Under pressure! When we’re leveling up and shifting to a greater reality for ourselves, things get hard. To level up, we need to choose to go through defining moments, moments when we change our lives. We create these moments when we shift our identity and work to become a greater version of self. Some examples of defining moments are working towards a degree, getting a new job, and training for a triathlon. We are leveling up because we’re moving in a new direction. We are creating a new identity by pursuing a new objective or goal. Inherently, our lives can't stay the same when we start to do something different. This means the rest of the life we lead tends to shift as well. When we train for a triathlon, we align with different people than if we were to spend the morning drinking a latte and reading the news. Think about it though, would you prefer to prioritize your present happiness at the expense of your health or instead prioritize your health and future by exercising? Think of the different people you meet through each of these activities. Start to notice the people around. Are you happy where you are?
As we align with new people and experiences, the thoughts we have will change because we will be exposed to new environments. So really, making steps towards a new goal is life changing. It happens in small ways over time, but eventually it reaches a peak. At the peak, the old life tries to hold on, and we may be tempted by this old life of comfort — our life from the past. However, when we make it through this threshold and successfully incorporate the new identity, we are rewarded. The reward depends on the shift in identity. So we keep pushing, and remind ourselves of the people we are becoming because the greatest reward is a new you, a new reality, and most importantly, a new life.