Jesus talked about the cross and the cross he wàs talking about was the cross of your daily crucifixion of flesh. 
This few points are to be attributed to a person living a crucified life,denying self daily.
*Denial of ungodliness and worldly life.
*A righteous and godly life
*Hope of heaven
*An interruptible fellowship with God
*A daily experience of death to adamic nature. 
An adage says "no cross,no crown". A man without a cross while on earth will surely be denied of crown of glory at the gate of heaven.
We can only mortify the flesh and its deed through our constant yieldness to the spirit of God,by the word of God,presenting ourselves to God in prayer ,Through the revelational light of the Holy Spirit,Through our sensitivity in the Holyspirit and lastly by walking in the spirit.
And on the final note,I will conclude by saying,it is only when we learn to always yield even to the little promptings of the spirit that we can overcome self.When we take up our cross daily and allow the death of Christ to have his way in us,life is produce,revival burst forth rapidly and thereby helping us to remain restored on Christ.
Take up your cross daily and follow Christ.