Take the Leap

 Take your first jump into the unknown

Ever jumped out of an airplane. I have.

The roar of the jet-engines was deafening, crammed into an Air Force C-7 with 59 other men and women ready to take their first leap into the unknown.

My first jump, I was what they call in the military “door man”, or woman, depending on the sexuality.

The pleasure of being door man is you get to stand at the open door of a perfectly functioning high-performance plane for 90 seconds while you wait to get the green light.

My body was spewing cortisol, epinephrine, nor-epinephrine. You name it, it was coursing. Here’s the crazy thing. I was calm and under control.

I knew my outcome, I was ready to take action, I was ready to adjust should things not go as planned. Most important, I had no fear. This is what being tuned in feels like. Total focus on what I wanted, what I needed, what I desired.

The light over my left shoulder turned green and a loud voice yelled “GO”! Without hesitation, I jumped. I jumped into the unknown. I had no idea if my main parachute would open. I had no idea if my reserve would open. I had no idea if any of the many variables that could lead to catastrophe would occur. All I knew is I had to jump. And I did. I jumped because I knew this is what I wanted, I knew what had to get done.

Like my story, in life, sometimes you just have to jump. Step up to the precipice, look down with a smile, and put one foot in front of the other.

I don’t care if it’s jumping into a new health discipline or starting a blog to better your writing, you have to take that first step into the unknown.

Before you jump you must first know your why. The reason for action in your life. Don’t be haphazard. Be ready for all the obstacles you may face. If you want it bad enough, nothing can stop you. The leap will be the first call to action for change.

Crucial values to harness:

Effort

It’s not going to be easy. That doesn’t matter though. You’re ready to work. Prepared to put in the hours, days, years necessary to get what you want. Be the warrior I know you are.

The effort we put forth will develop our skills. Our greatness will rise to the surface and become our natural state of being.

Discipline

They’ll be days where you’ll wonder if what your doing is right. You’ll want to let off the gas a bit. Don’t. Get up and get after it. Your discipline will be driven by the deliberate action you take each and every day.

Winners execute even when they don’t want to. Losers don’t.

Do things for a few years that no one wants to so you could live the life that no one else can.

Perseverance

No matter how hard it gets, don’t ever, ever stop grinding. Sometimes, effort isn’t enough. Life is fucking hard. You’ll be met with adversary’s who wish to knock you off course. The natural state of events will seem unfair.

Don’t let them stand in the way of what you want. This has to happen. Stay focused on the joy of achieving your dream.

Accept conditions as they come and adjust accordingly. Turn the obstacle upside down. Like Ryan Holiday talks about in The Obstacle is the Way, your perception of the hardship is step one. From here take action fueled by unrelenting will.

I am ready to put in the work. I’ll be taking a huge leap in the coming year. The real world awaits my arrival.

I say to it, “you better be fucking ready, because here I come”. I’m not scared, or anxious, or worried about what might happen. Fuck no. I’m excited, because I know I’m ready. I’m ready to do absolutely anything to reach my dream. Driven by my value system.

This is my life. My one shot to live a life fulfilled by my actions. If you’re comfortable on the sidelines watching everyone else who puts in the work play the game, that’s fine.

That is the beauty of being human, you can choose how you choose to live.

As for me, I want to make a difference. I want to live like God and the Universe intended me to. And I know you do to.

You must take the leap first. No fear of failure but excited for Life.

Go get what’s rightfully yours. Live your personal legend.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part. I used to be terrified of heights.