Everyone agrees with all the wonderful advice and ethics written in the books of our sages. Everyone agrees that this is the way to live your life.
Even so, each of us has our escape routes, ways to avoid improving our lives by changing ourselves. Ask ourselves: "Were those words really meant for me? Or are they meant for someone else, in another time and place?".
If it's true, it was said for you, here, now.
Shlach 5726:24, Leil Simchat Torah 5736:5–7