Have you ever seen that movie where the absurdly handsome lad from ‘The Hangover' takes a pill, which allows him to access 100% of his brain? He takes the pill, and instantly, his life changes. He becomes more productive, assured, confident, successful, and completely irresistible to women on top of it all. He even becomes (annoyingly) more handsome! It's a decent flick.
Anyway, I remember thinking afterwards, how great it would be if a drug like that actually existed. Well, it kind of does, except, we don't have to take a special pill to experience such a radical change in mindset, performance, and attitude. In fact, we don't have to take anything.
Some years had passed since I watched that movie, and I didn't really think about it again until I made a life changing, albeit accidental, discovery. By distancing myself from one of the most toxic, yet freely available drugs on the market, I transformed myself. I instantly became more productive, more confident, and more assured. (I'm just as resistible as before, I'm afraid).
I found that I had grown more comfortable in my own skin, where before I was living a life of uncertainty, unsure of who I was, what I was doing, and where I was going. My mental and physical health drastically improved, as soon as I took the decision to free myself from the clutches of that cavernous, engulfing darkness.
When I stopped drinking a year ago, I found that my mind gradually became more in tune with my body. I began to do things for myself, things that I actually wanted to do. I was pursuing passions, and feeding my soul.
12 months on, and I can honestly say it was the best decision of my life.
Very often we reach a stage in our lives where we desire something more; a longing to fulfill our potential perhaps, to find our true calling, or as Paulo Coelho so eloquently put it, to find our personal treasure. Sometimes our progress is halted, and we may recognize a need for change. We wish to be better versions of ourselves, but perhaps don't know what course of action to take, or are unwilling to break free from convention.
‘Ah, well if everyone else is doing it, I may as well!'
Pardon my French, but f*ck that! Look deep within and ask yourself, ‘is this the life that I have envisioned for myself?’ We are faced with choices every day, and each decision we make affects the course of our journey. Choose to be inspired; choose to be the best version of yourself. You can decide to live a life full of endless possibilities, a life that knows no limits. Or, you can have one for the road.
What'll it be?
Patrick Hyland is a native of Co. Laois, in the midlands of Ireland, and he now lays his hat in Seoul, South Korea. You can follow his blog The Irish Introvert, and you can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.
An entrepreneur and former senior oil broker, Ruari gave up drinking after excessive consumption almost cost him his marriage, and worse, his life. Going alcohol-free improved his relationships, career and energy levels, leading to him founding OYNB to provide a support network for others.
