10 Brutal Truths About Life No One Wants to Admit

In life, we’re faced with a lot of inconvenient truths. As children, we’re protected from some of these truths because we just don’t have to face them. We’re still convinced that we’re going to grow up and become a superhero or that we’re going to be rich and famous. As adults, we know these things just aren’t possible. Superpowers only exist in comic books and income inequality is a very real thing that you’re probably going to be on the wrong end of.

As we grow up and become adults, we’re faced with more and more of these truths. It can be disillusioning. It leads people to become depressed or anxious, and it can take the sparkle and magic out of life—especially if you’re facing harsh realities hard and fast.

You need to set your expectations. Face these truths head-on and see that while they may be brutal, they’re reality and there’s no changing them. Acceptance can protect you from being blindsided by these natural facts of life, and will help prepare you for the day when you eventually have to face them. Here are 10 of the most brutal truths, hard as they are to talk about:

  1. You’re going to die and you have no idea when. It might be from a car crash or cancer, or it could be peacefully in bed at the ripe old age of 110. Death comes for us all and it’s inescapable. Don’t spend time worrying about how or when—instead, look at the inverse. Until you die, you have infinite life left to live!
  2. There is no get rich quick scheme. You’re not going to make a million dollars overnight—at least not without doing something illicit. If you want to be rich, you first need to be smart and tenacious. The only way a million dollars is going to show up in your bank account is when the check clears after a long, arduous effort.
  3. You’re going to fail, even when you try hard. Parents like to tell their kids that as long as they try hard, they’re going to be a winner. Tell that to the basketball player who puts up 40pts, but loses because the other team put up 41pts. Personal tenacity is an amazing quality, but hard work can only go so far by itself. Don’t stop working hard—just make sure you’re also working smart and using your resources wisely.
  4. Bad people get away with it sometimes. As kids, we believe justice is absolute. When someone does a bad thing, they go to jail and all is right in the world. This just isn’t the case. Lots of factors affect justice and often, bad people do bad things and walk free. It’s up to us to be the moral paragons we want to see in the world.
  5. There are some things you can’t fix. Sometimes, there isn’t a “do-over” button. You can make mistakes that can’t be fixed—cheating on a loved one and losing the relationship or passing up an opportunity someone else takes instead. Don’t focus on these mistakes or missteps. Move past them and use them as a learning experience for next time.
  6. Time is more valuable than money. As kids, we have a ton of time and no money. As adults, it’s rare we have any of either! There comes a time when we start to realize that money can be earned; time can’t. You can’t get time back, making it a precious commodity that everyone treasures.
  7. Everyone’s life is hard, not just yours. When we’re going through a rough patch, we can get a little self-absorbed. “My life is so hard.” But the reality is, it’s always better than someone else’s. Don’t look for sympathy—look at the good things you can appreciate and take comfort in!
  8. Perception is reality. It doesn’t matter what you say or do sometimes—it matters how people perceive it. We’re often defined by the world around us, and if that world believes something is true, it’s up to us to set the record straight. If we don’t, we become whatever people believe us to be.
  9. Ambition needs execution. You might be the smartest person in the world or have the loftiest goals of anyone you know… but if you do nothing with them, then you’re nothing. Potential counts for nothing in this world. What truly matters is action and achievement, both of which need execution.
  10. It’s not what happens; it’s how you react. Bad things happen to all of us. Your car breaks down. You get sick. Your dog dies. You can’t stop these things from happening. All you can control is how you react to them. If you wallow in them or play the pity card, you’ll always be mired in what you can’t control. Instead, choose to take action and process your situation in the most positive way possible.

These are just a few of the universal truths every person needs to recognize. You’ll encounter them in your everyday life, and they’re worth bearing in mind. They’re just part of life! The sooner you face them and accept them, the sooner you’ll be at peace with them.

Evan DeMarco

Evan DeMarco is a leading sports medicine and nutrition expert, published author, public speaker and frequent guest on television, radio, and digital platforms.

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