“I am going to stay out of my own way today, I am going to keep my Ego in check, and I am going to fight The Resistance every step of the way. “

This is my morning mantra. You might have even noticed it on FB and LI if you follow me there. These are all references from books that I have read lately and have resonated with me. Staying out of my own way is from The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, Keep my Ego in check is from Ryan Holiday’s book Ego is the Enemy, and The Resistance is from Steven Pressfield’s book The War of Art.

I mention the books because I think that you would get a lot out of reading them as I did. I also mention them as a bit of insight into who I am and what is important to me in my work and life. I just don’t guide others through their journey’s I, too, am guided through mine.

In helping myself, I can be a better coach, guide, mentor however you might see me.

As I so lightheartedly respond when people ask me what I do, I tell them, I am what Yoda is to Luke Skywalker…for entrepreneurs, professionals, small business owners, etc. I think you get the picture.

Now let us circle back to the mantra :

“I am going to stay out of my own way today, I am going to keep my Ego in check, and I am going to fight The Resistance every step of the way. “

Let’s briefly analyze its three components and see what we can do to have a successful day.

I am going to stay out of my own way…Hmm, how many times during the day do we sabotage something good. Even small mindset shifts at the right moment can help direct us back to what we are doing? What action needs to be taken to self-correct the ship? Is this an Upper Limit Problem? ( reference for the same book). Take note jot it down for you to look at later. Have a trigger and switch that can get you back on track ASAP.

I am going to keep my Ego in check. I don’t know about you, but my Ego gets me in trouble in so many ways. Even the big screw-ups you don’t realize were caused by your Ego until it’s too late. I won’t go into it right now, but recently I messed up a perfectly good relationship because of it.

It was like the Perfect Storm. All three components aligning at once. I got in my own way, my Ego was driving the car, and The Resistance was laughing at me the entire time. But I digress. I have learned some precious lessons from that experience, and I hope I don’t ever repeat the same mistakes. Maybe that is why I am sharing this with you now.

Then, of course, there is The Resistance…

I am going to fight The Resistance every step of the way.
The Resistance is everywhere! At every corner in everything that we hear, do, see, say, feel, etc. The Resistance is keeping us from having what we want. Ultimately to be a happy, productive contributing member of society. To have the abundance, success, and love in our lives that we all desire. So we need to fight each day and be aware of the three components and deal with them when they try to rear their ugly heads.

That brings me to how to do this. How do we not get in our own way, and keep our Ego in check and fight the Resistance? First, be aware that they are there, and we need to fight them.

We talk about the fights worth fighting. This is the fight worth fighting every day.

Joshua