But… I had to risk it. I’d always wanted more than “normal”; better than “average”. I wanted to be successful. I really did. And these questions must’ve been popping into my head for a reason, with the most logical explanation being that I wanted an answer to them. When I really thought about it, I was desperate for an answer to these kinds of questions. I knew they’d set me free, because that’s what being honest does. You no longer hide from yourself. It can be a little painful at first, but what’s more painful: asking these questions of yourself now, or never asking them and risking never living the life you’ve always wanted to? Only you know if you’re being honest or not. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. They just become questions you ask of yourself all the time and give true answers to.

My life changed when I started asking these questions and being honest with myself. I realized (admitted) that I just wasn’t that close to where I wanted to be. I realized (admitted) I was using excuses. And I realized (admitted) that I’d never get to where I wanted to be if I kept this up. It was time to make a choice. One that I could be proud of. One that I could tell my kids to make one day. That choice? The choice to make progress, not excuses. To pursue my dream life. To be who I really was. Isn’t now the time to be the real you?

So, why 24 questions? Because that’s how old I am. The actual questions aren’t quite as arbitrary. Promise. Here we go:

1.What would happen if you just went for it?
如果你继续这样做会发生什么？

2.Who are you?
你是谁？
Write down a list of what’s important to you about life.
写下你生命中那些最重要的事情。

3.Who are you really?
你到底是谁？
What was important to you before other people told you what was important to you?
在别人来告诉你什么对你最重要之前，你觉得什么是真正重要的？

4.What’s your deepest, most secret desire?
什么是你内心最深处的渴望？
You know it’s there. Just be honest and admit it. You’ll feel amazing… and free.
就要这样，诚实点，勇敢承认，你会感觉非常棒，一种自由的感觉。

6.If not now, when?
现在不想，何时想呢？
The past is gone forever and the future is anything but guaranteed. What are you waiting for?
过去一去不复返，未来又不可知，你在等待着什么？

7.Who’s permission do you need?
你需要谁的许可？
You know you only need your own permission, but do you seek someone else to tell you it’s ok?
你知道的，你只需要自己的允许，但是你是否寻求其他人的应允？

8.What’s stopping you?
什么阻止了你？
If you haven’t started working towards what you truly want, something is.Who or what is holding you back?
如果你还没有做自己真正想做的工作。什么人或是什么事阻碍了你？
The only answer to this: you.
这个答案是唯一的：只有你自己。

9.If you don’t know what you want, why on earth aren’t you trying to find out?
如果你不清楚自己想要什么，那为什么你不努力寻找呢？
Unless you’re content to just drift through life, never knowing where you’re going, and never being truly fulfilled.
除非你对生活非常满意，从不知道你要去哪里，也从未真正满足过。

10.When you know what you truly want, will you actually do anything about it?
你一旦知道自己所想，那么你会为之做点什么吗？
Most people ignore it or talk themselves out of doing it.
大多数人都忽略了这一点，也没有做到这一点。

11.What’s important to you?
对你而言，什么才是重要的？
Make a list. Be honest with yourself.
写个清单吧！对自己诚实一回。

12.What’s really important to you?
对你而言，什么才是真正重要的？
Seriously. Be honest. Otherwise this is pointless.
严肃点，诚实点，要不然这就没有意义了。