Brutal truth about going your way own in life

It's YOU against the world.

Going against the norms is never easy. Just ask anyone who has done it.

Here’s my story:

Six years ago, I received the award for the most disciplined student at my former high school.

To me, it was obvious. I was the top student, consistently earning 'A' grades in every exam. I was almost always on the right side of things and a favorite among my teachers.

After high school, I reflected with some friends and realized one thing:

my high school life was pretty boring.

It was filled with routines optimized for one main priority—academics. And being on the right side of everything meant I followed every rule and regulation.

When it was time to prep, I studied.

During lessons, I paid attention.

When it was time for games, I played football... hard!

While my friends were busy making “good old days” memories by getting punished for making fun of teachers, I was focused on building my future and establishing my career.

And yes, my hard work paid off; I was admitted to one of the best universities in the country. But that win came with a new sense of accountability.

Suddenly, there was no one to tell me what to do.

For someone who had lived in the shadows of others my whole life, that was a challenge. I had never experienced such freedom before.

No rules. No one cared about what I did or didn’t do.

I could go to class or skip it; lectures didn't mind.

I could wake up at 10 a.m., eat lunch at 4 p.m., and go to bed at 3 a.m. No one cared. :)

So, what did I do?

I began exploring different ways to fill my time outside of classes and assignments:

- Dating girls

- Drinking alcohol

- Traveling

- Figuring out my purpose

At least, that was the order of priorities.

The first three pursuits worked out quite well, though my financial situation was limited. I needed nice clothes to impress girls and money to buy tickets to escape my current reality and fund my travels.

After 18 months in university, I felt lost more than before.

The only thing left on my checklist was figuring out my purpose—what I truly wanted to do with my life, not what my teachers or parents wanted for their own gratification.

So, I made the biggest decision I had ever made:

I quit university.

I then entered a “Monk Mode” period in my life, which I called “FINDING ME.”

During this time,

- I read books,

- listened to podcasts,

- journaled daily, and

- walked over 10,000 steps to reflect.

Taking full ownership of my life has been the hardest thing I’ve done to date.

I made mistakes, learned, and failed. But one thing remained constant: figuring things out is how you create an adventurous life.

Living my life on my terms and waking up every day to make decisions that align with my desired future is how I maintain control. Everything else I've done, other than this, has been a distraction. (I'm not perfect, and neither is anyone else.)

Coz hey,

When it’s all said and done, you want to know that you took full responsibility for your life, leaving no one else to blame for how it turned out. If you find yourself blaming someone other than yourself, it’s high time to wake up.

Take charge, or you'll forever remain in someone else's shadow, and you’ll never truly "grow," if you know what I mean.

P.S

So, I’m curious: what’s the biggest decision you’ve made in your life so far, and what circumstances led you to make it?

I reply to every email so shoot your response.

Talk soon,

Dennis.