The power of this statement lies in its simplicity.
Humans have a tendency of roaming through life finding hurdles that will not allow them to become the people they think they should be. They feel enslaved by the economic and political systems of their nation, by the family they were born into, by the circumstances they have been unwillingly hurled into, by their own genetics, even.
The thought often goes like this: “If ‘insert external problem here’ didn’t exist, I would be so far ahead right now. Things would be so different. They would be so much better!”
This assessment could many times be accurate and fair. There may be challenges ahead that will slow down, even halt your progress. But they will also teach you, train you, make you stronger. Life is a workout and problems are the weights you must lift repetitively in order to build muscle and get yourself in strong emotional shape.
However, you often use those challenges as excuses for not getting shit done, for not being the best version of yourself. You become imprisoned in your own excuses, you become captive to your own mindset and lack of accountability. And so, you become your own captor.
It is wise to keep this truth in mind the next time you look for an excuse instead of a plan of action. Remember, the keys to the cage are in your hands. The freedom to be who you want to be depends on you.