The Most Inspiring Article Ever Written (by me)
I try not to be a rabble-rouser. Really, I do. But it’s hard. Very hard. My dopamine skyrockets with every like, clap, retweet, share, comment, and poke (yes, I realize Facebook has retired its poke feature, but it shall forever hold a special place in my heart). Go ahead, hit me with a clap. I swear I’ll be high for hours. Days even.
At the risk of disappointing my 12 fans (which includes my dear grandmother, my cat, and my imaginary friend, Tom), I’ve decided to change course for this article (sorry, grandma). So, without further ado, here goes nothing…
Are you tired of superficial knowledge?
In today’s culture of instant gratification, we’re constantly seeking quicker ways to learn. I’m guilty of this myself. I skim articles by the dozen. But skimming articles is like skim milk. You get the taste of it, but none of the nutrients — none of the milky, fatty goodness that fuels your brain and satisfies your appetite. Great, now I’m thirsty.
In today’s high-tech society, we’re constantly bombarded with information, and we have to find ways to process it quickly and efficiently.
But maybe we don’t.
Maybe, just maybe, we simply need to be more selective about the information we take in. Maybe we should skip the book summaries and actually read the books.
Why do I say this?
For two reasons:
- Spending time with an idea allows it to grow.
- Reading in a non-distracting environment settles your thoughts and allows you to absorb the information.
Then why do you write self-help posts then, Gary? Are you wasting my time?!
Whoa…please don’t scream at me. It’s only 6:04 a.m. I haven’t even had my coffee yet.
I write self-help posts for two primary reasons:
- Reading uplifting content puts you in a good mindset. It’s always better to read self-help articles than to binge-watch the Kardashians. Not that I do that. Not all the time, at least.
- Writing activates your creativity. Writing helps your brain unload the billions of thoughts that hit you throughout the day. It’s quite cathartic, actually.
That being said, the real secret to self-help is this: Action.
As we’re both running short on time (after all, we’ve got lots of action to take), I’ll make this short. Here is your wake-up text:
💓 = 📏⬇️. 👉👤 = 👶 or 👴, 👉👤 🚫 ⏳. B 🔦. 🚫 😨. 😃.
For the technologically challenged, here’s an “I’m over 16 years old” translation:
Life is short. Whether you’re 20 or 80, you don’t have much time left in the grand scheme of things. So lighten up. Do stuff. Don’t be afraid. And make sure to laugh along the way.
Remember, we all have to die at some point, so make sure to do so with a smile on your face. After all, no one likes a grumpy-looking dead person. And I care deeply about what I’ll look like when I’m dead. In fact, I’ll just die if I have pimples at my own funeral. See what I did there? #goodskin #instadead #funeralpuns
Anyway, this is getting a little too morbid for me. Let’s move along.
What’s my point?
My point is this: You don’t need to run a marathon every morning to be a better you. You simply have to focus on discovering what matters the most to you. Then take action. Simple as that.
You are your own master. Own your action. Take responsibility. Take action.
And if after reading this, you decide to never read another self-help article again, I’ll simply leave you with two words (and a period):
NO EXCUSES.
Now go do something.
Oh, I almost forgot my shameless plug. Don’t worry, though. I’ve got nothing to sell you. No secret e-book. No online course. I simply want your soul. And if you won’t give me that, your email address will have to suffice. Submit it below to keep in touch!
Originally published at Gary Scetbon.
