Have you ever read the kids book “The Monster at the End of this Book“? This was my favorite book as a child. If you haven’t read it, especially if you have kids, you should pick up a copy, it is a great book.
In the book, Grover heard that there is a monster at the end of the book. Throughout the book he tries different methods to stop you from turning pages so you will not make it to the end because he is scared of the monster. *SPOILER ALERT* Of course there is no monster at the end of the book, it is only Grover.
So what does this have to do with self-improvement you might ask?
For most of the people out there, each of us has one, or several books with monsters at the end of them. In other words, we have things that we don’t try or don’t start because we are afraid of the monster at the end. This monster, whether it is physical harm, embarrassment, or failure, is almost always, just as in the book, only in our imagination.
In the book, Grover had been told that there was a monster at the end of the book. Maybe he was told this by a well meaning family member who wanted to save him from that monster. Maybe it was a friend who had tried to get to the end of the book himself and unfortunately had a bad experience. Or, just maybe, it was someone who also wanted to get to the end of the book, but was to scared themselves and was jealous of the fact that Grover might have been able to get there so they sabotaged his attempt.
Whoever it was, he probably shouldn’t have listened. It was a good thing that the dear reader came along to push him until he made it!
When you have one of these “books” in your life, sometimes all you hear are reasons why you can’t do it. Don’t listen. You need to try to face your fears, and push ahead and find out for yourself. Maybe you can take a hint from our friend Grover and find someone to help push you along, such as a mentor or coach. There are always going to be people that will tell you what you can’t do, but very few that will encourage you and help you reach your goals. That being said, it is these few that you need to actively seek out and get on your side.
Ask anyone that is of advanced age, and they will likely tell you that the things that they regret are not the things that they did, but the things that they did not attempt. So get out there, get out of your comfort zone, and start living your life and accomplishing your goals, rather than sitting on the sidelines waiting for that perfect time, because that perfect time will never come.
Remember, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” –Alan Kay
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