choose your enemies wisely

The sequel to last week’s dial, on choosing your battles wisely. 

Last week, I talked about why, and how you should choose your battles wisely.

Why you should avoid most fights and opinions in life, and choose only the ones that propel you upwards and out of that comfort zone.

In this dial, I’m telling you WHO to pick your battles with.

I’ve used this metaphor before, and I’m using it again because it is relevant, and is easy to relate.

Every dog has its day. The dogs are gonna keep barking.

You do not have time to bark back at each dog on your way.

If you do, they are still gonna be barking at you, probably because of the fact you are barking back at a dog.

They are going to clown you either way. You have a choice.

Having the right enemy is 100x more useful than your best friend.

Let me be clear.

This usage of the term enemy is not someone you emotionally hate and despise. This enemy is not the guy that your crush likes.

This enemy I’m talking about, simply put, is someone doing better than you.

It can be in any aspect.

You see that they are better academically, maybe you are a bit insecure about that.

They do the same amount of work as you, but does it in way less time and gets to go home early.

Maybe he/she is better looking than you, so you wanna step up your skincare game.

It could be anything.

An enemy, in this definition, is someone that pushes you. They are your accelerator.

Your catalyst.

Remember this, they are your catalyst. But that could mean deceleration as well.

They could be the reason you grow and grow, or they could be the ignition to your downfall.

It’s all about how you perceive it.

When I was starting to work out, I took the next smallest guy in the gym as my enemy.

All that mattered to me was getting bigger than him.

I knew that if I chose the biggest guy in the gym as my first enemy, I’d have quit the gym the very next day.

Because I’d simply be unmotivated.

And enemy after enemy, I conquered.

Until I became my own enemy.

I did this with every aspect of my life, subconsciously.

On the pitch, every time I play, I now have such a huge ego and character that I think I’m unstoppable.

That I’m the best player on that ground that day.

And I choose the second-best guy, and my only goal is to outperform him.

Yes, some days I am definitely NOT the best player.

But my mindset alone, the sheer confidence in my eyes.

That is enough to throw people off.

And I know this because they have told me themselves.

And on the days when my performance has let me down,

my ego never fails to pull through.

Fight for something that’s bigger than you.

Only then will you fight your hardest.

Turn pain into purpose.

Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor.

Go head-to-head with adversity, at its worst. Stare it in it’s face.

Push.

I promise you, you will get through whatever it is you think you won’t.

You would be amazed with the things you can do when it’s do-or-die.

Identify enemies that inspire action and motivate growth.

Avoid petty grudges and focus on worthy opponents.

They are a waste of your time.

As you grow and achieve bigger and better goals, new enemies will present themselves, making your life all the more entertaining.

Because that’s how I see it now. A game.

It’s like moving up levels in a video game.

The only difference is, the final boss is YOU.

You are your biggest enemy.

Use you.

Be better than you were yesterday.

Do this, and you will never have to wait for an enemy again in your life.

Because the only enemy you need…

is right there in that mirror.

Godspeed. ⚡️