The speaker discusses the importance of facing the reality of unhealthy habits to make positive changes. They highlight that ignoring the obvious issues, such as being severely overweight and unhealthy, is akin to ignoring lung cancer while smoking. The speaker emphasizes the need to acknowledge and address the sources of problems rather than deflecting criticism or playing the victim. They stress the quote 'You can't fix what you can't face' as a mantra for personal growth and improvement.