Everyone has days when things don’t go as planned. Maybe you messed up at work, or had a fight with your partner, are dealing with some weather-related blues, or perhaps you just can’t find the motivation to seize the day—and you don’t really know why. A Reddit user named ryans01 shared a lengthy comment jam packed with self-help tips in response to a post made by a fellow Reddit user.
The original post reads: “I have lots of things I want to learn and do with my life, but I can’t even bring myself to do what I’m required to do… I have no money, no one who really cares about me, shitty grades, shitty diet and exercise, and the worst part of it? It’s not even that I hate any of this. I hate feeling like this, but not even enough to do something about it.”
This is the advice ryans01 shared that made his reply go viral all over the internet:
“My name’s Ryan and I live in Canada. Just moved to a new city for a dream job that I got because of the rules below. I owe a lot of my success to people much cooler, kinder, more loving and greater than me. When I get the chance to maybe let a little bit of help out, it’s a way of thanking them,” he wrote.
He then delivered four simple rules.
- Have as many ‘Non Zero Days’ as you can.
- Be grateful to the three you’s (Past, Present and Future you)
- Forgive
- Exercise and read books. (You get endorphins and exercise your mind)
His concept of Non-Zero Days in particular has really resonated with many people: “There are no more zero days. What’s a zero day? A zero day is when you don’t do a single f**king thing towards whatever dream or goal or want or whatever that you got going on. No more zeros,” ryans01 wrote.
“I’m not saying you gotta bust an essay out everyday, that’s not the point. The point I’m trying to make is that you have to make yourself, promise yourself, that the new SYSTEM you live in is a NON-ZERO system. Didn’t do anything all f**king day and it’s 11:58 PM? Write one sentence. One pushup. Read one page of that chapter. One. Because one is non zero. You feel me?"
He went on to say "When you’re in the super vortex of being bummed your pattern of behavior is keeping the vortex going, that’s what you’re used to. Turning into productivity ultimate master of the universe doesn’t happen from the vortex. It happens from a massive string of CONSISTENT NON ZEROS. That’s rule number one. Do not forget.”
Rule two, “being grateful to the three you’s,” involves being grateful for all the positive things you have done in the past—and doing “favors for the future you like you would for your best bro. Feeling like shit today? Stop a second, think of a good decision you made yesterday. Salad and tuna instead of Big Mac? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME.” He then explains you treat future you like your best friend, doing things for them. “The cycle of doing something for someone else (future you) and thanking someone for the good in your life (past you) is key to building gratitude and productivity. Do not doubt me. Over time you should spread the gratitude to others who help you on your path.”
In Rule Three he advises "FORGIVE YOURSELF. I mean it. Maybe you got all the know-how, money, ability, strength and talent to do whatever is you wanna do. But lets say you still didn't do it. Now you're giving yourself shit for not doing what you need to, to be who you want to. Heads up champion, being disappointed in yourself causes you to be less productive. Tried your best to have a nonzero day yesterday and it failed? so what." ryan01 recommends you say to yourself "I forgive you previous self. I forgive you. But today? Today is a nonzero masterpiece to the best of my ability for future self."
He closes his sage advice in Rule Four with "its three words: exercise and books (which is a sneaky way of saying self improvement, both physical, emotional and mental). that's it. Pretty standard advice but when you exercise daily you actually get smarter. When you exercise you get high from endorphins (thanks body). When you exercise you clear your mind. When you exercise you are doing your future self a huge favor." He clarifies "As for books, almost every f**king thing we've all ever thought of, or felt, or gone through, or wanted, or wanted to know how to do, or whatever, has been figured out by someone else." We know this step will be easy for our website users because of our site's Recommend Reading info on the bottom of every page and our Store which also highlights books worth reading.
ryans01 summation at the bottom of his initial comment on the thread was "you become what you think. This doesn't mean if I think of a tree, I'll be oakin' it by august. It means that the WAY you think, the THINGS you think of, and the IDEAS YOU HOLD IN YOUR MIND defines the sum total that is you. You procrastinate all the time and got fear and worry goin' on for something? You are becoming a procrastinator. You keep thinking about how much you want to run that 5k race in the spring and finish a champion? Are ya keeping it in mind all the time? Is it something that is defining your ACTIONS and influencing you DECISIONS? If it is, then you're becoming the champion you're dreaming about. Dreaming about it makes it. Think and it shall be. But do not forget that action is thought's son. Thoughts without actions are nothing. Have faith in whatever it is you've steeled your mind to. Have faith and follow through with action.
How to Reset Your Mindset:
Inspired by: I just don't care about myself, I made a wallpaper, No More Zero Days’ Is The Self-Help Advice Going Viral, RESET Your MINDSET | The Secrets Billionaires Pay For (It Takes Only 1 Day)
Contributors: aryeo, Garnsworthy, Jasmine, Modified_Duck, ryans01, Video Advice
Recommended Reading: I just don't care about myself, No More Zero Days’ Is The Self-Help Advice Going Viral
Recommended Viewing: RESET Your MINDSET | The Secrets Billionaires Pay For (It Takes Only 1 Day)
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