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Stop Scrolling, Start Living: Why the Universe Is Laughing at Your Excuses (And What to Do About It)

The more time you waste on mindless distractions, the more people with less talent leave you in the dust. Here's how to turn it all around.

Thanks for reading Avik’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Let’s be real for a moment. If you've been aimlessly scrolling through social media, watching the same 5-second cat video on repeat, or hanging out with people who think ambition is a brand of energy drink, you already know what’s happening. The universe is sitting there, sipping on its cosmic tea, shaking its head, and wondering: "When are they going to figure it out?"

Because guess what? You’re not behind in life because you’re less talented. Nope. The truth is far more inconvenient: you’re just being out-disciplined. Right now, people with half your skillset are out there crushing it—not because they’re better than you, but because they had the courage to start.

And you? You’re here, reading this. But that’s about to change. Because I’m going to show you exactly how to flip the script, starting today.

Procrastination: The Silent Killer of Dreams

I know what you’re thinking: "I’ll start tomorrow." But here’s the thing—you won’t. Tomorrow is just today with a better marketing team. It promises you all these amazing things like "fresh starts" and "better motivation," but it’s just as lazy as today if you let it be.

Picture this: You’re standing at the foot of a hill, staring up at people who are already halfway to the top. You’ve got stronger legs, better shoes, and way more charisma (obviously). But instead of taking that first step, you’ve been busy thinking, "I’ll wait for the weather to improve," or "I’ll just watch one more episode." Meanwhile, those folks with less stamina are halfway to the summit, waving down at you like, "What’s taking you so long?"

See, the hill isn’t your problem. It’s the waiting at the bottom.

People ahead of you aren’t smarter, they’re just more disciplined. They had the courage to lace up their shoes and start climbing when you were still mentally reviewing all the ways it could go wrong. They ignored the forecast and just went for it. And surprise—they’re making it happen while you’re still sitting at the base camp, mastering the art of thinking without doing.

Thanks for reading Avik’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

So, What Should You Do? (Hint: Not This)

Here’s a wild idea: Start.

That business you’ve been dreaming of? The YouTube channel that’s been floating around in your head? The skill you’ve been meaning to learn, but haven't because, I don’t know, Netflix dropped another season of somebody-get-me-off-this-couch?

Yeah, that thing. Start today.

Because let me hit you with some hard truth: if your life continues on its current trajectory, your future is incredibly predictable. You’ll still be scrolling through TikTok while someone else with less talent and more courage is off living your dream life. How tragic would that be?

It doesn’t have to be this way, though.

The moment you decide to act, to stop overthinking every tiny detail and just go for it, your life changes. Will it be uncomfortable? Absolutely. Will it be worth it? 1000%. Will it be as satisfying as binge-watching an entire series in one sitting? Okay, maybe not in the short term, but in the long run, it's way more rewarding.

Ever heard the saying, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is now?" Yeah, it’s cliché, but there’s a reason you’ve heard it so many times: it’s true.

If you had started that project a year ago, you’d be a year into your success journey right now. But you didn’t. And that's okay. The next best time is today. Plant that metaphorical tree, my friend, before the only thing you’re planting is excuses.

Fear of Failure: The World’s Worst Motivational Speaker

"But what if I fail?" Ah, yes. The fear that has launched a thousand procrastinations.

Failure is like that guy who turns up uninvited at every party, making things awkward. Nobody wants to deal with him, but you know what? He’s there anyway, so you might as well learn to laugh at his lame jokes. Every success story includes a cameo from Failure. The difference is that successful people let Failure show up, do his thing, and then get back to work.

You can be like them. Or you can let Failure park on your couch, eat all your chips, and convince you to stay right where you are.

Small Changes, Big Results

Now, I’m not saying you need to overhaul your entire life by Friday. Start small. Take one tiny step today.

Want to start a business? Open that Google Doc and jot down your idea. Thinking of launching a YouTube channel? Record one quick video—even if it’s just you talking to your camera for practice. Want to learn a new skill? Watch one tutorial or read one article.

Small changes add up. Like compound interest, they grow over time, even if the initial shift seems microscopic.

Here’s an analogy: Think of your life as a big, fancy cruise ship. You don’t have to do a full U-turn to head in a better direction; you just need to adjust the wheel a little. Sure, you won’t feel the difference immediately, but in a month, a year, or five years, that tiny shift will have taken you to a completely different destination.

The Magic of Consistency

If you’ve gotten this far, I’m willing to bet you’re serious about turning things around. So here’s your secret weapon: consistency.

It’s not sexy, but it works. Imagine brushing your teeth once and expecting to never have cavities again. Ridiculous, right? The same goes for success. You don’t do it once; you do it every day. It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about showing up, even when you’d rather hide under the covers and pretend the world doesn’t exist.

Success is a marathon, not a sprint. And it’s one that’s won by the people who are willing to put one foot in front of the other, day in and day out.


Sign-Off:

So, what are you waiting for? The best time to start was 20 years ago, but since we haven’t yet perfected time travel, the second-best time is now. Stop scrolling and start living. You’ve got this—just take that first step.

PS:
If you needed a sign from the universe, this is it. Also, the universe says, “You’re welcome.”

Thanks for reading Avik’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Avik’s Substack
Avik’s Substack