You Don’t Have To, You Get To

You Don’t Have To, You Get To

Once again, I find myself talking about mindset—because, honestly, mindset and attitude are the foundation of how we approach life. During my spin class on Saturday, as sweat dripped from my instructor, she yelled, “Exercise is a privilege!” In the middle of struggling to breathe while cycling up the hill, her words hit me. So many things we tend to complain about in our daily lives are, in reality, privileges.

Let's look at it from a different perspective: I don’t have to go to the gym; I get to.

What if we trained our minds to think this way more often? Imagine replacing "I need to" and "I have to" with "I get to."

• You don’t have to vote, you get to.

• You don’t have to visit your mom, you get to.

• You don’t have to eat healthy, you get to.

The list goes on. You don’t have to read books or work on improving yourself, but you get to. We often overlook these opportunities—opportunities that others might dream of having. Yet, we find ourselves complaining about them.

The next time you catch yourself thinking, “I need to” or “I have to,” try switching it up: “I get to.” You might be surprised at how this small shift brightens your outlook and transforms your day. Give it a try!