Are You Tired of Being You?

Have you ever listened to a song you've heard hundreds or thousands of times, but this time, it resonates with you in a different way? While listening to Pandora, I heard a favorite of mine from college. As I was getting ready for work, “Change Your Mind” by Sister Hazel was playing in the background and I was singing along like I normally do.

But when the song got to the chorus, I actually listened to the words and remembered the meaning it had for me several years ago. I want to share are a few lines of that song with you and how they've impacted my life in a unique and positive way.

I'm going to take the song out of order, so any fans of the song, please forgive me:

Did you ever think there might be another way, To just feel better… about today… If you've had enough of all your trying, Just give up the state of mind you're in.

There is almost always more than one way to do things. It's not always as easy as right or wrong, black or white. When your world is turned up side down, it doesn't have to stay that way. Avoiding a situation won't make it better and leaving rarely makes a problem go away (not the serious ones anyway).

Sometimes it is us who needs to change and to grow. I'm reminded of this quote by Jim Rohn –

“Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.”

Today may bring challenges you'd rather not face, but you can't continue to run from your problems. You just need to face your fears and change your way of thinking. Change your state of mind and change your future.

Hey hey, what d'ya say, we both go and seize the day, Cause what's your hurry, what's your hurry anyway?

We should seize the day. Carpe Diem. But at the same time, whats the hurry? We have no guarantees in life. While we should plan for the future, we need to appreciate the present.

Those of us lucky enough to have families need to hold them close. Those of us lucky enough to have true friends need to cherish them. Tomorrow isn't promised to us, we only have today. Make the most out of it, and do today what you may not have a chance to do tomorrow.

Lastly, and this is my favorite part of the song:

“If you wanna be somebody else, If you're tired of losing battles with yourself, If you wanna be somebody else, Change your mind.”

I wish I'd come up with that piece of advice on my own. This commentary on how the mind works speaks volumes.

If you want to be somebody else, change yourself. There is no limit to the knowledge we can acquire or the skills we can master. (Tweet that!)

If you wish you knew more about cars, read a book. If you wish you were better at basketball, go to the gym and play. If you wish you were_________ (fill in the blank), then do something about it.

We live in a time where knowledge is literally at our fingertips. Through the internet we can earn degrees, learn other languages, and even watch NASA astronauts live. But don't just live vicariously, seize the day! If you've got a gloomy personality, change your outlook. If you want to be the CEO of a company, change your mind by developing the knowledge to do so and the skills to make it happen.

I hope you find this article and this song as encouraging as I did. Even writing it, I was encouraged to pick up a book and learn something new. I don't want you to be somebody else, I want you to be who you are. But, (isn't there always a but?) if you want to be more than you are now, it's either as simple, or as hard, as changing your mind!

Be encouraged! Take life by the horns and seize the day!