you. So stop feeling like the world is out to get you and realize that the world is just fucking like you. I'm not saying that everyone is completely the same, that's idiotic, but I am telling you that there are only so many kinds of suffering and you are just one of many going through yours.

But rejoice! Again I say, rejoice! For your suffering will make you stronger.

Every thing that you've gone through can be overcome. I don't have all the answers, and I won't pretend that I do, but I do know that belief in one's ability to do the impossible is underrated. You may think it is impossible to overcome your pain, but it's only impossible until you do it. The thing changes based on your perception of it.

Your pain doesn't make you special. It makes you more like the rest of us, all suffering and growing through life together.

I know that there are plenty of examples of people who've given up because they think the world has thrown too much at them, but there are also a great many people that you can look to for inspiration that have done the impossible in spite of their pain and suffering. These people motivate me like crazy.

David Goggins is someone that always reminds me that more is possible. If I'm feeling too tired to take another step, Goggins says keep fucking going.

Jocko Willink is an extremely motivating man. He's an all around bad ass and he doesn't apologize for it, yet he still isn't arrogant. He has the type of confidence that only comes with knowing exactly what he's capable of.

Arnold Swarzenegger is an inspiration to me as well. The man came from practically nothing and became one of the most famous, respected men of our era. I mean, now he seems like kind of a liberal, which doesn't really jive with my political views, but the guy has accomplished so much that I can't help but look on in awe.

That's just three men, but these three men have had a profound impact on the way I view the world and what I'm capable of.

Then there are men like Hunter Drew, Craig James, Ed Latimore, Alexander Cortes, and many more men that go above and beyond the call every day in fitness, marriage, fatherhood, teaching, and so much more. These guys are authentic and they've taught me so much about who I can be if I allow myself to be authentic and to pursue my mission wholeheartedly.

And every single one of them has had shitty things happen to them. But they still do what's necessary and they don't make fucking excuses about how their past has scarred them so much that they aren't able to move forward in life.

The beautiful thing is that we are all capable of achieving great things, but most people are just too weak and scared to try; to invest. You have to put yourself out there in the line of fire, so to speak, and you have to risk what is important to you. Essentially, you have to die to yourself. Fucking die already! Die and come back stronger than you ever thought possible. Pursue your mission, decimate the competition and conquer the fucking day!

Until you do that you're going to be little more than just another angry, bitter loser. Don't let me hurt your feelings. Get up and fucking change the things you don't like about yourself then come back to me and prove me wrong.

Your excuses are tired. It's time to stop wallowing. You're the only one that can change yourself. No one is going to do it for you and all of your hopes and dreams aren't just going to fall in your lap. You know it doesn't work that way!

Whatever it is that you know you need to do in order to improve yourself and to bring about the kind of life that you can be proud of, do it. Begin now. Take inspiration and motivation from the people above. They have been in the thick of it and they know their areas of expertise.

I want you to know that you're not alone. We all suffer every day, and I'm not saying that it'll be easy, but who needs "easy," right? Not to be cliché, but I don't need easy, I just need possible. And it is possible for you to overcome whatever it is you've been through or are going through. I did it. I'm still doing it. You can do it too.

-JP