Building the Bold Perceptions team, Jake makes his debut with Nick as they welcome on Ammar Ahmad onto the podcast. Ammar is a war refugee who moved to Denmark during the midst of the Iraq war. He has had a challenging life, overcoming obstacle after obstacle. He has his own podcast, DenmarkReal, which is about helping others become aware of their talents and finding themselves through stories and enlightenment. Ammar is a co-founder of Crew Cut Barbershop, which gives haircuts to the homeless and co-founder of OneUnit, an organization that helps the youth. He joins the podcast today to discuss his life during the Iraq war and moving as a refugee to Denmark, challenges he’s faced through bullying, drugs and alcohol, finding himself through enlightenment, and helping others find their true self.

Jake is introduced as a new Bold Perceptions Team Member and Ammar gives a background about himself. (0:00-5:03) Growing up during the Iraq war, leaving as a refugee, and using his PTSD from the war as an asset rather than a liability. (5:04-11:36) Dealing with bullying after moving to Denmark and how he coped with it, being yourself, and how an individual find themselves. (11:37-20:12) Self destruction with drugs and alcohol, analyzing yourself in order to find yourself, applying the knowledge learnt through finding himself. “Light comes from darkness. Every source of light in the universe shines from darkness.” (20:13-29:39) Actions a person can take to find their self, negative thinking vs. positive thinking and how those thoughts become your reality, and power of the subconscious mind. (29:40-38:29) Building his podcast DenmarkReal, not being a victim of circumstance, switching your mindset from victim to attacker, and connecting with the community. “Instead of looking at the glass half full or half empty, try adding to the glass.” (38:30-48:03)

***Nick's Notes ~ I had a great time with Ammar. It amazes me the people that we meet through Bold Perceptions, as if the positive energy and similar mindset attract one another. Ammar's story is very inspiring, and it shows you that no matter how crappy one's life may be - they can find away to change their mindset and become the person they want to become.

Quotes

“There were bombings and the water was poison so we had to leave Iraq.”

“I became self-aware in an unhealthy way because war was all around.”

“There were shootings going on in the street where the school was at, we could see the bullet holes in the walls. So they banned us from going to school that year.”

“I am trying to reexamine people’s life and make them become aware of themselves in a different way.”

“With PTSD (from the war) I am self aware all time, so I try to anticipate and calculate steps ahead so that it is an asset rather than a liability.”

“When you find yourself, you will be aligned with who you are. And when you are aligned with who you are, you will fully be happy.”

“When you find who you are, you really don’t have time to waste. You stop wasting time on drugs, criminal activity, on being lost.”

“Being yourself is the best gift.”

“Seeing myself worthless was very tough, especially knowing I could be so much more.”

“Every time I wasn’t myself, I was drugging myself. My final realization was, I had to be myself.”

“You find yourself when you stop looking for yourself.”

“Light comes from darkness. Every source of light in the universe shines from darkness.”

“To find yourself, find someone that can really teach you something. When you know more, you can do more.”

“The secret to success and the secret to failure: You become what you think about.”

“If you cannot change your thoughts. You have to change what you are looking at.”

“I am trying add value by enlightening people and connecting people across the world.”

“Every person that has been through hell, has the ability to create something great.”

“Instead of looking at the glass half full or half empty, try adding to the glass.”