It’s easy to complain.

Waking up early, working long hours, too many chores/ errands, budget woes, not enough vacation, too rushed of a vacation, a vacation needed after a vacation, too much yardwork, not a big enough yard, not a nice enough car, too high of a car payment, friends that are too nice, friends that are mean, job sucks, weekend goes by too fast, hungover, sick again, stupid allergies, people don’t understand, people are stupid, too crowded, too lonely. Not enough time, not enough money.

There can sometimes be never enough. And the desires for more never seem to stop.

Achieve a new car, resent the price paid, the cost of insurance.

Achieve a college degree, be a slave to student loan debt.

Achieve a promotion at work, resent the longer hours, or increased responsibility.

Stress creates a negative perception on life. It steers our focus toward the negative. We become more judgmental, blame others, worry more, fear more, and become paralyzed at the thought of trying something new at the expense of hashing out the unfulfilling familiar.

We learn to cope, to deal, to sometimes but rarely hope.

We escape with: Facebook, movies, sitcoms. Liquor stores don’t suffer in a bad economy.

Life is tough, and we become rigid to its toughness. Our inflexibility (coping mechanism) becomes the platform to house more tension, but we get used to it.

How do we breakthrough the numb sluggish somber existence to experience something totally different, let go of baggage and free us to a fulfilling life worth living?

Read an account of an influential person’s life. Read their Autobiography or biography. Then read another and another, and another. (Listen to an audiobook if you don’t like to read). No excuses.

We may think we have it bad. And I get it, some of us do. Some of us came from rough backgrounds and are dealing with tough circumstances. The feeling that “nobody gets us” comes from the illusion that no one else is having to deal with the same demons.

The reality is, those autobiographies and biographies of influential people throughout history will do two things: 1. Show how they overcame their demons. 2. Show you that what you are going through is a walk in the park compared to others.

Grab yourself an autobiography or a biography. Immerse yourself in their life for a moment. Realize the battle they fought, (sometimes an internal battle of the mind, sometimes an external battle of resilience). Become stronger from what you learn and BELIEVE YOU HAVE IT IN YOURSELF TOO.

There’s no influential leader that had an easy path. They played the cards they were dealt often with far fewer resources than we have available today. Know your past doesn’t define your future and focus on the horizon with appreciation that you can truly stand on the shoulders of giants.