This morning, like almost every other, I got up early and listened to motivational speakers on YouTube. One of my favourite speakers is David Goggins. He is the only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy Seal, Army Ranger and Air Force tactical Controller, who went on to set numerous endurance records.

His inspirational story sees him go from overweight underachiever to the pinnacle of the military and endurance world. He regularly describes his “Accountability Mirror” as the secret weapon that gave him the strength and belief to turn his life around.

Each morning he looks into the mirror and forces himself to tell the truth about his situation, focusing on his dreams and goals. For David, there is no sugar coating, no half-truths, no white lies and no delusion. He looks deeply at his reflection to see himself for what he is at that moment, warts and all and uses this honest reflection to drive change and improvement.

Sure, it’s not easy. We all want to look into the mirror to see the finished article. How many of us are capable of being truly honest about the person we see staring back at us? Stuck around the mirror are post-it notes containing his goals and dreams, reminding him constantly of where he is going and the mountain he is climbing.

In my mind, I keep coming back to the idea that the “Truth will set us free.”

Perhaps growth and the achievement of our goals come when we choose to live a life defined by truth and honesty. It starts with our reflection in the mirror and goes onto shape our every interaction with the world. Truth creates the building blocks of accountability, trust and belief that will shape the life we lead.

Together, we climb the mountain, not in giant leaps but one small step at a time.