"The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep. Few people know the predicament we are in." – General George Washington, January 14, 1776

This patriotic episode of the Elevated U podcast focuses on American freedom in anticipation of Independence Day. Do not forget the men and women that have served and given their lives so that we can live free today. Do not neglect the rich history and contributions of millions of diverse people that built this great nation. Do not take your freedom for granted or squander your gift. Remember that we are all united in our mutual desire to continue preserving and fighting for freedom. I wish each of you a fantastic Fourth of July holiday :).

Our last few episodes have focused on analyzing your life from 360 degrees. What’s driving you? What is keeping you from moving forward? What does moving forward even mean? In order to move forward, especially in life, we must take a step backward at times. The old ways of acting and being are rarely conducive to reaching the next level.

Learn how to identify and progress through evolving paradigms as you elevate yourself through life. Avoid common pitfalls, remain grounded, keep on going...

This episode focuses on the philosophical and psychological implications of identity coupled with Michael's personal journey/challenges through various stages of life and identity. While recording, the phrase "identity crisis" was not mentioned, but upon reviewing the themes of this discussion, it became clear that this conversation was centered on the disconnect between one's sense of self compared to others, groups, personal perception, actions over time or in different environments, etc.

Elevated Idea:

What external pieces of identity have you picked up from society, your friends, family, career, etc. that you believe to be true? Could dropping or reframing any of those characteristics better serve you? What internally cultivated pieces of identity are you proud of?

Thank you for your support on episodes such as this. It is not easy to share deeply personal stories and discuss topics so complex. The goal is to learn and get better. Any constructive feedback is welcome :).

This week's episode shares a passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay The Over-soul to set the stage for the concept of having vs. seeking. I discuss suicide after the passing of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, signs to look out for, and the hotline number 1-800-273-8255. This segues into the psychology of "having" and the psychology of "seeking." Those in the "having" frame possess characteristics such as emotional control, acting as a conduit for greater truth and humanistic lessons, speaks from the soul, is inspired, possesses self-love and acceptance, trusts oneself, does not need or ask too much of the world or others, is internally robust, and charts one's own course. Those in the "seeking" frame possess characteristics such as ego and pride, lacks contentment, desires more, relies on persons and resources to find answers, acts to prove something or for validation, speaks and acts from what is popular or effective, depends on the external world for happiness, and is typically less balanced. Most people are a combination of the two and typically fall somewhere on the spectrum. The world needs both havers and seekers and each frame has value to offer and provides a unique perspective for how to navigate life. Self trust is discussed and how we can increase/decrease it and why it is an essential ingredient for each frame in different ways. The Elevated Idea of the week is "why are you waiting to be the person you wish to be? What is stopping you from being that person right now?"

There is an infinite number of ways to improve your life and what works for one person may or may not work for another. Personal development, self-help, spiritual elevation, all of these are lifelong processes and many situations do not have clearcut answers. The following tips, which are in no particular order, are ideas that have been helpful for me in my journey of personal growth that may translate to your situation. Keep on growing!

1) QUIT DRINKING ALCOHOL

2) DO SOMETHING CREATIVE

3) PRACTICE A HEALTHY LEVEL OF DETACHMENT

4) DO NOT FIGHT THE CURRENT, FLOW WITH IT

5) MAKE YOUR DECISIONS RIGHT

6) THINK FOR YOURSELF

7) CREATE SYSTEMS AND ROUTINES

8) CHALLENGE YOUR EGO AND IDENTITY

9) AUDIT YOUR VALUES AND ASSESS IF YOU’RE LIVING UP TO THEM

10) USE EMOTIONS AS DATA POINTS VS. OBJECTIVES FACTS

11) ALIGN WITH SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF

12) LAUGH AT YOURSELF

13) STOP VIEWING THINGS IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENT

14) CHALLENGE YOUR ABILITIES

15) WORK FROM WHERE YOU’RE AT

ELEVATED IDEA: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE?

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience with improvement in the comments! Thank you :D.

Letting go is like winning a fight (physical or otherwise); many of us think we’d have the upper hand if the situation were to present itself, but when push comes to shove, most of us would move away from the confrontation and towards any alternative.

There are many forms of letting go. You can let go of a past holding your present and potential-self hostage. You can let go of poor habits and behaviors. You can let go of the stress you feel at work or in your personal life. You can let go of your need for situations and people to work out in your favor. You can let go of all that you think you know and step into the realm of possibility, expansion, and utter unknowability.

This week’s episode features a free thought-flow from host Michael. No topic of focus, no agenda, just a desire to self-express and explore emergent ideas. Some points of interest include the idea of letting go to rise up, meaning that our perception of how things should be can often stifle opportunity and authenticity. I discuss presence, intuition, the many deaths and incarnations of self over time, subtle progression, sobriety, the codifying direction of Elevated U, stoicism, Boethius’ The Consolation Of Philosophy and fortune, entitlement, patience, transcendence of being, problem-solving, and more.

There are two things I would like to particularly leave you with this Memorial Day week as we recognize those who have served this amazing country of ours by honoring their service through our actions and virtues.

1) HOW CAN LETTING GO IMPROVE ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?

I often think that the longer and tighter we hold onto pieces of knowledge, behavior, and identity that no longer serve us, the more we suffer. What are you holding onto that’s holding you back? What are you so attached to that your life would conceivably fall apart in its absence? What would it mean if all that you know about yourself and the world were incorrect? Challenge your assumptions and entertain this idea with curiosity and optimism. If you care to share, please leave a comment or email us. The more stories and perspectives we have, the better we can serve our growing community of truth seekers.

2) WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

How can I better serve you? How can we make Elevated U and the podcast a more useful experience and resource for you? Are you interested in any particular topics, even ones that may be outside the norm of what we discuss? Are you experiencing any particular challenges or finding unique solutions that could benefit our listenership to know? Let me know what I can do for you, I am deeply interested. Leave a comment or send us an email :).

Lastly, I’d like to thank you for your patience. It’s been slow-going to get back on a regular content schedule, but good things are looming ahead. Thank you for being a part of this journey and for being so awesome as you continue to progress through your own.

Have an elevated week!

Joseph Snyder, President & CEO of Lannister Holdings – a publicly traded blockchain development company based out of Phoenix, Arizona (OTC: NBDR) –  joins us this week to share wisdom from 15 years of building, scaling, bootstrapping, acquiring, and merging successful businesses.

Joe walks us through his purpose & soul-driven entrepreneurial journey, the importance of having a momentous WHY, the parallels between passion and artistry, how to infuse artistry into every aspect of daily life, self-knowledge, the value of experience, Blue Ocean thinking, balance, eliminating things that do not serve you and your goals, process-orientation and the journey, the significance and impact of possessing core competency in oneself and their team, why attention to detail matters, how to attract and develop a world-class team, boundaries and commitments, leading by example, and strategies for pioneering a never-been-done-before remote development business in the global emerging technologies market.

Check out Lannister Holding's website, https://lannisterholdings.com, for information on their fantastic company and the exciting world of blockchain tech!

If you're a business interested in inquiring how blockchain can work for you or are already using blockchain technology and would like to get involved in the conversation, please reach out to Joe and his team on his site's contact page.

Visit Lannister Development at https://www.lannisterdevelopment.com to see the excellent work Joe and his team are doing in this exciting and next-gen tech realm!

You can follow Joe on Twitter @LannisterCEO

You can follow Lannister Holdings on Twitter for updates and everything blockchain @LannisterNBDR

I would like to personally thank Joe for the fascinating conversation, for providing new insights and genuine value to myself and our Elevated listeners, and for being exceptionally generous with his time and knowledge. Joe absolutely leads by example and was a joy to chat with :).

Do not be afraid of what you can or can't control. Do not let the uncertainty of an outcome stop you from trying. Go out into the world, put forth the best of your effort, live fully, and what is meant to happen will manifest in the most splendid and unexpected ways...

In this week's episode, Robert McQuarrie – friend of 20+ years, businessman, college graduate, investor, and certified hustler – joins us to discuss a wealth of practical and life-enhancing topics.

We discuss my upcoming (now complete) move away from my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico and how to enter the realm of chaos and newness with strength, openness, and determination. The pros and cons of entering a brand new environment and lifestyle with a set plan. The toxicity of social media when used for purposes of overconsumption, passive comparison, sensationalized news, fear of missing out (FOMO), and escapism from day-to-day life and responsibility. Benefits of social media when used in a contributive and value-adding manner. We share our perspectives on victimhood, taking responsibility, and the hesitation to push through barriers of comfort even if the outcome is desirable in the medium-to-long run. Personal development as a pseudo-tool to outrun the potential of evil within oneself and the world rather than incorporating those elements of reality into one's perspective and actions.

Robert shines in his description and embodiment of drive, strategic execution, goal attainment, perseverance, and grit. Achieving outcomes through SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) goal-setting. Scheduling and rewarding oneself for sticking to a plan. The importance of sticking to a plan even when the going gets tough and things seem uncertain. How to enjoy the process of consistently trying different things, seeing how you respond, and tweaking your approach to be more and more efficient. Having faith that you can achieve your goals and enjoy the process. You'll never know what you're capable of without trying. Every person is destined for good, you just have to work and pursue it.

Huge shout out to Robert for taking the time to sit down and have an honest, fun, and light-hearted conversation about interesting topics. I'm excited about the journey ahead for both you and myself; I have confidence we will both accomplish great things and be the good men and people we strive to be. Thank you for being an exceptional friend through thick and thin.

Elevated Idea Of The Day: 

Do not be afraid of what you can or can't control. Every person is capable of good, you just have to work towards the things you want. Regardless of if you fail or succeed, you'll be happy you tried :).

New website launching May 15, 2018. Get ready!!

In this episode, Bryan and Michael sit down to discuss personal growth, next steps in life, and ways to work towards the peak of self-elevation. We talk about entitlement and how the world and others don't owe us anything. Identity, ego, and how shifting from craving external validation to cultivating internal confidence builds a grounded sense of value-based living. Personal authenticity and transparency. Life changes, transitions and why/how we make those decisions. Stepping outside of our comfort zones. Staying stagnant even when growth is our primary goal. Why faith matters. Cutbacks on the road to self-actualization. The necessity of including others in our journeys of personal growth. Elevating others through our words and actions. The idea that our life is not our own; our actions matter exponentially more than we often think because of the direct and indirect impact they have on others. Taking care of ourselves. Treating others the way we wish to be treated. Cultural isolation and an unwillingness to make oneself vulnerable. The necessity of vulnerability for creating deeper relationships and enhancing perspective. Listening to others rather than always trying to be heard or right. Courage to express personal truths and entertain/consider differing perspectives. Doing something unusual tomorrow and personalized advice.

I'd like to give a big thanks to Bryan for such an open and engaging conversation. You can follow Bryan on Snapchat (bsich) and Instagram (@bsich1103) for motivational stories and posts. Follow me (Michael) on Twitter (@michaelmblowers), Snapchat (m.be3zy), and Instagram (@mmblowers) for thoughtful posts.

In this week's delayed episode (sorry about that), we talk the necessity of truth and how to find it. I share a history lesson about a man who risked his life for truth, Martin Luther with his 95 Thesis, how expressing truth can heal psychological and spiritual wounds, ways in which truth gives us certainty of action and progresses humanity, the hierarchical order of truth, permanent vs. subjective truths, the fallibility of truth, how to find and live your truth, and ways to fight un-truth. More positivity and new content coming soon!