Fit for Life: What Does Jesus, Hitler, Gandhi, & Osama bin Laden Have in Common?

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Saturday, February 22, 2020

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

Mahatma-Gandhi PHOTO: Wikipedia/public domain

Yes!! Jesus, Gandhi, Hitler and Osama Bin Laden all had something in common.

They all had a definitive purpose.

Not all were good, but they all had a mission, purpose, passion and were laser-focused on their vision.

That is why they succeeded with their goals and carried out their missions.

As humans, we all have a common denominator.

We all have two elements living inside us.

The human being & the human animal.

The human being is rational, controlled, shows emotional discipline, and lives in a place of faith and positive energy.

The human-animal operates out of fear, anxiety, stress, doubt, and irrational behavior.

So why do some people exhibit rational behavior, and some are so irrational that you can’t bear to be in their presence?

It’s because we were all born with a belief system that was ingrained in us from early on.

Fixed habits and belief systems are products of your environment and upbringing and will stay ingrained in you unless you become self-aware and make an attempt to change them.

This is why a majority of people born poor stay poor, and those born with privilege usually have an easier life and are more likely to make different choices along the way. They inherit their belief systems.

I will use my circumstances as an example.

My grandfather grew up on the mean streets of Brooklyn and didn’t have a lot of cash growing up.

He joined the Navy and after the war, got himself a good job.

He bought a modest house, had average cars, raised a family, and was the happiest guy you would ever meet.

He accomplished success compared to the way he was brought up, but he and my grandmother both had the belief system that they weren’t bred to be rich and you should be satisfied with what you have.

My philosophy is to be grateful, but never satisfied, and I know that everyone is capable of doing better than they currently are.

I broke the belief system that “we are who we are” and that’s all we can be.

I respect my grandparents for their work ethic and the love they poured into me growing up, however I disagree with the philosophy that money and success is for “the other half.”

I believe that we are ALL in control of our own destiny, and that we can be as successful as we want to be. Take that back, we can’t just “want” it, we need to make it happen.

So how do you break this belief system, and take life to the next level?

Self-mastery = changing your belief system by changing your thoughts, habits, and actions.

CONTROL EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE.

Only YOU have the ability to do this.

Nobody can do this for you, however if we focus on something, set intentions, create a vision, and be locked on that vision, our plan usually comes to fruition.

Control your network and the people that you surround yourself with. Even family.

Shut out the negative and cynical people from your life, and if its family, create an edited relationship with them.

You become a product of your environment, and that includes your network, so create a network that supports your vision.

If you have out-grown old friends, and find them bringing you down, get them out of your immediate life, and find people that motivate, inspire, and encourage you, and hang around with them instead. Don’t feel obligated to spend time with anyone that doesn’t bring out your best self.

Control your time, and only spend it doing the things that will take you closer to your goals.

That means changing your habits and actions.

Invest time doing the important tasks and avoid the time sucks in your life.

When you put the BIG rocks in the jar first, then add the stones, pebbles, and sand, you will fit more in the jar.

The same goes with your time.

Control it by focusing on the big rocks first, then scroll on social media when your important tasks are done.

You can also change your thoughts.

You just need to be self-aware.

When I find myself angry, negative, and blaming others, I stop take inventory, and think about something positive, as well as what I could have done better to change the situation.

It’s also a good idea to get help being accountable.

Even when we try doing something good for ourselves, we still need help focusing and sticking to our plan.

Our coaches at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp help folks stay accountable to their health and fitness goals, and I have coaches that help me stay accountable to my business goals.

I wrote this article based on a presentation by my business mentor Bedros Keuilian, and I am constantly holding myself accountable to him and the network I belong to.

It gets easy to drift away and go down the wrong path, but when someone else is watching, you tend to stay more focused.

Be committed as opposed to being involved. There’s a BIG difference.

Take divorced parents as an example and look at the ones that are committed vs involved.

A guy that’s involved writes out checks and barely sees his kids.

A father that is committed will be with his kids every opportunity he gets.

Another funnier example to think about is when you eat bacon and eggs.

The chicken was involved, but the pig was fully committed. BIG difference there

When we are committed to making changes for the better, we are more likely to become successful. When we are merely involved, and just going through the motions, we will struggle more, and most likely come up short.

Remember, we are responsible for everything in our lives, and that gives us the power and control to change our circumstances.

When you want something, good or bad, you need to have a definitive purpose, a vision, and the ability to control everything in your life.

Quick disclaimer: This doesn’t come easy.

Changing habits requires you to show up every day, set intentions and take action.

It requires work, effort, and consistency regardless of what your mission is.

I was always game for a fight or confrontation, would blame others for my misfortune, and would always look at the negative components of every situation.

Now I look at the best, worst or average case scenario and try to control the things that are in my power.

I don’t care about the weather, politics or anything else that I can’t control.

It’s a waste of time, energy, and it’s not worth getting stressed out or upset over.

Dictators, saviors, terrorists, and peacemakers all need the same elements to be in place in order to be successful.

Good or bad, personal or business, the traits are all the same.

Committed to your success,

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitness consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one.