It's All A Reflection Of You

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I used to get mad when I saw other people laughing.

And I never really understood why.

The sound of laughter triggered a certain part of my brain associated with hostility towards the people enjoying their company together.

And it only made me more bitter.

When I lacked any self-awareness, I chalked it up to my “nature”.

I’m a mysterious outcast. I don’t express my emotions as much as the average person. I’m quiet. Laughing is something I find irritable.

That’s just who I am.

What a naive way to think.

Yesterday, I was walking through a park in Osaka, Japan, and my fiancée and I witnessed something hilarious.

There was a person around our age jogging in the street up a hill, who looked like they were frolicking more than running.

Then, as I turned my head away from the runner to the sidewalk in front of me, I saw an old man (likely in his 60s or 70s) start to mimic the runner’s form.

It was so out of pocket that we couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Shortly after I composed myself, I noticed something.

The faces of the people around me had changed. I started paying attention to more of the smiles than the relaxed faces. It seemed like everyone’s mood in the surrounding area had shifted.

But it wasn’t their mood. It was mine.

How we perceive the world, and everyone in it, is almost always a direct reflection of your current internal state.

This isn’t even on some “shadow self”, Jungian shit.

It’s a straightforward way to get to know yourself.

If you want to know the level of appreciation, honesty, truth, love, and care you are living in, just look at your external reality.

How do the things outside of you look? Do they look nasty? Like they are trying to instigate you?

If I was still that rebellious, unaware kid, I bet I would’ve gone right back to focusing on solemn faces, rather than naturally directing my attention to those having a good time.

But instead, because of all the work I’ve done to reduce bad habits, talk nicely to myself, and enjoy the purpose of fulfilling a mission, the things I had no control over changing, changed too.

I’m not going to tell you that “happiness is a choice” or that “you can view any negative situation as a positive.”

But I am going to tell you that the main things you choose to focus on in your external reality, how you perceive them, and how they make you feel is a pretty decent gauge for how you currently feel about yourself.

And now that you’re aware, it’s time to change.

Self-mastery is a lifelong journey. You are always going to be discovering new things, evolving as a person, and growing into ever-greater identities.

If you’re in the stage where you are starting to know who you are, but you find it too hard to make any significant progress, you should consider joining my Self Mastery School.

Self Mastery School is a community for those who want to actualize their greatest potential, strengthen their self awareness, and develop a fulfilling life philosophy.

When you join the school, you’ll get access to:

• Full length courses/eBooks (including my Ultimate Self Mastery Course)

• Weekly coaching calls with the members and I (related to self-awareness, making money online, social skills, etc.)

• 1+ hour long lectures on self-mastery topics

• An exclusive community of ambitious, open-minded people

The friendships in there feel genuine.

And I have a feeling you’re going to find your tribe in there, too.

Here's some wins from our community:

I’ll see you in there.

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Thanks for reading, everyone. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

-Cole