I love listening to podcasts. I also love reading. I love writing even more than those.
No, these are not my three truths.
Lewis Howes has become someone I listen to frequently. I read Ryan Holiday’s books quite often. I write above all else.
For those wondering who Lewis Howes is, well here you are.
Lewis Howes is an athlete turned podcaster and author. While one sentence does not explain who is is or even close to what he does, this is the basic version.
The over-explained version is that Lewis was struck with a horrible injury that ended his football playing career, leading him to find a new avenue in life: achieving greatness on his terms, not life’s.
Lewis is a two-sport athlete, not just a footballer. He is a New York Times bestseller. He hosts a Top 100 podcast. I’m paraphrasing from his website (click here!), but I’m also explaining what makes him a great follow, listen, read, etc.
I have questioned my life for decades. I want to be great and do great things for humanity, but I have also been my own worst enemy throughout my life.
For quite some time, I have been asking myself the very questions that Lewis ends each podcast with.
“Imagine it’s your last day on earth, many years from now, and you’ve accomplished everything you’ve ever dreamed of. But for whatever reason, you have to take all of your content with you and no one has access to any of your information anymore. But you get to leave behind three truths — three lessons that you want to leave with the world. What would be your three truths?”
And the second is, “What’s your definition of greatness?”
OK, Lewis Howes, you got me. Here are my three truths.
- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I spent my early years in life (middle and high school) deferring to others. I was shy, I was an introvert. I just wanted to do my own thing. Once I started college, I became an extrovert. I tried new things. I dated all types of women. I also became something I am not. I became a criminal. I became someone that lied, cheated, and stole. In turn, I received what I had come to me. This left me in a very dark and lonely place in life. I wish that on no one. So be kind. Do not hurt someone to make yourself feel better or stand out. Do unto others.
- Follow your arrow. No one in our lives knows what we go through, more than ourselves. I mean this on a truly deep level. I can speak with a therapist weekly about what goes on inside my head. I can let my wife know what I used to be like. I can let the world know who I am, and what I want out of life, but at the end of the day; my life is in my hands. It is also in my head. My life, my thoughts. Only I know what makes me happy. Only I know what I like and don’t like. I wish I had followed my happiness a lot sooner in life. Maybe I would have avoided the darkness that consumed me. I was 30 years old when I finally went back to school to chase a dream. My passion was being kind, funny, and helping people. I went back to college to obtain a funeral service degree and I have not looked back since. The best decision (professionally) of my life. I finally followed my arrow.
- Let go and let God. There will be times in our lives when we do the right thing. We can say the right things, and feel like we are being all this is right and Holy in this world. And still, it will not matter. Bad things happen to good people. Liars, cheaters, haters, thieves, and abusers will seem like they catch a break; or have something good (lucky) happen to them. In life, and in death, there are moments we cannot explain. Good or bad, life happens to us all. Dying is easy. Living is the hard part. It is also the most rewarding. Life is the greatest gift of all. Let’s not waste it by worrying about things we cannot control. We’re not God. No one is. Do the best you can, with what you have. The more honest and hard-working you can be, the better your results will yield; versus the person who cuts corners, belittles, and holds power over someone else. As much as we want to believe we can control every outcome in our lives, we cannot. Let go and let God.
I want to leave you behind with my definition of greatness.
Greatness (to me) is defined as one’s overarching acts of kindness, regardless of acknowledgment. A great king is a great king not because he rules over a kingdom, but because of the love, care, and protection for his people. I want to do great things in life. Do I want to do this for fame, or money, or exposure? No. I want to achieve greatness in my life so I can feel like I left this world in a little better shape than when I came into it. I want to be great for my wife, my family, and my friends. I want them to share in my glory. I don’t need it. I don’t want it. I just want to make myself happy and help others along the way.
It’s my turn to leave you, the reader, with the two questions Lewis leaves his followers: What are your three truths? What is your definition of greatness?
Thank you, Lewis Howes, for the questions, and for being great.
Life, Death, and Everything in Between. 