Starving the beast requires denying temptation and embracing moments to be productive.
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“Starve the beast.” It’s a catchy phrase, but what does it really mean? I’ve heard the term used many times, but I never thought much of it until I started facing my own beast.
When I refer to the beast, I’m not talking about some mythical character that hops out of your body when the clock strikes twelve, or when the moon appears.
When I say starve the beast, I’m referring to every distraction, every temptation, and every ill word spoken against you. The beast could be a bad relationship, laziness, doubt or fear. No matter what that beast is for you, it is important that you starve it.
You might ask: How do you starve something that has such a strong hold on you or could potentially have a strong hold on you?
This was actually a question that I had when dealing with some of my own personal issues. One in particular was my battle with depression and suicide.
After my final suicide attempt in college some 8 years ago, I was at a huge crossroad in my life. I had just been released from the hospital with five huge gashes on my left arm from a 12” blade. I was embarrassed because my story had made the campus newspaper and I was too ashamed to show my face.
In my mind, at that time, I thought the best option would be for me to try it again, because I didn’t think I could handle the weight of judgment. During this time of contemplating on my next and possibly last move, I received a call from a guy who was involved with my colleges TRiO program.
During this call he let me know that I made mistakes, but that this didn’t have to determine the rest of my life. A man that I didn’t know from Adam reached out to me letting me know that he believes in me and that he didn’t want to see me fall. That call forever changed my life.
I had no idea how my life could ever get back to a place of normalcy, but through that phone call I was given a second option. I’m not sure where you might be in life right now, but I want you to know that you will always have a second option when it comes to starving whatever beast you’re facing.
So how do we starve the beast? It’s pretty simple actually, just replace it with whatever that second option is and begin to feed that possibility until it is no longer a possibility, but instead, reality. Starving the beast essentially is the ability to deny a fleshly desire, while embracing a moment to be productive, positive and powerful.
No matter where you are or what you have to do, you have the power, will and grit to starve your beast and regain control of yourself and how you respond to every situation you face in your life. Starve your beast.
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B.O.L.D member Richard Taylor, considered the voice of Chicago, is an activist, best-selling author and motivational speaker. Mr. Taylor’s newest book, entitled “Between the Dream,” is available for purchase HERE.
Thanks for reading!