The Story of Ben Johnson
10 Dec
Ben Johnson snapped awake in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest.
He looked to see the time – 3:14 AM.
It was at that moment that his life would never be the same.
New Year’s Eve was right around the corner, and, to celebrate the occasion, Ben went to dinner with a few close friends downtown.
After finishing their meals, someone brought up the topic of resolutions. And, soon enough, they were taking turns describing
their hopes for the coming year.
When Ben’s turn came, he listed a handful of changes he wanted to make, and as quickly as the topic started, it was over.
But it would soon return.
That night, at 3:14 AM, the revelation that woke Ben was this: his list of goals for the new year was identical to last year’s.
Nothing had changed.
While most people would laugh off a repeating list of resolutions, Ben didn’t find it funny.
It was terrifying.
He knew that the life he always thought would be his was slowly slipping away…that ‘someday’ fairytale was fading fast.
An entire year had passed without a single goal achieved. Not one. Finally, he accepted the fact that nothing would ever change
unless he broke the pattern.
Nothing would ever improve unless he did committed to doing something different, something massive.
This was just the fire Ben needed to stop planning for a better life and instead do something about it.
You need to do the same thing.
Rarely does life change for the better while we’re not looking. We make it happen.
But we’re scared. And we’re comfortable.
That may be true, but even more unsettling than change is regret. You may be scared, but years from now you’ll be filled with
disappointment and pain for missing out on the chance to really live.
You may be comfortable with your routine now, but eventually you’ll realize time has run out to do the things you’ve always
wanted to do.
Your life will never be what you want it to be if you don’t do something about it.
Don’t sit and think. Don’t brood. Don’t consider the possibilities.
Get up. Shake off the dust. And get to work.
Because if you put your goals off another year, chances are almost certain you’ll do it for the rest of your life.
Hi Jason
That post was very inspiring. At times it can seem overwhelming with all our goals, that it is hard to know where to start. Some days I feel like I am hitting a brick wall. I think for now I will let the brick wall stand and do what I know I can right now. I need to accomplish something towards my goals each and everyday. When I sleep on it, the problems that I face usually get answered down the line. A little progress is better than none at all. Maybe that will be my new motto. Thank you again for the inspiration.
Mary
Hey Jason,
True and direct to the point. All too often we tend to write our goals and aspirations and file them away somewhere in the hope that they will materialise all by themselves. We tend to forget that we need to take action to make anything happen. Consistent action, even when we’re not in the mood, is essential to our success. Thanks for reminding us of that.