Let’s face it– none of us make it out of this alive. All living beings have an expiration date, but not all living beings were granted the power to do great things– it’s time to take control of your circumstances before it’s too late.
The sense of mortality, not just awareness of death, but a real understanding that our lives are finite can be a powerful motivator. Consequences of inaction often culminate at the end of our lives as the realization of regret. With the finality of a moment cast in stone—unchangeable in its impact on your present circumstances or past outcomes—you’ll look back with pangs of conscience.
Robin S. Sharma once said, “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life”. Recognition and self-awareness—two invaluable tools—when paired with decisive action and motivation, can lead to a fulfilling life. Imagine a state of consciousness without doubt, fear of failure, and where you’re no longer stuck hiding in the implications perceived by your subconscious.
Let’s focus on these three supporting architectures of psychology: Complacency, Resistance, and Fear, and breakdown how they impact our ability to grow and prosper.
Complacency is nothing more than a cocktail of comfortability and ignorance; it’s when you settle for your current circumstances and/or lack the motivation for something greater in life. You’re okay with where you’re at in life (comfortability), and if you’re not– you think there’s always time to change it (ignorance). Notice I said think; most of us think an awful lot about change. Time is short– and thinking without action undermines your innate ability to accomplish goals, leading to a self-sabotaging cycle that slowly dismantles your self-confidence.
Complacency is often also tied to a fear of change. Your career, relationships, material possessions, children, and living conditions are all subject to change– and given enough time they will. You must learn to anticipate, embrace, and challenge yourself to change; it will promote competence, and in return build confidence (see the Competence Confidence Loop). Practicing making changes to your routines, preferences, and environment may seem intimidating at first, but will quickly become refreshing– start small. Wake up earlier, change your gym routine, or try eating a healthier diet. Making these incremental changes to your daily life will build reference experience or as I like to call them “cognitive bookmarks” that you can refer to later. You’ll also gain the confidence in knowing you’re capable of adapting to new things. Make the necessary changes now before an external force demands it.
Resistance is the cousin of complacency and often lacks the ignorance factor because your decision-making is intentional. In this context, resistance is a paradox because you’re cognizant of the need for change yet actively choose to oppose it, creating a tension between awareness and inaction. This is often described as feeling like you have one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake pedal simultaneously.
Resistance often stems from a lack of self-discipline and low self-esteem. It reflects past attempts that ended in failure, where giving up occurred before success could be achieved, reinforcing any negative self beliefs you hold. Ed Mylett sums this up perfectly with his Compound Pounding theory:
“The piñata is the ultimate metaphor for life… The first kid gets up, the birthday boy, just whacks the crap out of this piñata like 60 times. No candy comes out. He finally goes, ‘I quit.’ Next kid gets up, beats the crap out of it. Really big kid. No candy comes out. What they didn’t know is they were doing something called compound pounding, which is invisible progress. You can’t see it. But they were breaking that piñata down, but none of them knew it… The last little dude gets up there… He takes one swing… barely hits it, bam. All the candy comes out… Was it the last kid’s final shot that broke that piñata open or was it the cumulative blows over time that did it? We all know the answer. It was the accumulation of the compound pounding that broke it open.”
The fact is, anyone who’s ever been successful in life has overcome this moral duality. Not to say it’s simple, but you’re often much closer to success than you realize. Your value is not diminished by your past attempts or failures.
Fear’s original purpose is to protect us from immediate threats– we have shifted it to safeguarding our ego. Growth happens at the edge of discomfort, but fear often stops us from taking the actions that lead to it. Chances are your path to growth is well traveled. If it’s the unknown that’s holding you back, consider investing in coaching or a mentor that can guide your success. The ancient Chinese proverb, “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back” encompasses this strategy and emphasizes the value of seeking guidance from individuals who have already experienced the journey or challenge you’re about to undertake.
Fear (outside of immediate physical harm) can be re-framed as: False Evidence Appearing Real. Move into your fears. By constantly facing challenges, fear diminishes over time building competence aka cognitive bookmarks. These are mental markers of success and resilience that serve as references for future challenges. Each time you face a fear, no matter how small the challenge, and push through it, you create a reference experience that reminds you of your courage and capability. These bookmarks serve as evidence that you can handle discomfort and grow from it.
Understanding these psychological barriers that hold us back is the first step in accepting a simple truth: one day, you, everyone you know, and all life on Earth will come to an end. Make every moment intentional, leaving no room for regret. Set meaningful expectations for yourself—don’t let comfort rule your decisions or fear extinguish your ambitions. Knowledge is power, and one thing is certain: death is inevitable. Let this truth fuel your urgency—make every moment count.
Mortality is inevitable, but understanding it can be a powerful motivator. Many people remain stagnant due to complacency, resistance, and fear, which prevent them from reaching their full potential. Complacency keeps you comfortable and ignorant of change, while resistance creates tension between knowing you need to change and refusing to act. Fear protects the ego rather than encouraging growth. To overcome these barriers, take intentional steps toward change, seek guidance, and push through discomfort. The reality is simple: life is fleeting—make every moment count.
Years of self-development, coaching insights, and personal experiences have led me to curate the best strategies for achieving goals and unlocking potential. This website is a centralized hub for motivational literature, high-performance coaching podcasts, and resources to empower you in overcoming obstacles and cultivating a success mindset. Whether you’re aiming for the next level or seeking inspiration to begin, let’s work together to turn your dreams into reality.
Years of self-development, coaching insights, and personal experiences have led me to curate the best strategies for achieving goals and unlocking potential. This website is a centralized hub for motivational literature, high-performance coaching podcasts, and resources to empower you in overcoming obstacles and cultivating a success mindset. Whether you’re aiming for the next level or seeking inspiration to begin, let’s work together to turn your dreams into reality.
