Marcus Lopes's Blog, page 4

Break the ‘Rules’

I have spent years reading books from the self-help/self-improvement industry in the hopes of creating meaningful change in my life. From Dale Carnegie and Jim Rohn to Stephen Covey and Jack Canfield to Tony Robbins and Ryan Holiday, I had been searching for hacks, strategies, or tricks to improve my life. And when you accept someone else’s—and really a whole generation’s—definition of success, you’re tempted to believe (as I did until recently) that you are broken. Because you haven’t kept up w...

Always Believe in Yourself

I decided back in April to go off the grid because I was in need of change—change so that I could get unstuck and figure out a way to live the life I imagined for myself. To that end, I got off social media (Facebook and Instagram), joined a coaching program, and tried to absorb as much self-improvement knowledge (books) as I could. Because I also wanted to decrease my screen time, I deleted the Apple Podcast app. As things started to settle, I learned that to believe in yourself you must cut ou...

Keep Showing Up

There’s only one person who needs to believe in you, one person who can change the course of your destiny: You. There is no one coming to save you, no one who can write your book or start your company. Only You. And on the days you’re tired—when you feel like nothing is going right—you need to keep showing up.

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I don’t know why, but for years I told myself that I didn’t want to run a marathon. “No interest,” is what I told myself and anyone who asked if...

Can You Push Through?

I’m tired. How am I supposed to push through this tiredness and write? Or run? That is a recurrent thought bouncing through my mind lately. Working the overnight shift since May, life has felt like a constant battle between fatigue and productivity. I don’t want to sleep the day away because I still want to write, run, and enjoy life. But that has meant getting, if I’m lucky, four or five hours of sleep. In the short-term, that seems fine, but long-term…?

To Grind or Not to Grind

Over the Thanks...

Do Not Quit

Back in May, I made the decision to switch from the afternoon to the overnight shift, working 11:00 pm to 7:30 am. The reason for the change in schedule was twofold: 1) to be able to participate in a weekly group coaching call, and 2) to escape the negativity and gossip running rampant on the afternoon shift. As a morning person, I accepted the costs associated with the change. The biggest one? Sleep. Especially when I already struggled with getting adequate sleep. And as I tried to pursue my cr...

Walk a ‘Fine’ Line

Whether you’ve been following my journey since the beginning or only just recently, you probably know that I’m a writer with a day job. That has meant that I’ve always worked in my writing around my work hours, making sure that writing is my number one priority outside of work. Over the years, that has meant I’ve had to walk a ‘fine’ line between the hustle mindset and personal self-care.

All or Nothing?

I’m an avid reader who loves to learn, so in addition to fiction I’m also reading a self-hel...

Stuckness

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being stuck. That feeling of, in everything you do, just treading water. You’re not moving, forward or backward. And sometimes it feels like you can barely keep your head above water. Or despite all your efforts, there doesn’t seem to be any proof that you’re making progress. Everyone around you is moving forward (that’s your perception) while you’re lost in a case of stuckness.

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Keep the Faith

Lately, I’ve been off balance. I’ve been struggling in my day job, trying to figure out if I should stay or leave. Deciding what to do isn’t always easy when you feel (like I do) that your values aren’t aligned with those of your colleagues. The question is, do I stay and work to effect positive change or do I throw in the towel? I remind myself that I have three options: accept it, change it, or remove myself from it. And as I contemplate the best course of action, I will keep the faith.

A Matt...

How Much Can You Endure?

It was a difficult summer that, in many ways, left me spent. Two deaths in the family. A recurring foot injury. Navigating a new health diagnosis. Managing through the dissatisfaction with my day job. There came a point when it felt like I’d hit the wall—a lack of energy, difficulty focusing, increasing impatience—and that I had no more to give. Every which way I turned, I was looking for just one reason to quit…everything. But, silently, a question kept nagging at me: how much can you endure?

P...

Every Decision Counts

When I woke up Tuesday morning around six, I rolled over and stayed under the covers. There have been days when I opted for store-baked pizza, intentionally avoiding the low-sodium options I knew were better for me. And there were days when I let the fatigue talk me out of running, telling myself I’ll do it tomorrow. But here’s the thing: every decision counts. Because the wrong decision can keep you from your dreams.

Be Intentional

For a while now, I felt like I haven’t been making the progress...