You Weren’t Born to Live by Prescription: Unraveling the Layers to Your Original Truth
- Dr. Larry Goodman
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
by Dr. Larry Goodman —Your Courage Catalyst
As a coach, mentor, and someone who has spent more than four decades helping people peel back the psychological and emotional layers of their lives, I often see clients chasing an ideal that was never theirs to begin with.
The world is full of prescriptions—step-by-step blueprints for how to become successful, fulfilled, productive, wealthy, enlightened… You name it. These formulas are often based on the stories of others: autobiographies, influencer content, and seven-step methods from best-selling gurus. Don’t get me wrong—there is wisdom in those models. But here’s the deeper truth I want to illuminate for you today:
You weren’t born to live by someone else’s prescription.
The Trap of Modeling Others Too Closely
A client came to me recently, overwhelmed and frustrated. He had been modeling a successful entrepreneur's every move. He read the same books, woke up at 4:30 a.m., had the same breakfast, and mirrored their daily routine down to the minute.
And yet… nothing felt right. He wasn’t getting the same results. Worse, he felt further from himself than ever.
This is the trap of over-modeling. When we try to duplicate someone else’s exact formula, we inadvertently suppress our own inner compass. We trade our authenticity for imitation. And in doing so, we often lose the very essence that makes us powerful: our uniqueness.
Success is not a carbon copy—it’s a fingerprint. It’s layered, nuanced, and deeply personal.
Psychological Layers: Why We Seek Prescriptions
To understand why we cling to formulas, we must examine the psychological construct underneath.
From an early age, we are conditioned to look outward for validation. We’re praised for compliance, rewarded for fitting in, and often punished for coloring outside the lines. Over time, we internalize the belief that somebody else knows better. This fosters what I call externalized decision-making—a habit of looking outside ourselves for truth.
But this strategy eventually collapses under the weight of your soul’s insistence on authenticity. No matter how well you mimic someone else, your inner being will rebel.
The more we live according to other people’s values, the more we diminish our own self-worth. Every time you adopt someone else's version of success without discernment, you are handing over your power.
Coaching Through the Onion
In our sessions, I guided my client like peeling an onion—layer by layer, with compassion and curiosity. We started by identifying:
Whose voice was dictating his current path?
What values were he unconsciously adopting?
How did his authentic voice get silenced?
Using tools from NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), NET (Neuro-Emotional Technique), and emotional reframing strategies, we interrupted the patterns of self-betrayal. I helped him shift from seeking perfection to seeking congruence—the alignment between his actions and his own highest values.
As we peeled deeper, something incredible happened. The anxiety faded. The comparisons lost their grip. And what emerged was the raw, unfiltered truth of who he really was.
Not a copy. Not a prescription. A one-of-a-kind source.
You Are Not Here to Compare—You Are Here to Align
If you're constantly comparing your progress to someone else's path, you're measuring yourself against an illusion. You’re trying to live up to a highlight reel, not a whole human journey.
You’re not here to measure yourself against others. You’re here to ask:
How closely am I living in alignment with my own highest values?
How congruent are my actions with my mission?
Your life is not a prescription—it’s a discovery. Your purpose is not outside you. It’s encoded within. But like unearthing a diamond, it requires intention, reflection, and guidance.
What You Can Do Today
If this resonates with you, here’s what I suggest:
✅ Identify where you're following someone else's blueprint to a fault.
✅ Reflect: Are these values truly yours?
✅ Replace comparison with alignment.
✅ Take one action today that aligns with your truth—not theirs.
✅ Journal on this prompt: “If I stopped trying to be someone else, what would I finally give myself permission to do?”
Step Into The Goodest Life – Coaching With Dr. Goodman
If you’re tired of living on autopilot… if you’re ready to stop comparing and start creating from your truth… my 6-week 1:1 coaching program is for you.
Whether you're a chiropractor looking to grow your business, or a high-performing executive with “success” but no fulfillment—this process meets you where you are and guides you back to where you belong: your authentic self.
We work together in person or via Zoom, and the program is custom-tailored using techniques from:
NLP
NET
Behavioral psychology
Mindset strategy
And over 40+ years of experience helping people shift from sabotage to success.
🌱 Plus: A structured course is in the works—“Breaking Negative Cycles,” “Success Without Sabotage,” and “The Goodest Life Method.” Stay tuned.
⚠️ I’m only taking 3 more clients this month. Book your breakthrough session now:
Take the step. Trust your truth. You were born original—don’t die a copy.
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