In 1519, Hernan Cortes took a small army to the shores of Verecruz and the Aztec Empire with the intention of stealing a special treasure. The Aztecs had successfully defended this treasure for over 600 years. When Cortes and his men landed on shore he ordered his men to turn and look back at the ships that had carried them to the shore. He then spoke three simple words to provide his men with some motivation for the battle “BURN THE SHIPS!”

As the ships burned the men realized the only way they were going home was if they were successful in the battle. There was nothing waiting for them in the harbor to escape with if the battle got hard or didn’t go the way they planned. No matter what happened, they needed to keep fighting.

The band For King + Country has a great song based on this story. One of the singers wives was battling an addiction and this song is about her decision to “BURN THE SHIPS” in her life. Listen to the song in the 1st video below. In the 2nd video the singer, Luke, shares the story of her battle. Then on to your journal prompt for the week!

JOURNAL ACTIVITY

What lyrics stood out to you from the song? Which lyrics could you relate to?

Write about the ships that you need to burn in your life? What excuses do you regularly fall back on to explain why you aren’t achieving in life what you want to? Who or what do you always blame when things don’t seem to go your way? These excuses have become a safety net that you use to make yourself feel better in the moment, but the truth is they just hold you back. Time to BURN THE SHIPS!