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Cody Alt | March 26, 2025

Buckle up – this isn’t going to be a comfortable read, but it might just be the wake-up call you need. Let's go.

1. You’re Not Special ​ ​ Hard pill to swallow, isn’t it? In a world of participation trophies, we’ve been conditioned to believe we’re all extraordinary. The truth? You’re one of billions. Your uniqueness doesn’t entitle you to success. It’s what you do with your ordinary self that makes you extraordinary. ​
2. Life Isn’t Fair ​ ​ Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can stop wasting energy on “why me?” and start focusing on “what now?” ​
3. You’re Going to Die ​ Morbid, but motivating. Every second you spend scrolling mindlessly is a second closer to the end. How are you using your limited time? ​
4. Everyone You Love Will Die ​ ​ Another cheerful one, right? But it’s a powerful reminder to cherish your relationships now. Have you told your loved ones what they mean to you recently? ​
5. You Can’t Please Everyone ​ ​ Stop trying. It’s exhausting and futile. Instead, focus on pleasing the person in the mirror. Are you living up to your own standards? ​
6. Not Everyone Will Like You And that’s okay. ​ ​ Your energy is better spent deepening connections with those who appreciate you for who you are. ​
7. Your Flaws Are Real We all have them. ​ ​ The question is: are you working on yours or just pretending they don’t exist? ​
8. Nothing Is Permanent ​ ​ That job you hate? It’ll end. That relationship you cherish? It’ll change. Impermanence is the only constant. How does this change your perspective on your current situation? ​
9. You Can’t Change the Past ​ ​ But you can learn from it. Stop reliving old mistakes and start using them as stepping stones. ​
10. You’re Responsible for Your Actions ​ ​ No more blaming your parents, your boss, or the economy. Own your choices. How are you going to take responsibility for your life today? ​
11. Success Takes Work ​ ​ There’s no shortcut, no hack, no secret formula. It’s about showing up day after day, especially when you don’t feel like it. ​
12. Failure Is Okay ​ ​ In fact, it’s necessary. Every successful person you admire has failed repeatedly. What matters is how you respond to failure. ​
13. You’re Not Always Right ​ ​ Your opinions, beliefs, and worldviews are just that – yours. They’re not universal truths. How often do you challenge your own assumptions? ​
14. Life Is Unpredictable ​ ​ Your carefully laid plans will get derailed. Your ability to adapt is far more valuable than your ability to plan. ​
15. You’re Going to Face Rejection ​ ​ In love, in business, in life. It’s not about avoiding rejection; it’s about learning to handle it gracefully. ​
16. You Have to Work Hard for What You Want ​ ​ Dreaming is easy. Doing is hard. What concrete steps are you taking today towards your goals? ​
17. Time Is Valuable ​ ​ You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. How are you investing your most precious resource? ​
18. You Have to Take Risks ​ ​ Comfort is the enemy of growth. What’s something that scares you that you need to do anyway? ​
19. You’re Not Always Going to Feel Motivated ​ ​ Discipline trumps motivation every time. What systems do you have in place to keep you moving forward, even when you don’t feel like it? ​
20. You Can’t Control Everything ​ ​ But you can control your reactions. In a world of chaos, your response is your superpower.

If reading this was uncomfortable, good.

Discomfort is where growth happens.

The ability to face these truths head-on will serve you well when life inevitably throws them at you.

For those ready to dig deeper, I recommend starting books by Marcus Aurelius. Stoic philosophy has been a game-changer for me in facing life’s harsh realities.

To your uncomfortable growth.

Your Montana Friend,

Cody

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Have a positive week,

Cody