What’s Your Escape?

It may help you forget, but at some point you’re going to have to deal with life.

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In the years leading up to 2011, I was a TV addict! I had a DVR that was loaded with every variety of show imaginable, and I watched every episode. TV was my escape to a different life—a life much better than the one I was living. I worked 60 hours at a job I hated, and TV was a way to forget about the life I was living.

In 2011, I realized what was going on. I realized that if I was going to work on my dream, something had to give. I had a lot to accomplish. I had HUGE dreams, but the same amount of time to get it all done. When something had to go, TV became the obvious choice.

Giving up my favorite shows was hard. I had fallen in love with the story lines and characters. It didn’t go easy, but over time, I cut my TV viewing down to a few hours a month, that year.

I used that time to write, and build my business. I used that time to lose 170 pounds, eventually quit a job I hated, and move our family to Maui, Hawaii.

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When I thought about giving up TV, I realized something: TV was my escape. It’s where I could go to forget about the sucky life I was living. It was what I used to continue to live a complacent and “good enough” life. I became consumed with it because it distracted me from the reality of my situation.

What are you using as a distraction?

Distractions come in many forms. For some, it can be sports. It might be a team you’re on, a team you coach, or a professional sports team you follow. There’s nothing wrong with liking sports, but there’s a line that’s crossed when it’s your way to distract you from what’s going on in your life.

If I ask you about your favorite team, and you can tell me all the stats and so on, great. But if I ask you about the changes you want to make in your life—and you make excuses—then sports has become your distraction and escape.

For others, it can be social media, events, other people, jobs, and so on. There are so many things in life that can give us temporary relief, or a great excuse not to do something about what we want for our lives. They become an escape and a place for complacency to roam free.

There’s more to life

This isn’t meant to be a shot at you if you love TV, sports, or whatever. This is meant to be a barometer. I want you to get honest with yourself about what you want from life, and what you’re doing about it. At the end of the day, this is your life. If you want to live it distracted—that’s your prerogative. If you don’t see it as a distraction, I’ll shut up.

However, you can’t deceive what’s inside you. At some point, reality will set in and you could end up regretting the wasted time. Life is short—a death in your life has probably reminded you of this.

The pro’s will go on to make their millions and live the kind of life they want to live—even after they retire. You, however, will have wasted years chasing something that seem fulfilled, but wasn’t real. This can apply to any distraction.

Today is the day to figure out what you want from life and how to make that dream your reality. Today is the day to get honest about what’s distracted you, and convinced you that a “good enough” life is your only option.

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Chasing dreams is hard—it’s actually easier not to chase them. They will take time and test your patience, but they’re worth the trouble. Stop letting distractions keep you from your dream life.

Chasing dreams will be harder for some than others. There are some who will have to overcome incredible odds just to think about what they want from life–I get that. No matter what though, dreams are possible–even if they take longer to get there.

Ignore the doubt, fear, and the negative voices of the haters. Claim the life you truly deserve!

This article originally appeared on KimanziConsatble.com.

Audio version:

Have you let anything distract you from your dream?

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Photo: Flickr/bark

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