Life is a Lot Harder Than Exercise!

The funny thing about life is I can always learn lessons at the most unexpected time and the most unexpected places if I am open and aware to receiving them. I guess my radar was up this morning. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work on my flexibility and joint mobility. This past year I have trained heavily on strength and conditioning with less of a focus on stretching and flexibility. Along with continuing with the CrossFit program, I chose to incorporate more yoga into the mix. Lately, I’ve been attending a Sunday morning advanced Hot Power Yoga class where the room is heated to close to 100 degrees and I was fortunate enough to be placed directly in front one of the heaters this morning which made my practice feel like I was doing it in an oven. It was about ¾ of the way through a brutal hour and a half class when the instructor said something very powerful. At the moment my muscles were screaming and sweat was pouring down my face, and the last thing I was thinking about was philosophy, the meaning of life, or anything intellectual. I was just trying to keep myself from falling over. It was at this moment when the instructor said, “Come on! You all can do this! Life is a lot harder than exercise!” It was a comment that was made in such an innocuous way but had powerful impact on me. It gave me that extra little bit of effort; that extra bit of mental fortitude to dig deeper and see what was really capable of. The truth is – life is a lot harder than exercise but they are more similar than one may think. A wise man once said, ”Show me how you live one area of your life, and I’ll show you how you live your whole life.” If I gave up in that class when things got tough, how might that translate into other areas of my life? If I didn’t wake up on a Sunday morning because I was too tired even though I made a commitment with myself to attend the class, how might that translate into other areas of my life? And if I didn’t give 100% of myself, my focus, and my energy into my practice this morning, how might that translate into other areas of my life?

Take a close look at your life. Do you continue to get the same unsatisfactory results over and over again? Are you getting everything out of life that you could hope for? Do you give up when things get tough or do you persevere and push yourself to your limits? Take a look at how you exercise and the answers to those questions are closer and easier to reach than you may think.

Life-Changing Lessons from 2010

Before we can begin to look forward and set new goals and make new commitments for 2011, it is only prudent to examine and recap the past year. We need to look at the good and the bad, the tears and the laughter, the depression and the joy, and the pleasurable experiences as well as the painful ones. The last year has certainly been a rollercoaster and I would not have it any other way. Here are my life lessons learned from 2010: work hard and play harder, worry less because in a moment or two things change, love more, judge and criticize less, emulate little kids if I really want to know pure joy, watch less television and read more, cultivate my spirituality, spend time and savor the moments with loved ones because I never know how much time I’ll have left with them, no matter what never go to bed without kissing my significant other and telling her how much she means to me, compliments build bridges whereas sarcasm and negative comments build walls, lighten up and stop taking things so seriously, become outrageously passionate about living, look people in the eye and become genuinely interested in them and their life, take a leap of faith into the unknown and reap the rewards of an abundance universe, in a fast paced world be present to my surroundings and the people around me and I will amaze myself at how life seems to transform for the better, take risks and go out on a limb because that is where the fruit is, live MY life and not someone else’s life, and be true to myself and my highest values.

Life is not designed be always be fun. It is not designed to be easy and only filled with roses and chocolate covered strawberries. Life is meant to be lived. Life is meant to be experienced. You can’t know up without down. You can’t know joy without sadness and you can’t know success without setbacks. Some of you may have had the greatest year of your lives and others may have had the worst year of your lives. How should you feel about it? Be grateful! Gratitude is the currency that cultivates happiness, fulfillment, and present-ness. For those who had a phenomenal year, good for you but the year is over. Now it is time to think about what you are going to do for your life this year to make THIS year the best. For those of you who had a terrible year, show gratitude for the lessons that life has taught you and put together a game plan to make this year the best year of your life. You can change your life in an instant and it all begins with a single choice.

Make 2011 Your Best Year Yet!

It is the New Year and it marks a new opportunity begin life anew. There is something mystical and almost magical about January 1. Every day, every minute, and every moment is unique yet January 1 is the day that most people choose to wipe the slate clean and start their life fresh. Many people use January 1 to make lofty, unrealistic goals with very little commitment and hope for this year to be better than the last. To many people’s dismay, the goals and commitments are thrown out the window within a few weeks and the ensuing year turns out to be nothing but a repetition of the year before. There are certain things you can do to ensure this year will be different; to set the bar higher than you ever have and give yourself a greater chance at meeting or even exceeding your mark.

#1: Set goals and make commitments to things that you can become outrageously passionate about. Passion is the fuel that drives success. No one has ever built a successful life on things that were not important and passionate to them. This may take some time but I believe it is the most powerful key to making this year your best one yet! Find your passion and let it guide you.

#2: Be flexible! They say there are two sure things in life: death and taxes. I’d like to add a third….change! Life is always changing and either you adapt or perish. Those are your only options. It isn’t a choice on whether to embrace change or not. If you want to be successful, you MUST embrace change. You must thrive on it. Your goals are like a road map. If you are on a road trip from NY to Texas, it is very unlikely you will make it there without a detour, a flat tire, some traffic, or moments of frustration and despair. The fact is though, if you have a map, it is much easier to get back on track and meet your destination or goal. Let your goals guide you but always be open to change!

#3: Surround yourself with amazing people who hold you accountable and call you to something greater. You are the sum of the six people you spend the most time with. Does your circle of influence built you up or tear you down? Do they encourage creativity and hard work or do they breed stagnation and apathy? Do they challenge you and provide you with a level of unconditional love and acceptance or is their love and acceptance conditional and their support inconsistent? Take inventory of your friends because it may be the most powerful thing you do to grow your success and your life.

Now go out and make 2011 your best year yet!!

Catapult Yourself to an Extraordinary Life

Many people sit back and wait for that perfect opportunity to take action; that perfect moment when everything comes together in the exact way they were expecting it to in order to move forward and put their plans into action. Many people wait for that moment forever because a moment like that is as rare as hitting the lottery. Napoleon Hill, the godfather of success training and thinking said, “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” It’s ok to fail. It’s ok to make mistakes. That is part of life. Just take action. Success does not come from hopeful and wishful thinking. Success comes to those who take action. I learned a great lesson from a great mentor of mine, Dr. Guy Riekeman. Most people have a target, then aim, then aim some more and aim some more and never end up firing. They do it because it feels safe but it is a sure way to fail. Leaders and successful people have a target, fire, and then aim, and then fire again until they nail their target.

What do you keeping “aiming” for but never pull the trigger on? Is it a beautiful girl or a great guy you have been afraid to talk to? Is it an amazing business opportunity you have been holding back on? Is it a workout or nutrition program you are afraid of not working out? The universe rewards those individuals who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and take risks. The greatest rewards are always found on the far side of challenge. Step out of your comfort zone, try something new, and find a greater level of satisfaction and fulfillment than you have ever experienced before.

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opporunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” – Orison Swett Marden

Do you want everything you have ever dreamed of in life?

I am sitting in a coffee shop in the small fishing village of Cinque Terre, Italy on a crystal clear day over looking the pristine blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sipping on a double espresso macchiato while engrossing myself in my favorite book. I am rock climbing on the limestone rock of Thailand over the turquoise water of Railay Beach with the combination of the adrenaline, presence, and sense of peace that can only be achieved by hanging on for dear life 50 feet up in the air. My heart is pounding, my breath is shallow, and my mind is racing as I stand on stage at Yankee Stadium with a packed house ready to give an inspiring and life transforming presentation on “Dreaming Big and Having It All!” I am with a patient who has been suffering for years with terrible health challenges and has traveled hundreds of miles to receive a specific chiropractic adjustment that has the power to change her life forever. I am the founder of Foundation Inspiration, which is a program that has given millions of people the opportunity to step out of the shackles of poverty and unhappiness and propel them into a life of abundance, happiness, and fulfillment. I am sitting on the deck of my house overlooking the water and eating a breakfast of fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds while my beautiful family is splashing around in the pool. I am competing in the finals of the CrossFit games, coming up to the last event whose winner is going to be crowned the “Fittest Person on the Planet.” I’ve just got notification that I have reached 1 million books sold of my international best seller There Will Never Be a Better You Than You. Move over Chicken Soup for the Soul! I just stepped foot on the 50th country I have ever been to. I just completed a 3 day Buddhist Meditation Retreat deep in the Himalayan Mountains where I was able to gain a deep and profound understanding of my life’s purpose. I am on a 2-week private sailing cruise through the Greek Isles that I’ve chartered for my family and friends to celebrate my net worth hitting the 8-digit mark. I’m about to set down the computer in a moment to jump off the back porch of our private bungalow in Fiji to join the fish for a quick swim in the breathlessly beautiful water of the Pacific Ocean.

Many people say they will not believe something until they see it. It is this mentality that brings lack into people’s lives because they never set a vision for themselves. They sit back and wait for life to come to them rather than seizing the life they have always dreamed about. I choose to believe it and then go out and make it happen. I choose to make my dreams a reality. What are your dreams? If there were no rules, no limits, no ceiling on your success, what would your life look like?

Who says change has to be hard?

There is a common idea that has been passed down from generation to generation and extends across cultural and social circles around the globe. It creates a tear in the very fabric that is personal, professional, social, spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional prosperity and success. It is an invisible, yet formidable, opponent blocking you from creating the abundance in your life you have always dreamed about. It comes from the belief that growth is a painful process. The people who believe that growth is a painful process are the same people who spend countless hours and energy attempting to break through a door when all they need to do is turn the handle. Growth is only a painful process for 2 reasons: you don’t have a clearly defined set of values and a compelling vision that makes change an immediate and powerful requirement and/or you have created a negative connotation around the idea of change that says it has to be long and painful. The most powerful experiences in life are what I like to call transformational experiences. A transformation experience happens in an instant. It is an empowering moment of clarity where the path of what needs to be done is crystal clear and your values become so strong and unwavering that there is nothing that can be done or said to sway your mindset or persuade you otherwise. It is within these moments of transformation where your lives truly come together and success begins to flow.

I have the opportunity and the privilege to see these transformational experiences on a daily basis in the office. People who begin care who have been banging on the proverbial door for years of weight loss, improving their health and relationships, reducing stress, and really getting back the joy and fulfillment in their lives. Once they clearly define their values and create a compelling enough vision for their life and the life of others, they find transformational experiences to be the norm in their life. The same can be true for you. Change will no longer be a fear and thing to be avoided but will be welcomed as a way to immediately and excitedly meet your values through instant transformation. Remember your destiny and a life of significance is not formed from small thoughts and beliefs. Think big and dream bigger.

“Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” – James Deam

Creating a Heaven on Earth

Have you ever had a time where you are all by yourself driving in the car and your favorite song comes on the radio? You first look out the window to make sure nobody is around who may be able to see what you are about to do? Once you determine it is safe and it is just you and your favorite song, you let loose! You begin to sing at the top of your lungs with a tone and a rhythm that would make a deaf person cover their ears but you don’t care because at that moment, it is just you and the music. You completely let your guard down, become present with yourself, and fully express what you are feeling and what moves you without concern of being judged or ridiculed and it is an amazing feeling.

Some of you may not have had this experience from music but may have experienced this feeling of pure joy from exercise, dancing or loving. If you want a perfect example of this, just watch little kids. Watch the joy they get from everything they do because they are the magnificent expression of pure and untainted self. They haven’t been beat down by a society that dictates they must conform to societal norms. They represent much of what most people spend their entire adult lives trying to achieve – a comfort within their own skin where they can express an energy and a love of exactly who they are free from judgment – judgment of themselves and judgment from others. Stop trying to be someone who you think other people want you to be and stop trying to be someone else. The world wants YOU. Always remember – there will never be a better you than you. Maybe it is time you begin to experience the true joy that comes with being a full expression of yourself.

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth.” - Mark Twain