Make a move with the hand you’re dealt.
Everyone has different characteristics. Different strengths, weaknesses, preferences, habits and passions. The people that seem to be the most driven and content in life are the ones that lean into their edge. Instead of sitting there and hoping for a reshuffle, they make the most out of their cards.
It’s important to gain an understanding of what drives you. Everyone has their own path and story to tell. People who came from nothing, with all the odds stacked against them, still managed to make a great life for themselves by implementing the right energy and discipline over time.
Each person has a different starting point and upbringing. It’s easy to blame the environment for our shortcomings but in reality, by a certain point, there has to be a conscious choice made to break free and do what it takes to become successful no matter what obstacles lie ahead. Figure out what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about, what drives you and start treading in the direction that these answers take you.
Keep the physical, mental and spiritual elements in mind when weighing the options. Get in better shape, gain more knowledge, have more faith. Just by focusing on these three general areas you will come up with an abundance of ideas on where to go next.
Assess where you are now. Analyze the resources currently at your disposal. Start moving around. Look for skills that interest you and get the basics down. Grab the opportunities that are in front of you and go above and beyond what’s asked, especially at the beginning. As the days go by, the trajectory becomes more and more clear.
Become a bold strategist.
In poker you can go all in every hand and possibly get knocked out right away. You can also fold pre flop every hand and sit on the sidelines until your blinds run out. Both of these extremes are options but it’s usually better to find the right balance.
Have a vision but adjust to current circumstances. Don’t be completely reckless but take risks to reach the next level. Some scenarios will call for a more aggressive approach, others you can defend and set up the counter. Never be too rigid. Your plans might get turned upside down on a whim. This is a chance to adapt and rise up to the challenge. Always be on the lookout for solutions.
Your systems should be constantly refined as time goes on. Nothing is ever perfect. There is always room to improve as new knowledge and resources are made available. After getting competent at a skill, we can keep working to become even more effective and efficient. Once the foundations are set it’s easier to do things better and faster.
Always err on the side of boldness. The energy we give off in the present moment sets the tone for future events down the line. Trap yourself in a mental prison and perceive things in a negative light and they tend to turn out that way. Dive into the deep end with high energy and a desire to push forward and you’ll get rewarded for your efforts in some way, shape or form.
Read the table and set the tone.
Get into the habit of looking on the bright side and staying in motion. Dictate your terms instead of reacting to everyone and everything around you. Set up boundaries and develop your own style of play. Take bits and pieces from people with success in the subjects you’re pursuing and find your own voice as you start getting results. Never idolize someone else. People are all human at the end of the day. Get inspired and use the stories you come across to transform your own life.
Be able to discern the moves others are making around you. There will be many different situations that you’ll find yourself in over the course of a lifetime. The more experiences you’re exposed to, the better you’ll become at handling them.
You might win outright. Sometimes you might have to bluff and hope for the best. Other times you might have everything going right but you get bluffed out and trip up psychologically. A more experienced opponent can come along with a better hand. Your mind can play tricks and assume your hand is worse than everyone else’s. The possibilities are infinite when we translate this to life.
Always do what you can, even in the darkest of times.
You were dealt that hand for a reason. Play it accordingly and make the most of the opportunity.
Step into the arena daily and sharpen your skills.
Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what drives you.
Make the most out of this gift you were given.
Enjoy the ride.