GAMETIME (Audio) with Andy Zitzmann

Don't wait for life to challenge you. It will over and over again anyways. Be strong enough to handle those challenges and work through them. That's life. And that said, why not take a stand and own your challenges. Create the challenges you want in your life that will take you to where you want to go. Make those challenges, the ones you create, your priority and own it! Create your challenges and in turn, you will create your destiny. So... what challenge will you create for yourself today? 

Approval has to come from within. If we are in constant fear of criticism or the need of others' approval, we fall victim to living their lives and not our own. Most people would rather us be safe than to take risks, be average than great, live smaller than larger, etc... After all, most family and friends just want to protect us, but they can also deter us in following our dreams. Others' opinions, criticisms and approval are a projection of their reality, not yours. If you don’t have your own approval, you need to let go of needing everyone else’s approval and go for whatever will make you happy. We only get one shot, our approval of self matters most, and as such, we must be willing to live our own life. 

Not every day is the same. Some days, the level of your best will be different than others. However, if you always do your best given what you can under any circumstance, your self-esteem, heart and integrity will know and reward you for it. When you can look in the mirror and honestly say you gave your best, you are free... it's the key to personal freedom. Simply ask yourself each night, "did I do my best today?" In doing so, you will be more conscious and learn to always do your best!

Personal freedom is internal peace, happiness and fulfillment. It's complete acceptance and love for ourselves and others regardless of anything outside of us. When we have personal freedom, everything in life feels so much better! Nothing we have outside of us will ever be enough until we learn to develop and continue to develop our personal freedom!

I wish you the best on your journey to personal freedom! Don’t forget to practice these Four Agreements each and every day, each and every moment:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don’t take anything personally.

3. Don’t make assumptions. 

4. Always do your best. 

To protect ourselves from making assumptions, we must first seek to truly understand ourselves and others. We must desire to have better relationships and truly care about those with whom we interact. We can do this by asking clarifying questions so that we can clearly communicate and truly understand. No one likes to be misunderstood. 

On the flip side, we must desire to communicate our words and actions clearly to assist others in not making assumptions based on what we say, do or feel. We must express what we really want and mean, and ask others if they truly understand what we're communicating. 

If you ask yourself throughout the day, "am I assuming; perhaps I should ask them to clarify" and/or "are they assuming; perhaps I should clarify", you will have a much deeper level of understanding, appreciation and joy in your life and your relationships. As Don Miguel says,"...you can completely transform your life!" 

We really seem take things personally when we're hurt by someone, but don't seem to recognize it when it's delivered in the form of good. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that when someone does something good for us or to us, it too is a projection of their own reality; perhaps their love, truth and goodness?! None of it is personal. See it for what it is, embrace it, understand it and be free!

Tonight, review your day and ask yourself where you took things personally. Learn that love comes from within and the only thing we should take personal is ourselves! Ahhh - deep, yes indeed, and freedom! 

To be impeccable with your word is hard work. It requires consciousness and commitment; to be honest with ourselves and others, always. Today, try repeating this phrase to yourself, "be impeccable with your word." Throughout the day, evaluate your spoken words to measure your level of honesty with self and others. At the end of the day, ask yourself how you performed. Did you say what you mean and mean what you say? Once you have mastered this you can move on to your unspoken words in thought... and develop an even deeper level of being impeccable with your word!

The Four Agreements is an excellent book and resource that has helped me to develop a practice for truly being free; a practical guide to personal freedom. If you read this book and practice the principles, you will develop a new commitment to yourself that runs deep into your heart & soul. You will absolutely have personal freedom no matter where you are, or what you have or don't have. You will learn to be more honest with yourself and always strive to do your best. You will be truly free! Please join me on this journey over then next 4 days with these 4 agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don’t take anything personally.

3. Don’t make assumptions. 

4. Always do your best. 

Perhaps you can relate to Eric's story or know someone that is experiencing this right now. We've all been there. Holding onto to the past while hurting our future in the process. If you're fighting for your past, think about what it is doing or not doing for your future. Take a stand like Eric, let go and decide to move forward. The past is gone; learn from it and let go. The future is yet to happen, but we must prepare for it. The present is now; act on it! Set yourself and your future free... fight now for your future! 

The only way to be a champion is to know victory and defeat.  We all make mistakes and failures, and champions are those that are willing to continue to make mistakes knowing that it's all part of the process to long term success. As Teddy says, "it's the cold and timid souls" that sit on the sideline, never daring greatly, that never achieve success (or failure for that matter). Champions spend time in worthy causes, takes risks, reach high and go for it, knowing that in the end it's all worth it... the good and the bad, the mistakes and failures... because there is no victory without defeat! Know Defeat and truly Know Victory!!

Develop a process to unleash the power of quotes in your life. Write down quotes that stand out to you in a journal, your own quote book like I do, or in your notes on your phone, pc, or tablet, etc... However you do it, be sure to keep track of them and be able to revisit them each day. Here's a process to let the power of quotes work in your life and business:

1. Seek out quotes.

2. Write them down or track them in some way. 

3. Read one quote a day (I read three) and pick one to live by that day.

This will help you become clear on things that are unclear, have more "aha" moments, feel inspired and connected, and ultimately, live with more intention. This process and the power of quotes has changed my life, and I'm sure it will help you too; especially, when you least expect it. Leverage the Power of Quotes.