Hey friends! 👋
Living on autopilot is the best way to misuse the gift of life.
It’s like letting someone else take the wheel of your life's car.
If you’re a believer, imagine this: It's the day of resurrection, and you find yourself face to face with the ultimate interviewer.
They ask, "So, how did you live?"
Will you nervously confess, "Well, I basically danced to the tunes of my boss, dad, or spouse"?
Horrifying!.
Let's figure how not to end up empty headed on our death beds.
How to break free
If there is one powerful thing you can do to become the hero of your story, it’s cultivating self-awareness.
Self-awareness lays the foundation for personal growth, empowering you to make conscious choices aligned with your values, strengths, and dreams.
Today, we'll draw inspiration from the life of Christopher Nolan’s Batman.
That's right, the dark knight of Gotham.
He isn't just a master of combat and investigation; he's also a role model for taking control of your life.
By examining key aspects of his journey, we'll create a practical framework of self-awareness for our own heroic quests.
Here’s his story.
As a young boy, Bruce Wayne witnessed his parents' murder, igniting a desire for justice within him.
Instead of allowing that traumatic experience to define him or mindlessly spending his parents' wealth, Bruce took charge of his life and transformed into the caped crusader we admire today.
Priorities - Discover your true calling
It begins when Bruce realizes justice is important to him and Gotham City should be free from crime. Fueled by the corruption and injustice around him, Bruce commits himself to fighting crime and restoring justice to his city.
Fears - Confront them head-on
Embracing fears is beneath Batman. So he attacks them. In Batman Begins, he walks straight into the bat cave he feared his whole life, and literally lets the fear take over him. Ends up transforming it into a symbol of his power by branding himself with the thing he feared. Wow!Situation - Make resources count
In "The Dark Knight," Bruce leverages Wayne Enterprises to support his Batman agenda. He puts Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) in charge of Wayne. Fox builds a him a secret department that develops cool batman shit to aid him in field.
Boundaries - Stay true to yourself
Batman prevents external influences and his own emotions from compromising his mission. When Commissioner Gordon requests his identity, he offers only a clue. He also rejects Miranda Tate’s romantic advances, realizing she does not align with his values and goals.Action - Be the hero you are meant to be
Taking necessary action is a central theme in Nolan's trilogy. Bruce Wayne exemplifies this through his transformation from a bat-fearing, richie rich into Batman, a hero of justice. From the moment he dons the iconic suit, Batman demonstrates his unwavering commitment to taking action and making a difference in his city.
End of story.
Let’s break it down
Here’s are the five step route you can steal from Batman.
Identify your priorities: What are the things that matter to you? Write them down and prioritize in order of importance.
Date your fears: Find what do you fear the most and do that. Go to them and stay there until you come out wearing them like a crown.
Evaluate your situation: Take a hard look at your life. Are you spending time, energy, and resources on things that matter to you? Assessing your situation allows you to identify areas that require adjustment.
Set boundaries: Learn to say no. Don't be afraid to prioritize your own needs over others for your priorities and wellbeing. Constantly putting others first is the surest way to never be able to take control of your life.
Take action: Time to take matters in your own hands. Make choices that align with your values and develop a bias for action. Even if it may seem uncomfortable or difficult at first.
That’s it.
Five steps to turn you into the hero of your own story.
In conclusion, don't let life drive you on autopilot. Take control, become the architect of your own destiny, and craft a fulfilling and purposeful life.
A life that is designed by you. Not kismet, fate, the media, or your employer.
Remember 👇
When we don't take control of our lives, we end up feeling stuck, unfulfilled, and start blaming external factors.
There will always be external factors that are outside of your control, but focus on what you can control: Your thoughts, attitude, actions, and how you respond to situations.
Here’s a quick test:
When you fail at something…
Do you look inside to take responsibility?
Or do you look outside for external factors to blame?
Psychologists call it locus of control.
In my view, fate and system are often the biggest external factors we put blame on.
But often we are actually denying some reality, hiding an insecurity, or a personal behavior problem. That is the cause of our failure for that job offer, scholarship interview, or investor pitch.
A great thinker once said 👇
"I am the cause of everything that happens to me."
Final word.
Let's avoid regrets, missed opportunities, and living on autopilot.
Imagine the difference between sitting in the passenger's seat of life and taking the driver's seat. Seize the steering wheel, make intentional choices, and navigate towards the life you want to live.
While external factors can impact our lives, it's ultimately our choices that determine our trajectory.
And it's never too late to make a change and decide to do things you want to do.
Take the wheel and become the hero of your story!
The parting gift 🎁
Enjoy these soul-stirring tracks as you embark on your quest of self-awareness.
Thank you for being a part of The Strategic Self!
Until next week,
Hassaan