Become Familiar with Yourself

If discipline were enough…

If effort, consistency, and doing “all the right things” were enough…

Wouldn't you feel fulfilled by now?

I believed for a long time that if I just worked harder, stayed focused, and kept pushing, things would eventually feel right.

And the truth is — I was very disciplined.

As a safety manager, I did everything that was asked of me.

I did the research.

I showed up to meetings on time.

I built presentations, delivered trainings, enforced rules, led programs, and played the part well.

On paper, everything was working. Progress was happening.

But inside, something felt increasingly wrong.

The more effort I put in, the stranger it felt.

Almost like I was betraying myself.

I didn't feel like an imposter because I couldn't do the job.

I felt like an imposter because I could — and I knew, deep down, that it wasn't aligned with my values or who I really was.

That kind of misalignment is painful.

I felt like a failure. 

Not because I wasn't succeeding but because real success would have required me to walk away…

to abandon a path that looked right…

and have the courage to be myself.

And at the time, that felt like too much.

Now picture this instead…

You wake up feeling light because the day ahead actually excites you.

One of the things on your calendar is something you once said, 

“One day, I'd love to do that.”

You move through your day with certainty — not because everything is perfect, but because it feels true.

You plan for the future, and instead of dread, there's joy… because the activities ahead are aligned with your values, your likes, and who you are becoming.

Today, failing hurts less.

Not because it's easy but because I'm trying on a path that doesn't challenge my character. Only my effort.

And that is HUGE.

When you're on a path that isn't aligned with your values, failing feels unbearable. It's like failing twice — once at the task, and once at not being yourself.

But when the path is aligned, failure becomes information… not a verdict.

So today, I invite you to pause the rat race and turn inward.

• Write down what's important to you.

• Notice what makes you smile.

• Pay attention to what makes you feel alive when you wake up.

• List the activities that genuinely excite you about the future.

That's not indulgent.

That's not irresponsible.

That's how you become familiar with yourself again.

And that familiarity is what makes courage possible.