Leo Alexandru
Leo Alexandru

@theleoalexandru

16 Tweets 2 reads Jan 06, 2023
2 years ago I was depressed and suicidal.
Here's a story about the 5 things that saved my life:
It was the fall of 2022 and things were rather grim.
•my company started making layoffs because of the economy.
•my then-fiancee, whom I was crazy in love with, broke up with me.
•we were in a lockdown so we had to live together, separated, for a couple of months.
And then:
I got a call on a Monday morning: my dad passed away. He had a heart attack and died in my mom's arms.
Then I got Covid and had to stay inside for 2 weeks, all alone.
One week into isolation, I was on my kitchen floor, talking to my mother on the phone, and just crying.
Ok, so what happened? How did I turn my life around?
The order is arbitrary because it was a mix of these.
#1 Stoicism
Somehow I bumped into a book called "The Obstacle is the way", written by Ryan Holiday, and I read it in one sitting.
It just changed the way I see the world. And introduced me to a lifelong journey of practicing Stoicism.
I started seeing things from a new perspective:
• every obstacle is an opportunity for growth
• there is no good or bad, it's about how we perceive it
• don't be concerned with things that are not in your control
It helped me make peace with myself.
#2 Exercise
I was doing CrossFit for a while but because of the lockdown, my last gym shut down.
I started going to a new gym, every day.
This routine helped me:
• meet new people
• bring structure into my life
• feel better overall about myself
#3 Real friends
The right people will be there for you when you need them.
And I had a couple of old friends that helped me go through this.
Surround yourself with people who:
• share similar values
• want you to succeed
• understand how you "work"
Choose carefully.
#4 Stepping away from the victim mentality
With the help of stoicism and my friends, I started seeing things from a new perspective.
I was no longer blaming myself, other people, or the universe for things that were happening in my life.
From that moment on I decided that I am the only person responsible for my destiny.
Not my girlfriend, not my friends, not the world.
I embraced my fate, looking eager to life and the future.
#5 A sense of Purpose
No real change would have been possible without a sense of purpose.
And this is what I needed.
Before that, my existence revolved around:
• my job
• the people around me
• waiting for Friday night drinks
Now I felt I could do more, I could help people. And I wanted to do that.
People who want to grow, to step away from their difficulties.
To become leaders in all aspects of their lives.
So I started:
• reading more
• writing on a blog
• sending out newsletters
And this is why this Twitter account exists.
To help you:
• grow your career
• build successful teams
• become a high-achieving individual
And I know I can do it. Cause it's my purpose.
Fast-forward 2 years:
• I'm in the best shape of my life
• I changed jobs and have a Director role
• Soon-to-marry the best person I ever met
I can tell you that, you can change your life around.
TL;DR, what helped me turn my life around:
• Exercise
• Stoicism
• Real friends
• A sense of purpose
• No longer playing the victim
I strongly believe it can help you too.
If you enjoyed this thread, and you think other people might benefit from it, re-tweet the 1st tweet below to share it with your dear ones.

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