As I sit down to write this post, I think back to the moment when my mentor posed the question that changed everything for me. "Do you want me to tell you the biggest question you have in your mind?" he asked. I was curious, so I asked, "What's the question?" And then came the question that would ultimately lead me on a path of self-discovery and understanding: "You are asking yourself, are you a man?"
It might seem like a simple question on the surface, but for me, it was one that struck at the very core of my identity. For my entire life, I had been focused on external measures of strength and power. I spent countless hours training in Thai boxing and other martial arts, always striving to be the toughest and most formidable opponent in the ring. In my business relationships, I believed that success came from being tough and making hard decisions, even if it meant controlling others.
But despite all of this external strength, I realized that I was lacking something fundamental on the inside. I was soft, vulnerable, and uncertain about who I really was. That's why my mentor's question hit me so hard. Was I really a man, as I had always believed, or was there something else going on beneath the surface?
It wasn't until my mentor posed a follow-up question that I began to find my way towards an answer. He asked me to think about what animal I saw myself as. I thought about it for a while, and eventually settled on the idea that I was a big, strong animal - like an elephant or a giraffe - but one that didn't rely on violence or aggression to survive. I was a plant-eater, content to peacefully coexist with the world around me rather than dominating it.
This realization was a revelation for me. I suddenly understood that I didn't need to be aggressive or controlling in order to be successful. Instead, I could build my businesses and my relationships in a way that was true to who I really was - a big, gentle animal with a heart for kindness and empathy.
Of course, this realization wasn't without its challenges. For one thing, it was difficult to let go of the idea that toughness and aggression were the only paths to success. It was also hard to deal with the fact that not everyone saw the world the same way that I did. There were plenty of people out there who were predators or predictors, who saw the world as a place to be conquered rather than nurtured. It took time and effort to figure out how to navigate these differences and build relationships that were true to my values.
But in the end, I believe that the journey was worth it. Today, I'm happier and more fulfilled than ever before, precisely because I've learned to build my life and my businesses in a way that is true to who I really am. I've found that there are plenty of people out there who share my values, and who are looking for the same kind of connection and authenticity that I am. And I've learned that by being true to myself, I'm able to make a real impact in the world - one that's based on kindness, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility.
If there's one thing I want you to take away from my story, it's this: don't be afraid to ask yourself the hard questions. Don't be afraid to explore who you really are, and what kind of life you really want to live. And don't be afraid to embrace your true self, even if it means going against the grain or challenging the status quo.
At the end of the day, we all have a unique animal inside of us. We all have a way of seeing the world and interacting with it that is uniquely our own.
So ask yourself, "What animal are you?" and to make it easier choose from 4 different groups: (1) small plant-eaters like hamster or rabbits, (2) tricky predators like coyotes or hyenas, (3) cautious predators like lions or bears, (4) big plant-eaters like elephants or horses. It will give you a lot of power to understand how you see the world.🌍
P.S. This post was made automatically through a short 5-minutes video on Wois.io
🦁🐰🦝🦓 #selfdiscovery #strengths #careeradvice
