858. Better behavior = less reasoning.

Welcome to today's episode, where I dive deep into the power of self-confrontation and the often-ignored voice of reason within us. I read something from Tolstoy this morning that perfectly captures this struggle. He wrote, "Reason tells people how much they're at odds with how they should live." It's a profound thought. This passage is not just a quick read; it's a call to action, urging us to reflect and realign with our true selves.

In this episode, I'll unpack the conflict between our inner voice of reason and our everyday actions, which often contradict each other. The more we find ourselves reasoning or justifying behaviors that don't align with our best selves, the more we drift away from the life we aspire to live. It's about recognizing those moments when we silence our inner critic to maintain comfort but at the cost of our true potential.

Join me as I explore how confronting these truths about ourselves isn't just about making better choices tonight or tomorrow but setting a direction for life that truly reflects who we are and want to be. From reasoning with ourselves about why it's okay "just this once" to turn a critical eye on our daily decisions, this discussion is all about how real change starts with facing the hard truths and making one right decision at a time.

So, tune in, reflect, and maybe even challenge yourself to face what you've been avoiding. It's tough, but the path to self-realization is worth every step. Thanks for joining me on this journey. 

Keep it simple, keep it moving, never settle, stay tough. Peace.

Transcript

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Let me read something to you that I read from Tolstoy this morning. Reason tells people how much they're at odds with the way they should be living. But such behavior. Is so commonplace. And so pleasant. That people try to muffle the voice of reason. To prevent it from disrupting the way of life that they've been accustomed to. Tolstoy wrote that. This is one of those passages that you have to relisten to a couple of times. Maybe even write it out and look at it. It was like a clap back. And I'm like, wait a minute. What did I just read? So, let me unpack it the way I see it. The more you have to reason. And reasoning is explaining, justify something. So the more that you have to do that. The more that you're in conflict with your inner self. And you probably haven't given much thought to this because you're busy. Sometimes the most difficult and terrifying thing. Is to shut out the world. And confront yourself. I mean, think about like this when it comes to reasoning. If I decide that tonight. I want to go out on the town. And dude swap out any sort of D I'm I'm using health as an example, but you can use it for anything else. But if I decide that I'm just going to go out on the town, blow it up, man. I may eat everything. I see insight. I'm going to have drinks. If I make this decision tonight, will I be in conflict the next morning. Will I have to justify something. will I have to start over. Will I be condemning myself so much because the voice of condemnation is so dark and so heavy. That it lasts way longer. Then the whispers of comfort. I'll just do it. this once.. Condemnation goes on and on and on. And so if I make this decision, To do something destructive. Or that, only weakens me. Will I be in conflict the next day. Yeah. I could be. Mad at myself because I gave all my results back. If I was trying to get healthy. Are I drank too much and said something inappropriate or did something inappropriate. or maybe even worse, some sort of consequences where. I jumped in the car. And got a DUI. See that sets up the conflict. And instead of having that conversation with ourselves, We just string a bunch of behaviors, destructive behaviors. Together. But on the flip side, if I decide I'm not going to drink tonight, I'm going to go enjoy with, I'm going to enjoy a night out with my friends. I'm going to eat right. Will I be in conflict the next morning. No. There's no explanation. There's no condemnation. There's no justification. That I have to do. See, the more you have to enter in negotiations with yourself. In reasoning. And explain why it's okay. Just this once. Just this once is in a moment. It's a mindset. And so the more I have to do that, The more I'm separating myself. From the way I should be living. And the man I could become. Versus the man I am today. And so my behavior pulls me further and further away. And so in order to not have those conversations with ourselves, We string together a bunch of bad behaviors. And so we hang out with toxic people. That enable us. We continue to eat out. We go to social events that sets us up for drinking. And so we just continue to do that and justify. Why we have to do these things. Why you don't understand my situation. And we muffle out. The voice of reasoning. Reasoning. Is that inner check in your spirit that says, bro, you're not on the right path. You're not doing right. This isn't a good direction for you. And see direction is more important than speed. So if your destructive behaviors. are small and slow. We justify it. With small concessions. Small behaviors. But we don't give any thought to the direction that it's leading to. You remember the timeline we're on. Is eventually an ultimately eventually. Things are going to turn south. And ultimately. You're going to set yourself up for destruction. It doesn't lead in the right direction. And when you're willing. To sit down. And face yourself. And you actually drop. The reasoning, the explanations. And you confront. The real real. The real you. At first, man, it's going to be tough. But really after about a week or two. You're heading in a new direction. See your behaviors. Need to line up with your reasoning. And if you have good behaviors, dude just start with one thing today. Just whatever it is that you're an inner conflict with yourself. You know what that is? And there's all kinds of different categories. It could be finances, it could be health. It could be relationships. It could be career. It could be one of those categories, spiritual component, whatever it is that you're in conflict with yourself that you keep running from. That's what we do. Our behaviors just keep us running. But when you are willing to turn and confront and sit with that. And take it on. And drop the reasoning, the explanation, the justification, when you're willing to do that. This immediately. Sets change in order for you. And after about a week or two. In stringing these good behaviors together. You're off to the races. And what's really cool about it is. If you have the right behavior. There is no reasoning. Why would you have to explain. Something that you're doing productively. The times that we have to explain anything. Or because. We're not on the right path. And we're trying to justify. why This decision right now. It's okay. You can get away with it for now. Life is. Very forgiving. She'll let you get away with it for the day. For the week. Maybe a month or two. Maybe even a couple of years. But instead of life saying, it's time for you to confront yourself. And something so disruptive. And reaching that end point. Why don't I just have that conversation now. What is it that you're an inner conflict with yourself about. It's a check in your spirit., and your spirit is telling you. You should live differently. You're more than this. You've got such potential. Hard to hear. Hard to realize that. But the more you realize it. The less, you have to reason. So the realization. Sets up the behaviors. And so. You just do one thing today. And then tomorrow. Add something else. And when you're ready, add another component. And just get through the day. So that way tomorrow. I don't have to reason I don't have to explain. I'll have to justify anything. And it'll free up the emotional currency. To devote it. Toward other resources. That align with the person. And the potential. And the results. That you want to be. Thanks for sharing today's episode. Remember, keep it simple. Keep it moving. Never settle. State tough peace.