THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi all!

Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're diving into something deeply personal but universally relevant - the lies we tell ourselves and how they keep us stuck. I'm sharing my journey from being a two-pack-a-day smoker to finally breaking free, but this isn't just about cigarettes. It's about recognizing the stories we create that justify our behaviors, limit our growth, and prevent real change. Whether it's a habit you can't kick, a business decision you're avoiding, or a relationship pattern you can't break - the first step is always the same: stop lying to yourself. Let's dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE COMFORT OF SELF-DECEPTION

⁣For years, I was a two-pack-a-day smoker. That's 40 cigarettes. Every. Single. Day.

If you know me now, that seems insane. But it’s true. I had a perfect, rational explanation for each one: the morning cigarettes with coffee (essential), the stress relief smoke (deserved), the celebration smoke (earned), the social smoke (connection), the creative smoke (inspiration), and of course, the "last smoke of the day" (ritual).

I tried quitting multiple times. Patches. Gum. Cold turkey. Each attempt was sincere, and each failure had a perfectly reasonable explanation. "The timing wasn't right." "pro tools rig stops working." "I’m at Abbey Road with Oasis…might as well join everyone else!"

Maybe your self-deception wears a different disguise:

"I'll start the business once I have more experience."
"I'll have that difficult conversation when things calm down."
"I'm not micromanaging; I'm being thorough."
"I work better under pressure, so I'll start tomorrow."

The lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous because they come from the one source we're hardwired to trust implicitly: our own minds.

THE WAKE-UP MOMENT

The wake-up moment wasn't about willpower. It was about clarity. Once I saw through my own BS, continuing to smoke felt absurd.

This is true for any area where we're stuck: The breakthrough rarely comes from trying harder. It comes from seeing clearer.

THE SELF-DECEPTION DETECTOR

How do you know if you're lying to yourself? Here are some reliable indicators:

1. The "Special Case" Syndrome - Do you find yourself saying, "Yes, but my situation is different because..."?

2. The Moving Goalpost - "I'll do it when X happens" but when X happens, there's suddenly a Y and Z requirement too.

3. The Defensiveness Test - If someone questioning your choice makes you disproportionately angry or defensive, there's usually a lie hiding underneath.

4. The Energy Check - Self-deception is exhausting. If maintaining your position requires mental gymnastics, you might be propping up a lie.

5. The 3AM Test - What does your mind tell you at 3AM when the distractions are gone and it's just you with your thoughts?

6. That’s Just for X People - Do you think certain things in life are only for a class or group of people? Are you limiting yourself from getting what you want?

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

This week, choose one area where you suspect you might be lying to yourself. It could be a habit, a relationship, a business decision, or a belief about yourself.

For seven days, carry a small notebook or use a notes app. Every time you find yourself thinking about or engaging in this behavior, write down your justification for it in real-time. Be brutally honest.

At the end of the week, read all these justifications in one sitting. Look for patterns, contradictions, and emotional triggers. Often, seeing all our excuses collected in one place is enough to break their spell.

The goal isn't to judge yourself, but to see yourself clearly. Because clarity, not willpower, is what ultimately sets us free.

Would love to hear from you - what's one area where you suspect you might be telling yourself a story that's keeping you stuck?

READY TO LEVEL UP?

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