Hey, what's up guys? This is Preston Smiles and this is 5 Minute Fridays episode 238.

John C. Maxwell says that sometimes you have to give up to go up. And at the heart of loving

louder is sacrifice. It requires letting go of unhealthy habits, shedding certain relationships

and sacrificing small thinking and excuses. It's been said that if you want something

you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done. And on August 18, 2012, I finally

began to embody what that means. After years of hangovers and blurry nights, I made the decision

to sacrifice drinking alcohol until further notice. The decision was based on giving up

my short term perceived pleasure for my long term happiness and well-being. Aristotle says that we

are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but habit. We are our practices.

Many of us, many people have grand dreams but aren't willing to sacrifice what it takes to achieve

them. They have poor habits and those habits keep them stuck and we cannot create more love in

our lives until we have the courage to sacrifice those habits that aren't serving us. Most of the

habits that keep us from loving louder are done without the conscious awareness that they're even

being done. For me, for years, I watched television shows with crime and violence and couldn't figure

out why I was so paranoid. Guys, it's time to sacrifice some of those things that you know aren't serving

you because if you want to go up, you're going to have to give up some of your vices. Love is all

there is and when we tap into that and continue to bless ourselves with the knowingness that our success

is inevitable. As long as we stay on the path and listen to our hearts, nothing can stop us.

Guys, I'm Preston Smiles. Make sure you guys share this message if you want to find out more about me,

go to PrestonSmiles.com.