“You may delay, but time will not.” — Benjamin Franklin
#4 Stop Lying to Yourself
It’s uncomfortable to admit, but one of the biggest things holding people back is self-dishonesty.
We tell ourselves stories like:
“I’m doing my best.”
“I don’t have time.”
“It’s too late for me.”
These little lies create comfortable excuses — but they slowly kill dreams.
Practical Action:
Every week, ask yourself honestly:
Where am I fooling myself?
What hard truth am I avoiding?
Facing reality — even when it stings — frees you to take real control of your life.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, said:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
And honesty is the foundation of any system that actually works.
Example:
Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, admitted early failures and weaknesses openly. Instead of blaming the economy or competitors, he asked the hard questions — and led Starbucks through major turnarounds.