Mindful Mondays-# 324 November 20th The Strong Within Daily Affirmation Podcast

I Keep Going

I used to love watching Rocky movies. You know, the Sylvester Stallone flicks where he was a boxer. Now I know people can find them cheesy or about male machoism as it’s about beating the other guy physically in a boxing ring…but that wasn’t really why I liked those movies. I loved them for the little psychological tidbits hidden within them.

And in the movie Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone’s character was speaking with his son. His son was embarrassed that his father was going to compete against the best boxer in the world when Rocky was an older retired boxer. He thought it was only a marketing stunt to embarrass his father. His son was upset that he was always living in his father’s shadow and that he felt people would laugh at his father and include him in the ridicule. And His father listened quietly to everything his son had to say before speaking. What I always love about these movies is Rocky isn’t the smartest guy in the world, and they make sure to let you know that. When he opens his mouth you think he’s saying something silly, but he’s really saying something so simple and profound. And so Rocky went on to explain something for his son to think about…he replied back to his son:

“You ain’t gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here.” As Rocky holds up the palm of his hand

I’d hold you up to say to your mother, “This kid’s gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid’s gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew.” And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilege. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you’re no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”

There’s always going to be something that we can blame for our place in life. There’s always going to be some obstacle or barrier in front of us in our endeavors. And there will always be someone or something trying to tell us why we can’t…and sometimes that person is ourselves. The accident in front of you, the barrier stopping you, the jeers and hatred to your face and behind your back aren’t the stopping blocks…they are the challenging cries of the Universe asking if you are willing to be more. They are the questions that the Universe will continually ask of you…I know you said you wanted this goal, this thing, this reward…but are you truly committed to the task ahead of really obtaining it?

Cause wishing is easy…and hoping without action or belief is like trying to grab at smoke. And when things are too easy, when things are handed to us…we feel robbed. We feel gypped…because the reward was never in the getting. The reward was in the quest while you kept asking yourself…can I really do this, am I truly committed to this…and if so, am I willing to go the distance. There will be many paths to take, and usually the easiest one is most people’s first choice… but I think you’ll find a great life isn’t found in seeking the lowest ground or the easiest pathway…but the greatest life is in seeking the higher ground even when it’s harder, living in accordance with our values when everyone else is telling us it’s easier to give up or give in and conform, and the greatest life lived is when we stop to ponder what we truly want of our lives…and what we are willing to commit towards making the deeply intangible happen.

I’ve seen over the many years of my life, the greatest things I have, the greatest things that I’ve lost, and the greatest things I will be given…were in the continually pursuit of paving a way. The continual pursuit that was in alignment with my values. The continual pursuit that was in accordance with challenging myself daily, and to keep going in the direction that was not only the harder way…but a way that matters to me. Because I think we get tired in our lives and forget our “why’s.” We forget the reason we were put here and what makes us feel alive…because the world will try to beat it out of us, as the masses have decided it was easier to give in…than to continue to live for the cause and the dream they truly wanted. But we, will not give up on our dreams and personal commitment to living our highest integrity for the ease and comfort that’s promised by giving up on the harder pathway. We will keep going.

Today’s Personal Commitment:
What does the path you’re on right now look like? I know for myself, I get in autopilot of showing up to work and doing what’s required…while never really thinking about it. It’s like you don’t even put choice or thought into it, you just put your head down and barrel thru. So today think about the path you’re on, think about the path you’re paving…and see if it’s in alignment with who you want to be.

What’s that quote…”for evil to triumph, all that’s needed is for good men to do nothing.” And it’s not that evil will triumph…but they say that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions.

Today, I am going to challenge you to be awake and aware. I am going to challenge you to make choices that are in alignment with your values. I am going to challenge you to raise your head, decide your direction and keep going towards the harder path that’s in alignment with your why in life. Today I am going to challenge you to be who you’ve always been and were meant to be.

So write down a 3 step plan to help keep you awake and in alignment with that path and look at it every week for the next year.

I Keep Going

 

 

Thanks for listening.  I'm sending great energy your way as we become Strong Within together,
Personal Development Life Coach-
Chris O'Hearn

Contact info- email: [email protected]  phone:865-219-3247

 

 

Music by:
- Zest by basematic (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
- I Have Often Told You Stories (guitar instrumental) by Ivan Chew (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee USA but available worldwide