This has to be one of the hardest verses in the Bible to do, and do well.  This verse says that if we want to follow Jesus we must make a conscious decision to renounce our old self and instead follow the example of our crucified Christ.  And no one, including Jesus, Himself, ever said it would be easy, for there is a tremendous cost to following the Lord.  Considering it takes daily getting our priorities right and properly arranging our lives so that Jesus ranks supreme in everything we do, carrying our cross becomes a trial of faith and obedience.