The only person you should be chasing in life

Most people live a chunk of their lives chasing others, collecting things, and seeking approval.  Perhaps the ultimate goal (for many) is to be “seen” and “heard” ― the other stuff in between is secondary. I’m sure you’ve heard this punchline before “master the game, study the next guy and stand out from the crowd”, right?

If not, perhaps you’ve at least heard something along these lines. What if I told you that’s not the only path to success? Whatever ‘success’ means to you.

Bro, the only person you should be chasing in life is YOURSELF. As exciting as it is to walk in someone else’s shoes ― imagine walking your own journey at your own pace. Showing up to the world as your true self.

We’ve dug up some wisdom from people who are constantly raising the bar and changing the game:

“I blame no one. I look in the mirror” – Denzel Washington

It’s easy to play the victim card and accept defeat. That’s just human nature – we constantly looking for a scapegoat. We all do it sometimes (others do it all the time) blaming the environment or the next guy for our failures. Nothing is more toxic and addictive than a blame game.

Perhaps one needs to ask, “where did I go wrong?” or “how can I fix this?”. I believe our relationships would improve, taking risks would be exciting and life would be less complicated. It’s one of those things that start with YOU.

“Always trust your instincts, they are messages from your soul” – Priya Jain

Dude, how often do you find yourself in tricky situations and be like “I should have trusted my instinct?”. It’s usually a little bit too late by then or you’re facing a cul-de-sac.

This isn’t a special power only possessed by the few – it’s something we all have within us. It’s that voice that whispers, “turn left instead of right” or “sleep on it before making a decision”. The unfortunate part is, we expect others to give us permission to live our own lives.

“Don’t chase people. Be yourself, do your own thing and work hard” – Will Smith

All of us are seeking belonging, to feel like we’re part of a tribe. However, we spend more of our time chasing validation from others. We measure our importance based on followers on Instagram or likes on Facebook — mostly it’s from people we never met. It’s a complete waste of time trying to prove to everyone that you’re a “good” person. Imagine if you’d pour all the energy into yourself.

“The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are, and not who people think you are”— Goldie Hawn

Aren’t we all kind and understanding to others but a bit horrible to ourselves? Bro, that’s not how it should be. Of course, most of us have been told from an early age to always serve others.

Don’t get me wrong, loving oneself is a great act of service – an empty bucket isn’t useful to anyone. This all starts by speaking kindly to yourself. The minute you ditch all the expectations and external pressure, you’re then free to live your own truth.

Perhaps you should start redefining your own life and live by your own rules.

The person you want to be is cheering you and patiently waiting for you.

Why settle for less when you know deep down that you’re not close to the guy you want to be? Live each day with that person in mind and you’ll be content with each season of your life.

Bro, who is that dude that’s waiting for you on top of the mountain? Comment below to share your thoughts, or any good advice you have on staying true to yourself.

Cheers!