Today I want to talk about a few things I was reflecting on earlier.
There are four or five things that have really helped me in my life. When I lost the NFL, I was able to rehab with God's help. I was able to pick myself up from rock bottom. A lot of people who want to succeed are afraid of failure, but I need you to understand something important: The road to success is filled with a lot of failure. Failure is the only way to learn, and there's no growth without growing pains. Whoever is reading this right now, I want you to understand that the only strikeout in life is not stepping up to the plate. You've got to shoot away, because you'll automatically miss a hundred percent of the shots you never take. Shoot away until something sticks, and stop worrying about the people laughing at you from the sidelines.
Stop being a spectator.
Your life isn't a game, so stop playing with it! Are you going to truly live, or are you going to continue watching as life passes you by? Although everybody's journey to success is different, there's one constant—hard work. In my own journey, there was nothing special besides the work and the faith I put in. For the last decade, I've focused on controlling what I can control, and I think I've had pretty great success. There are a few different things I've implemented in my life that have helped me get there.
Remember that not everyone who's riding with you is riding for you. That might not seem like such a big issue at first, but it's a problem. It's a problem if you continue expecting the people you consider close to support you. The harsh reality is that you won't always feel support, even from the people who matter the most to you. Unfortunately, some people will stay in your heart but leave your life. Sometimes, you have to learn how to love from a distance. There are people who hurt us over and over again, and I'm not saying to stop loving them—I'm telling you that you need to love yourself first. Leave the people who aren't pushing you forward where they belong, behind you.
I want you to remember that you've got a crucial choice in this world. You can work hard and get everything you want and deserve out of life, or you can be lazy and watch from the sidelines. If you choose to work hard, work hard on the right things. If you're not doing something you feel truly passionate about, what's the point?
It's time to reevaluate your circle and your goals. Are you ready to build the life of your dreams? Grab your toolbox, because Rome wasn't built in a day.
It all starts with you.
