Level 3 is where the resistance really starts to kick and we find a number of reasons to talk ourselves out of walking our own path. 

 

Why? 

 

I think Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist, said it best:

 

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”  - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist 

 

If you’re listening to this podcast, my guess that you’ve heard a call to live more intentionally. More in tune with your purpose. Or you may just want some sort of change.

 

But, even when you know this, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be easy to enact that change.

 

You have responsibilities to yourself and your family that need to be taken into consideration. And it’s so easy to grow comfortable in the everyday.

 

The everyday is what your body is used to. And, as much as we as humans don’t like to admit, we’re creatures of habit. 

 

And western culture absolutely loves being able to predict everything. That’s why Big Data is so popular. Why many people get paid a lot of money to predict the stock market, who will win the sports’ game, or even why we love SAT scores because they could predict that a student will be a good  brand investment for the school.

 

But, when you live your life on purpose you produce art. And art is beautiful my friends, but extremely unpredictable. 

 

So, as you go throughout your day today, become aware of the things you do or say in your day that you really don’t want to do. It could be a conversation with people that are toxic and drain your energy, but you do it anyway because they are coworkers or you’ve been friends with them for a long time. It could be working a job that doesn’t match your creative ability. 

 

Here are three tips to move beyond level 3 and push through the refusal of the call.

 

1. Pull the Rip Cord and  Let Go. You’ve already jumped out of a plane. Now, you just need to pull the rip cord and trust the parachute as you guide yourself back to the ground. You are part of something much greater than yourself. And know matter what religion you believe in or don’t believe in, understand that letting go of trying to control everything allows you to tune in and focus on the now. When you are able to focus on the now, it becomes easier to see the doors that are being open for you. So, walk forward confidently and let go of not being able to see the finish line of your path. Just keep walking forward.

 

Do small things to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Even though you know you want to grow into the best version of yourself, it’s easy to develop a comfort zone. Through routine and just what’s happened in your life, you’ve developed a comfort zone. Now, it’s time to stretch it. 

 

Chose one thing you can do that scares the crap out of you and do it. Go skydiving or take up rock climbing at the local gym. That’s what I did. No, not skydiving because that scares the living daylights out of me, but I took up rock climbing. Rock climbing has helped me conquer my fear of heights.

 

And to demonstrate how scared of heights I am, my palms just got sweaty as I’m saying this.

 

And yeah….I just realized I put a limit on myself. So, I am making this challenge to you. If you come out to NYC, I’ll go sky diving with you. Right near where I live is the place where all the West Point military cadets learn skydiving. 

 

But, rock climbing has helped me grow calm in the face of fear and stare at the fiery mouth of a dragon (or at least I think it’s cool to look at it that way!)

 

Sometimes, knowing that your actions will help others keeps you on your track. I know that helped me stay consistent with my triathlon training when my clients and team expected me to perform. And if you have kids, imagine how much better of a person you’re going to be and a role model for them when you persevere and  grow a limitless mindset. 

 

And a surprise 4th superpower tip.

 

If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, you know I often talk about positive affirmations. Find one that works as your mantra. It’s a saying you say to yourself every time the going gets really tough. The mantra has helped me a lot in my life, especially during physical feats like running a marathon. Whenever the pain got so hard I wanted to walk or just stop all together, I said my mantra and it helped keep me going.

 

Back then, my mantra was “Ebb and flow”. The image of the water going back and forth helped remind me that pain comes and goes.

 

Now, my mantra is “you’re getting better every day.” 

 

What’s yours?

 

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Ben Leconte knows how hard it can be to not give up and persevere. He is one of the best examples I can think of of staring down the dragon and slaying it to continue on The Hero’s Journey. 

 

When Ben sets his mind to accomplish something big that many people would consider impossible, he does it. How big am I talking about? Ben will soon be starting The Longest Swim. He will swim from Tokyo to San Franciso — the entire Pacific Ocean.

 

Yes, I’m serious. When I heard of Ben I just had to meet him because I didn’t think he was real. 

 

So, in other words, think of Ben’s story whenever you want to give up. I know I will.

 

 

Check Ben’s work out over at The Longest Swim.com. 

 

So, The Refusal of the Call is the level in The Hero’s Journey that everyone faces. When you choose to live your life on purpose, you will face it.

 

And you have the power to slay it and move on. And I’ll be right here helping you do so too.

 

Tomorrow, we move to level 4, The Mentor Tree.