You can't afford a normal life.
Most people want a normal life.
As few problems as possible, avoid conflict, take the shortcut, make the decision with the least amount of pushback, be agreeable, and avoid challenges.
Take the safe option and live in a comfort zone.
Keep your head down, just get on with things, don't rock the boat.
This is the normal path for many. A normal life is doing normal things that most people do.
You won't need to look too far to see that the normal path for most people is not good for them, or the people around them.
Most people are unfulfilled, unhealthy, unhappy, and lack direction and meaning in what they do.
This is not just what I see (or what you see).
Here's some of what I found when looking into what a normal life looks like:
50% of the world is overweight or obese (and increasing).
Mental health issues increase every year.
Unhappiness and poor well-being are increasing.
Loneliness is increasing.
The number of people reporting a lack of meaning and direction is increasing.
People feel disconnected from each other and themselves.
The list goes on and on. The outlook for a normal life is not good, and if you follow the normal path in life, this is what it looks like.
And yet…you still believe you’ll be the exception. That you can choose normal and somehow avoid its cost. That’s not how this works
A normal life is too expensive.
No one can truly afford a normal life. The cost is too high.
The fee for a normal life?
Your mental health, physical health, happiness, peace of mind, and well-being.
I don't know about you, but these are important to me. I imagine they are for you, too.
The opposite of a normal life is an extraordinary life.
Not a crazy life, not an average life, not a special life. Just one that is extraordinary. One that's an improvement on normal.
A life that's off the beaten path of normal and what most people think is expected of them.
Most people are living on autopilot.
This much is obvious because I'm pretty sure most people would not pick a path that leads to self-destruction.
A life on autopilot is a blurry life. It has no sharp edges. Nothing is clear. It lacks meaning and purpose.
The key to living an extraordinary life?
I'm not sure anyone has the answer to this entirely. But in my experience, going after things that light you up gives you meaning.
Meaning gives you purpose. Purpose fuels growth. Growth fuels well-being. And well-being fuels your mental and physical health. And the cycle continues.
Everything is connected in one giant loop that's playing out in your life every single day.
A problem I see is that most people don't know where to start. They don't know what's important to them, or what lights them up.
They're worried about making a mistake, fear failure, and worry about what other people might think if they choose to do something different.
It's better to be judged by others and fail a thousand times than end up on the path of a normal life.
This path will cost you everything important.
Where to start?
The best place to start will always be with yourself.
Not looking outside of yourself at what other people are doing, what paths they are on, what they do for work, and how they live, but to start with you.
Until you take the time to get clear on what you want from life and what lights you up, you're by default on a normal path.
You don't need a grand master plan for life. You don't need a five-year plan. You don't even need a one-year plan.
But what you do need to do is get clear on what you want from life and go after it like your life depends on it - because it does.
You'll be amazed at how quickly your life changes when you stop waiting for permission to live your life.