Have an opinion? Contact us at opinions @theotherpress.ca @ Opinions Stop the self-sabotage! Get ahead by getting out of your head By Aidan Mouellic, Contributor hether we want to acknowledge it or not, the world is made up of people who achieve what they set out to accomplish and those who don’t. It might be making it through college, entering a respectable career, being a great athlete, having sex with who you want, or all of this; some people just seem to have an edge over those of us who are constantly on the fringe. The truth is that Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Angelina Jolie are no different than you and I. They’re people. They were all children once, and they’ve all had challenges in their lives. The only reason they reached their positions in society is because they thought they could. That seems like a pretty obvious statement, but a lot of people think it’s ridiculous to put Obama and themselves on the same level. It’s not. He’s just a person whose power was appointed to him by other people. Perhaps the most important reason he’s the President is that he thought he could be, and this intense belief led him to take the steps to make his belief become reality. This belief in one’s self is perhaps the most crucial factor in achieving greatness, yet it’s something many of us lack. Too often we tell ourselves that we can’t do it, or that we’re inferior. Oftentimes the only thing that stops us is ourselves. Psychiatrists often prescribe, along with medication, a course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for people suffering with depression or anxiety. At its core, CBT addresses and tries to improve the thought processes that are often faulty in people suffering with mental illnesses. But CBT can benefit everyone because a lot of us who aren't mentally ill are sabotaging ourselves and our chances of success everyday. For a long time I told myself that I was a poor student and that I was poor in the sciences. When I started wondering what would happen if I believed in myself and worked hard, I actually started to think that I could do well in courses I’d never done well in before. Sure enough, I’ve improved. CBT teaches its students that thoughts create feelings and that feelings create actions. We are our thoughts. As cliché as that sounds, it’s true. For the next two weeks, I challenge all readers to be extra self- aware, take notice of what you think, and even write it down if that helps. When you notice yourself thinking along the lines of “I won't register in that course that I will likely fail” or “She looks like a model and won’t give me her number,” stop yourself. Then turn those thoughts around and kick the crap out of them. Tell yourself that you'll try that course—it may be hard, but with work you can master it. Tell yourself that you’re awesome, go up to the gorgeous girl, ask her if she believes in ninjas, make her smile, and ask Student Café: Quantum Cafe and Bistro By Gurneev Panesar, Contributor &2#é#e#4 love the interior design at Quantum Café and Bistro because it’s modern and chic. It’s a small place, but it’s cuddly in its own way. The staff is friendly, the service is super, and they get a lot of customers. The coffee beans are from Brazil, and they’re roasted in Chicago. This bistro is spectacular. I honestly felt like I was sitting downtown on Robson Street, simply because of the quality. This is also a fairly new spot! Café Latte - $2.95 Yum, the Café Latte felt like heaven! I love this because it’s so rich and creamy. You get the rich taste of the coffee bean without it being too overpowering. It’s super light and refreshing— definitely makes you go “ahh” ona chilly day. I felt like I was dipping my spoon into liquid chocolate because it has a shiny glaze to it. Café Mocha - $3.40 Oh my bloody god, it felt like Willy Wonka took over my mouth! I wanted to dive into this cup. The Café Mocha is unbelievably yummy, and it tastes like a chocolate mousse with tiramisu. It has the perfect ratio of chocolate and coffee, yet the coffee still manages to pop out—like, “Hello there!” This is definitely my favourite drink at Quantum. London Fog - $3.65 This is an Earl Grey tea with a vanilla shot. This may look really inviting, but it tastes like medicine. It’s supposed to be vanilla flavoured, but has the flavour of something my doctor prescribed to me when I was about seven-years- old. The texture is great— there’s no froth, which is always good—and it’s nice and light. The London Fog just didn’t hit home for me. Espresso - $1.99 This is neither too overpowering, nor is it light, and you can definitely feel the bean sizzle on your tongue. The Espresso’s consistency is great, and it doesn’t leave an aftertaste even though it delivers the distinct taste of the bean Canadiano Misto - $3.10 Lovely! Light, crisp, and clean—exactly what you want! The Canadiano Misto is roasted to perfection! The blend is amazing, with just the right amount of strength. The texture is perfect. It’s just beautiful. Hot Chocolate - $3.45 Christmas came early! This tastes like melted marshmallows and Belgian chocolate, and it tastes so original. Super her out. The worst that could happen is that she'll say no. We need to stop this self-sabotage and begin to view the world differently. Start viewing the people “up top” as people like us, not as some genetically superior race that holds their secret to success in a safe that only a cat burglar can crack. Our minds are tremendously powerful. We humans have done amazing things: cities, airplanes, and modern medicine have all been created by people. Yet we label these people “geniuses” or “innovators.” Perhaps these people just believed in themselves enough to pursue their ideas until they saw the light of day. So I say start believing in yourself; it’s the most important thing you can believe in. Photo courtesy of Gurneev Panesar rich without being too sugary, which is a plus. The size of the mug is huge, and I didn’t think I'd be able to finish it all! I’ve found a new favourite hot chocolate, and it’s worth the money! Quantum Café and Bistro is a great place to visit! I will definitely be back here for more— perhaps for the food next time. This has value for money, which is key for everything!