Where Are You Now?

One of the most profound mindset lessons I’ve ever encountered came from the late Bob Proctor, in his book The Art of Living. I quote:

“One of the first lessons Ray Stanford taught me was that you have to look at where you are first and then where you’re going, and then you have to get moving. That is so simple and so obvious. Yet if that’s all there is to it—and there really is nothing else to it—then why are people so stuck?

The obvious thing is that they don’t know where they are going. In other words, they don’t have a goal. I used to think that was the problem, but I don’t anymore. I believe that most people have a goal. They may not be very articulate when it comes to describing the goal, they may not have written it down so that anybody could understand it, but I think they’ve got some point they’d like to move toward. So, what does that leave? It leaves where you are. I’ve become aware that the problem is right here—where you are right now.

Where are you? Well, most people say, “I know where I am, I am here at the Sheraton Hotel at your seminar.” Uh-huh. That’s where you are physically. But where are you mentally? Why would someone who knows all this great information continue to have a conflict, continue to be nonproductive, continue to be stuck?

The real challenge isn’t about where you’re going—it’s about where you are right now. Not physically, but mentally. You might know exactly where you are in a literal sense, but when it comes to your mind, it's a different story and we never actually think about this at all. Are you living in the present, or are you scattered across the past and the future or stuck in a story that happened years ago? I had to ask myself that very same question daily, where are you mentally? And when I took a hard look at my mental location, I was terrified.

Mentally, I was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. My thoughts were spread across past events, future worries, and other people’s business and drama. I wasn’t fully focused on my own garden—on building the life that I want for myself. I felt stuck, not only in a place that was not fulfilling, but where I was not doing anything special, in stories and in fulfilling relationships from years ago that were draining life and joy out of me and that I was enduring for some stupid noble principles.

Bob Proctor shared a brilliant concept about managing debt—set up an automatic payment system so you don’t have to constantly think about it. This frees up your mental space which allows you to focus on building prosperity mentally. This principle can be applied to any area of life where you feel stuck. The truth is, you're not physically stuck anywhere—it's your mindset that creates the feeling of being trapped. If you dislike your current job, first accept it as your present reality rather than resisting it. The more you resist it, the more it persists. Instead, of wallowing in situations you dislike, channel that energy into finding ways to thrive in the situation, to ensure that your story in that place or situation is short-lived.

There are positives in every situation, and while your current environment might not be your ideal one, it might be supporting you in some way—for me, having a comfortable salary that supports me financially, allow me the freedom to work on what truly matters. The key is to focus on building the life you desire, not on the negativity that pulls you down.

I was letting unnecessary things clutter my mind, pushing the important things—my dreams, my goals—into the background. I wasn’t laser-focused on my life like successful people are. The truth is that successful people don’t allow even the smallest fraction of their mental space to be occupied by things that don’t serve them or people that do not matter. They are committed to their personal growth and designing their lives. Every decision they make is aligned with their purpose.

Life is either happening to us or for us and we get to decide that. That’s a personal decision. My intention now is to ensure that I’m not just clear about where I want to go, but that my current mental environment is working for me, not against me.

Every morning, I program myself for success. I read my mission statement and align my actions for the day based on that. Throughout the day, I monitor what I allow into my mind—whether it's conversations, media, or even the people I interact with. And at night, I end the day the same way, with purpose and intention. I fill my mind with empowering thoughts, read my goals repeatedly, listen to podcasts that fuel my vision, and take courses that expand my knowledge. Mentally I refrain doing the unproductive things I used to engage in.

To be the hero of your own story, you must live like a champion. Think about the greats—Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Oprah. They all have one thing in common: they’re 100% committed to their lives, the usage of their mental space, and how they spend their energy. If you’re not willing to give your all to your dreams, it will reflect in your results. What you put in is exactly what you get out.

Where are you? And more importantly, where are you mentally at this moment?

An excerpt of my untitled autobiography book.