365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 98: On Society (Not) Holding You Back

It’s not society that holds us back, it’s ourselves. We just blame society

because  not  only  is  it  easier  but  it’s  a  nearly  impossible  weight  to  move.

This way, we don’t actually have to change.

—Neil Strauss

 

93

It’s easy to use society as a crutch.

“I  can’t  lose  weight  because  there  are  billboards  of  fast  food

restaurants everywhere, and besides, I just got a free coupon for a burger.”

“I can’t become more productive because my colleagues laugh at me

for making an effort, and besides, my boss won’t appreciate it anyway.”

“I can’t stay faithful to my significant other because dating apps make

it so easy to meet sexy people.”

Is  it  the  billboard,  your  colleagues,  or  dating  apps  that  control  your

life? If so, is that really how you’d like to live — at the whim of advertisers,

other people, or new technologies?

Every time you claim that it’s the surroundings that hold you back, ask

yourself if it’s really your environment or perhaps it’s just an easy excuse

for you to not act. And if you still think it’s your surroundings — because

that might be the case — then change them.

Nobody forces you to hang out with the same people, install a dating

app, or drive by your favorite fast food joints. If your long- term goals are

important to you, you can always consider moving to a place that will be

more conducive to your personal growth.

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