There are many reasons why inertia is preferable. Let the universe take its default course of action, which does not involve much of your sweat and discomfort. Why work hard, why engage in wild goose chases, why push against barriers, why risk failure, uncertainty and humiliation by proposing something new, what can you change about the universe anyway? Just keep doing whatever work of small importance you are busy with, stick to the dead end course of action that will lead you towards a mirage called security which you don’t really like but no significant achievements.

There would never be lack of excuses to postpone your big dreams, your ambitions and to not explore the boundaries of your abilities.

But you must do it for yourself. Irrespective of what difference it might make to the universe, it will certainly make a huge difference to yourself, as a person, as a being, as an independent existence. If you want to live a life driven by your own will, you have no choice – because in the default game which does not involve your sweat, you are just a pawn.

You are probably working on someone else’s agenda. You are probably a pawn in someone else’s game. You are not using your free will unless you are using your imagination to create your own destiny.

To convince you, these 3 reasons should be enough.

Reason 1 – You don’t want to have regrets when you die

Do you think when you are close to your last moments; you are going to have regrets? Are you going to think that you did not express yourself enough? That you did not become the best person you could become? That you worked too much and did not have enough time for yourself? That you did not chase your biggest dreams?

Well, you don’t have to go as far as your dying moment – you can look at people in their 40s. Most of their lives are already deserts of misgivings, about the things they should have gone after but never did. Even you may have some of those misgivings and regrets already – about things you wanted and never did anything to achieve, and its already too late.

It’s not easy to live the life you want to live – because no one wants you to do that. Your parents have a plan for you. The government has a role in mind for you. The education system, the economy, the employers – everyone wants you to be obedient and follow the role assigned to you – of a pawn in someone else’s game. Get the bloody work done, draw a salary, get the weekend off, and work for someone else for a pittance rest of the time. Take a loan, buy a car, build a house and keep working to pay off loans and credit card bills if you are lucky. Take pension, and take time off for yourself when you are old, barely alive, until you die.

The alternative is to live the life you really want. That involves taking risk, being a bit selfish, refusing to play to the tune of other people, inventing your own game, starting your own business or working on some other agenda which is your own, improving yourself to the point of excellence. It means working harder than the average person, having a plan, pushing against barriers which everyone consider invincible. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s the only way.

There is no choice – you either live the life you want or live the life according to other people’s agenda, as their pawn or you live the life of your dreams. It is a tough choice at the beginning, but in the long run it is obvious – because when you grow old, you want to feel like a person who lived well. You want to wear a smile of satisfaction. In the short run making your own path will be difficult, but you’ll be thrilled. You’ll feel like a man with a purpose. You’ll be a woman with an agenda.

Reason 2 – you hate slavery

Everyone, almost everyone who doesn’t go after their true ambitions, their dreams, feel like a slave at times. I have felt it. I have seen people I know go through that terrible pain. A bit more or a bit less. They have a bit of security, and a lot of insecurity too. The system gives them enough to keep them hooked, and betrays them on every step. The insecurity is necessary to keep you working, to keep the rush on, to not give you enough time or resources to work on your own agenda. Result?

People remain slaves of their own insecurity and never even realize that they live in a prison of their own creation.

Yes, the matrix is real.

Reason 3 – You are not a pawn

Maybe you are an artist. Maybe you are an explorer. You might be an innovator, a businessman, a philosopher, a dreamer. When you watch a movie, when you read a romance novel – you can feel that you are a central character – a hero or a heroine. You are the kind of person who makes things happen, not a passive side-actor. Not the nameless faceless people without a story. Not the one just taking orders or getting caught in the mailstrom of events.

You have a story, and you can take the lead role. You have to fight. You have to go through the pains and the challenges that suits a central character.

You have no real choice, but to live your story. Really, you need no reason to do it either.