would you look up to yourself?

hey -

the idea of role models is important. i touched on my perception of role models and who i look up to before. ultimately, i think the most important role model in our lives is ourselves.

we are the reflection of our actions. we are the product of our lives.

ask yourself: would you be proud of what you’re doing right now?

if you wouldn’t, then please don’t do it. simple. it’s easier said than done, but everything that i say is the same case. but that’s exactly why it’s so powerful.

what i do throughout the day, up until the time i go to bed, is a reflection of how i feel about myself.

in my future, i want to have a kid and teach them all this wisdom that I talk about here. and, even better, i want to show them, by example, what it takes to live a happy and fulfilling life.

it’s a thought that makes it a little easier to cut out any self-destructing habits and behaviors. it not only makes me look better on the outside, but also it reminds myself of my strength on the inside.

we don’t always have people to lean on. we have to lean on ourselves. we have to be the kind of person that we need in times of distress, pain, and suffering.

what does that even look like? well, what kind of person would you want in your corner right now?

would you want emotional stability? how about compassion? cheerleading? humor? do you want to be heard? do you want to understand?

try being that person for yourself. and i know it’s tricky, i understand if there’s a contradicting dynamic there, but you owe it to yourself to try.

i’m not saying you don’t need anybody, but i’m saying that you most definitely need yourself.

we have to be willing to take a look at ourselves from a macro perspective. from a birds-eye view. we have to wonder if our actions today will make our lives better tomorrow.

we have to ask ourselves if we’d be the kind of person to look up to.

it doesn’t have to be for the sake of our future children or younger relatives. do it for the sake of you.

you don’t have to believe it now, but you deserve to look at yourself with grace and honor. you deserve to be okay. you deserve to win.

so please,

don’t make it harder on your future self by avoiding the things you should be doing right now.

see you then.

• Ethan