So we’re staying on course. 52 books in 52 weeks. I’m not sure I will be able to write about all of them but all do my damnedest that’s for sure.
Today’s post was influenced a bit by Banana hands himself (AKA, Tony Robbins). Seriously, take a good look at those mitts. They’re huge!
Book #2, “Awaken the giant within.”
Long story short the book is about dominating. Dominating mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially through discovering your belief system. mastering your emotions, and increasing awareness in your life.
Your attitude to life is probably the crucial starting place, the most important ingredient that will determine what you make of it. I say “be positive,” and by that I mean be highly active and enthusiastic. DO THINGS! Engage in life, don’t drift across the surface, initiate things, get involved and take on plenty – plenty of responsibilities and projects, plenty of opportunities and adventures. If we don’t improve, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, are we really living?
– anonymous
So what happened? The status quo.
We all have goals. Some big, some small. Some we feel are insignificant, some we feel outrageous, and some we feel impossible.
Think back to when you were a kid. 6, 7, 8, maybe even a little older. What kind of crazy dreams did you have? What did you want to be when you grew up?
Pretty sure I had a friend that wanted to be a Whale…..
I remember thinking I could be anything, do anything, and achieve anything I wanted.
So what happens from the time we were kids with crazy ambition and a relentless thirst for adventure and creation and our adult life where we prey to a standard life course that is expected of us.
Go to school – – get good grades – – get into a good college – – graduate and apply for jobs – – trade our time for money – – make as much as possible so that we can live comfortably – – retire at a predetermined age and try to enjoy the fruits of our 50+ years of work.
Somewhere along the shuffle we lost sight of our ambition, dreams, and achieving a lifestyle that we truly want. Everyday frustrations, pressures, and distractions of everyday living blur our vision and we lose sight or energy in pursuit of the life we truly want for ourselves.
Instead, just settling for “good enough,” “fine,” “ok,” “average.”
There is nothing wrong with following along with the status quo. It’s safe, warm, and accepting. Like hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold day.
Chances are you will live a good life. A safe life. A routine life. One just like your next door neighbor.
Plus, it’s hard to break a bad habit. Especially one that has been ingrained in us since birth. Breaking the traditional life course habit is the same as trying to quit smoking, starting a healthier nutrition plan, and working out.
But I dare to be extraordinary, a difference-maker, a rebel. I want to own my life and be who I always have wanted to be and feel destined to become. If you are reading this, chances are you feel the same.
2+2 does not always equal 4. It only equals 4 because someone told us it did when we were growing up and we put faith in it that it is true.
2+2= What ever the hell you want it to. It’s open to interpretation. What happens when you add 2 sand piles to 2 more sand piles?
You get one big F-ing sand pile! It’s all about how you define it.
Concentrate on YOU
It’s your decisions and not your conditions that determine your destiny
Life is the same way. Our response , whether physical, mental, or emotional determines how we view particular events in our lives. How I interpret an event or situation could be completely different from how you do…. or the guy across the street does.
Never let anyone else define your life, who you are, or what you stand for.
Never compare yourself to anyone else. Compare YOU to YOU. Strive to be better today than you were yesterday.
Can you run that mile 1 second faster?
Can you lift 5 more pounds?
Did you pass on dessert?
Did you take on a challenge (triathlon, skydive, bull ride) that you always wanted to do but never thought possible!
Those are your measuring sticks. Are you better than you were yesterday? If not, how come? Are you making strides to become more?
How to change anything and everything
How is it that some surmount what would appear to impossible odds and achieve extraordinary things.
J.K Rowling was essentially broke and poor, depressed, recently divorced, trying to raise a child, and on welfare all while writing the Harry Potter series and essentially becoming one of the most famous authors of our time.
Winston Churchill overcame a severe stuttering problem and terrible grades in school to become Prime Minister of England, an influential leader of the 20th century, and be acclaimed for his motivational and crowd capturing speeches.
Jim McLaren was dead on arrival after a motorcycle accident. After being revived he was in a come and missing his left leg below his knee. This didn’t stop him from competing in the NY-City marathon and Ironman triathlon. His story.
Walt Disney was 4 million…. yeah, 4 MILLION in debt by early 1930’s. Did Walt let this determine his fate? Absolutely not. He proceeded to create Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs… every heard of it (insert sarcasm here)?
All of these individuals have a few things in common.
1. Willpower
2. Desire
3. Determination
4. Imagination
But most importantly a commitment to ACTION.
Often we are caught in a mental trap of seeing enormously successful people and thinking they are where they are because they have some special gift. Yet a closer look shows that the greatest gift that extraordinarily successful people have over the average person is their ability to get themselves to take action.
– Tony Robbins
The 6 steps
Analyze: These folks analyzed their situations. They defined what they wanted EXACTLY and what it was that was preventing them from succeeding. The answer to this question is YOU.
It’s easy to blame others, the economy, or lack of resources on our situation. Most often the only thing to blame is ourselves. Be honest with who you are. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t. Be relentless in that pursuit and take responsibility. If we make mistakes lets own it and move on.
Motivate: These individuals found motivation. They made what they wanted urgent, important, and a NOW goal. They got comfortable with being uncomfortable. They took risks.
This can be easier said then done. But start small. Test yourself and build fearlessness. Try cold showers, go dancing (scares me), run a marathon, go paleo for a week. If you constantly challenge yourself eventually you build up an immunity and confidence.
Change your thoughts: Stop thinking about things the way everyone else does. Establish your own beliefs. Just because someone tells you something can’t be done doesn’t make it true. You can lose the weight, you can eat healthier, you can do a mud run, you can learn to play piano.
Develop new methods: Challenge the status quo. Just because something has been done the same for 40 years doesn’t mean you can’t come up with a better way to do things.
If you have been working out the same way for the last 5 years, eating the same way all your life, in the same job, pursuing the same hobbies. Switch it up. Get creative. Use your imagination. Be a kid again!
Clearly define your OBJECTIVES and then base your goals off of that. Scrutinize your actions daily!!! Ask yourself what you can be doing right at this moment that will contribute to achieving your goal…. (so put down the ice cream if weight loss is your goal :p )
Condition yourself. Physically and mentally: Repetition, repetition, repetition. Build the habit. Things will not happen over night. Stay the course. Fall off the wagon, then get back on.
Visualize frustration: Yeah, I’m serious. Visualize frustration, pain, yourself suffering. Pain is a tool that if used properly can be one of the most motivating factors in our lives. But do not focus on it. Use it to fire you up and then focus on your ultimate destiny. Your legend!
Everyone has the power
Ever wished you had a SUPERPOWER?
Well you do. You have the power of choice. You can always choose how you react or respond to any situation.
You have the choice to let others bring you down. You have the choice to give fight or flight, you have the choice to be angry, upset, jealous, or happy, excited, limitless.
We choose what we think about ourselves, others, and our life.
If you choose to think of yourself as fat, ugly, not athletic, or poor, I hate to tell you but you that is who you will be.
If you decide to think of yourself as beautiful, athletic, powerful, inspiring, wealthy, energetic, passionate… than that is who you will be.
Choices are only difficult when you are unclear of what you want. Define it! Be specific.
Do you want to be in-shape? Wealthy? In Love? Traveling?
Build your life around who you want to be!
Practice makes perfect and the final word
Practice every day! Practice being the person you want to be every single day for the rest of your life.
Practice eating right, working out, learning new skills, traveling, and helping others.
If you fail than you fail. Learn from it and move forward.
Ask yourself the right kinds of questions.
What can I take from this so that tomorrow I am better than I was today?
What can I do at this moment to manifest the perfect situation/life for myself?
How did I contribute not only my life but others as well today?
How can I make this journey fun and exciting?
There are literally tons!
One of the best quotes I have ever read is from Michael Landon JR.
Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
What are we waiting for?
What is your dream? What are some of your goals? Maybe we can help each other. Post to comments and let’s do WORK!
Be limitless,
Justin