WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?
In my experience, the old adage that nothing good happens after 3 am holds true. Why? Because if you’re still awake at this time, it’s likely that you have taken something to the extreme. And that something may well be your kryptonite.
Your post-3 am activity could be fuelled by alcohol, drugs, gaming, gambling or even work. Anything that causes you to lose balance has the power to be extremely destructive in your life, and may prevent you from truly fulfilling your purpose.
My kryptonite is alcohol. If I have a heavy night of drinking, I know it’s not good for me. I may say or do stupid things, and although I don’t get hangovers in the traditional sense, my brain feels dusty for a couple of days. This means my thought-processes and decision-making are slowed down, which is not good for business.
I have been reflecting on my desire to drink over the past few weeks. I love drinking. I consider myself a connoisseur, with an appreciation of fine wines and whiskies. As a publican, it’s part of my job.
The other aspect of drinking that I love is the socialising. I don’t drink every day, because I don’t drink at home. I don’t drink at home, because I don’t drink alone. For me, alcohol is about sharing. Sharing the experience and enjoyment of the wines and spirits, and sharing the conviviality that drinking can bring.
And so, as with anything that can be your kryptonite, there is a dichotomy. Eating a healthy diet can be beneficial, but when taken to the extreme may lead to orthorexia. Switching off from the pressures of the day by playing a computer game can be a great way to release tension, but if you’re glued to the screen for ten hours straight, you’re going to be missing out on real-world experiences. This is why self-awareness is so important.
The first step is to recognise and acknowledge those things in your life that have the potential to pull you away from your purpose. Until you create this awareness, you won’t understand the damage that could be done, and this will leave you really exposed. The second step is to consider what options are available to you so that you can bring things back into balance.
When it comes down to it, you need to learn to say ‘no’. For entrepreneurs, this can run counter to their natural mode of behaviour. I have been learning this lesson lately in relation to business.
For the first time in my life, I have been turning down new opportunities. I have begun to see the importance of focussing on my existing businesses, in order to ensure they are operating to the highest possible standard, rather than sticking my fingers into every single pie that is placed in front of me.
And this is the point. Life is a series of choices and consequences. If the consequence of your behaviour is that you are blocked from fulfilling your purpose, it is probably time to make different choices.
Change can be difficult, and not always desired. Patterns of behaviour will fight back hard when you decide to break them. You may find yourself coming up with every reason under the sun to justify continuing to behave in ways that you know are ultimately not helping you.
This is where you need to remind yourself of your values and your purpose. If your behaviour does not reflect your values or align with your purpose then it does not serve you.
Growth is often uncomfortable, whether it is physically, emotionally or spiritually. When you achieve growth, you become bigger, taller, and stronger. All of these things help you to fulfil your purpose. And your kryptonite will no longer have the power to bring you down.
Kristian Livolsi
