“Action cures fear. Indecision, postponement, on the other hand, fuels fear.
- David J. Schwartz, Ph.D.
We certainly live in uncertain and challenging times.
In times of challenge, it is understandable for us to be in fear. It is a natural reaction.
While unpleasant, one could argue that sometimes fear can be a good thing. Being aware of potential danger and having concern for our personal safety can keep us out harm’s way. It can also provide us with a surge of power to overcome an immediate threat that confronts us.
As an instructor in adrenal self-defense...
“Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again.”
- Michael Jordan
Decisions, decisions, decisions…….. Scientists estimate that we make approximately 35,000 different decisions each day. These range from what we will eat for breakfast and what clothes we will wear to life-altering choices in our businesses, relationships and our health and well-being.
I know I can oftentimes find myself in “analysis paralysis” as I weigh in my mind what is the best decision to make in a situation.
However, I have also found that once I make that decision based on the best information and...
“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.
- Frank A. Clark
OBSTACLES are an inevitable part of the human experience. They come in many forms; manifesting as health issues, financial struggles, relationship difficulties and overall roadblocks on our path to achieving our goals and desires.
Interestingly, much of our progress in today’s world is derived from our quest to deal with obstacles and overcome them in the easiest and most efficient ways possible.
Look only as far as our modern-day technologies from the automobile and airplanes in travel to laptop computers and today’s smartphones...
“Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
- Dr. Seuss
I originally wrote this blog in 2021, in the Las Vegas airport, awaiting my connecting flight back to Denver as I am coming home from my 40th High School Class Reunion in Wisconsin (just to be clear, I was only 2 years old when I graduated).
It was an amazing time, reconnecting with so many friends, many of whom I have known since 1st grade, reminiscing about memories of old and laughing about the times we shared together.
While physical appearances had changed, many miles were between us and years...
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
- Joel A. Barker
I believe we are all born with a vision for what we want in our lives inside of us.
Just think back to when you were child and the numerous visions you had for what you wanted to be in when you “grew up”. Your imagination was boundless. I personally wanted to be a cartoonist, a doctor, an astronaut and a super-hero (Actually, when I was 5-years old, I WAS Batman).
I believe these visions are set inside of us so that we have a path...
“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.”
- Sonia Ricotti
When we get honest with ourselves, most of the upset we experience in our lives is due not to what happens to us or what others have done to us, but to our perceptions, judgements, and stories we attach to these occurrences.
While there are instances in life that can seem devastating at the time they occur, it is my experience that once we move through, accept, and process these experiences, they are often the catalyst for our most valuable life lessons of growth and expansion.
The two most devasting events of my life were losing my 11-year-old brother to a drowning accident the summer before my senior year of high school and going through divorce after a 26-year relationship with my wife.
In both instances, I did not know if I had the strength to carry on.
I was hurt, frustrated, scared and angry. While in this state, I placed blame on others, on...
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly; you're doing something.”
- Neil Gaiman
Every four months, I receive a new group of Black Belt Candidates from our martial arts organization to train in preparation for their upcoming Black Belt Testing with me.
Since most of these candidates are my student’s students, this is the first time many of them have trained with me. As you might...
“Dedicating your time to being AGAINST something is the same as dedicating your life to something you hate; you feed it with your energy. Knowing what you are against, helps you decide what you are FOR. From there, the best thing to do is to pour all of your focus and time and energy into what you are FOR instead.”
- Teal Swan
In our society, we are so conditioned to focus on what we are against.
Today, entire platforms, movements, philosophies and political agendas can be based on this “against-ness”.
In...
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
- Joel A. Barker
I believe we are all born with a vision for what we want in our lives inside of us.
Just think back to when you were child and the numerous visions you had for what you wanted to be in when you “grew up”. Your imagination was boundless. I personally wanted to be a cartoonist, a doctor, an astronaut and a super-hero (Actually, when I was 5-years old, I WAS Batman).
I believe these visions are set inside of us so that we have a path of...
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
- Aristole Onasis
Each year, I am blessed to share my message of Black Belt Leadership and its Mind of a Champion principles with several groups across the country.
During many of these sessions, I discuss how the negative stories we create in our minds about our lives can dis-empower us and keep us from experiencing the happiness and success we desire.
In contrast, I also share how Forward Focused thinking, can be used to overcome our perceived obstacles, and also re-frame our challenges as blessings in our lives when we really look at them with...
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