When’s the last time you were desperate? Not like thirsty (yeah, I’ve got rizz… sorry, give me a second while I wash the vomit taste out of my mouth). I mean the kind of desperate where you see no way out of a bad situation.

You’d cling to any shred of hope you can, wouldn’t you?

Maybe you’re suffering from chronic pain. One night you’re struggling to sleep and see a late-night ad selling an amazing new therapy, made specifically for you and your unique kind of suffering. You’d pull out your credit card so fast it’d be shipping before the commercial’s even over.

Or what if you were so disillusioned by the state of the world that when someone shows up promising fixes to even the most complex problems, you throw your ethics and morals out the window just for a shot at your guy winning. Even if there’s no substance behind the promises.

When we’re desperate, we’d do anything for change. Except try.

If belief is hard, belief in yourself must be an existential crisis. The easy way out is always just a click away. If Daddy Bezos can deliver us from pain by tomorrow, we’ll open our wallets a hell of a lot faster than we’ll open our minds.

Magical thinking is dangerous. It convinces us there are quick fixes to every problem. One big, beautiful pill to send the pain away.

Instead, what magical thinking gives us is an amputated arm in order to forget about our leg pain.

Real change comes from work, and it’s usually fucking hard.

If you want a better life, start today.