Have you ever experienced a time in your life where you were shooting for a goal or wanted something badly, but it seems like it's taking forever to come to fruition? Maybe you're in that moment right now with something in your life. The question is, how long are you willing to fight for what you are after?

Your results sit on the other side of your commitment to do the work that is required. That work looks different for everyone.

I'm getting ready to tackle my fifth Ironman 70.3 Triathlon this coming Sunday, July 30th, 2023. This topic of results and commitment is something I deeply understand and take personal responsibility for.

What results are you working toward in the four key domains of your life, Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finance? What is your level of commitment to achieving those results?

Why don't you just go back to easy? ...just be like everyone else? This was a question that I asked myself over and over again. Why don't you just go back? My answer: "It's not who you are!" This mentality has helped me through the darkest of times. Without it... well, I'm afraid to even think about what my life would be like. What about you? Do you know? Do you refuse to embrace it? Are you settling for average in your life, health, business, relationships? Only you know. But if you know, you know. And that's for you to wrestle with.

If you asked 100 people what leadership is to them, you would get 100 different answers. What I do know is that to lead, you must have these two characteristics: strong physical and mental strength.  When I talk about leadership, I talk about the ability to lead oneself first.  I do this because if you can't lead yourself, you have no business trying to lead others.

How can you master yourself? Personally, this has been a focus of mine over the last several years, with specific focus on how I can master myself by changing the words I use to talk to myself. Eliminating phrases such as "I can't," "I don't," "I won't," and "I have to" and replacing them with "I choose to," "I prefer to," "I desire to," and "I have decided to" has been a huge step. It impacts what thoughts I allow to take hold in my mind, how I process and work through emotions, how I mentally deal with rejection. This is all just one small piece of how to master oneself.

We have all experienced conditioning in different forms, and it affects our beliefs and worldview. We have four key pillars here at OnAscent: Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finance. What would be possible if we looked at each of these areas of our lives, and if we harbor any bit of resentment in those areas, then we intentionally shift our thinking away from that and let it go? Just like breaking any other habit, it will take practice and tenacity, but it will be worth it.

I came across a simple teaching from ancient Huna wisdom, the teachings of the Hawaiian elders: Bless that which you want. Jealousy, resentment, putting down, and cursing will never build us up; we must instead bless that which we desire and do not yet have, and bless those that already have it, and learn from them, rather than harboring negativity toward them. This is the path of ascent.

No matter where you are listening today, pause and say, "I Create My Life."

Have you ever heard anyone say, "Life Happens to Me?" I've said it... maybe in different forms. "It's life." "Such is life." "This too shall pass." I heard my father speak these statements a million times. They come from a place of passivity, a place of victimhood.

The approach of "I create my life" is different: it takes control. It comes from a mindset of responsibility and abundance. I choose this mindset.

The war within is often more difficult than the war on the outside. Mastering your thoughts, emotions, and will is the ultimate challenge. Our outside circumstances should not break us when they are tough, and likewise, they cannot fix us if we are broken. We must overcome our programming from the past and our obstacles in the present, take our thoughts and emotions captive, and align our will and actions with truth, growth, and success.

Memorial Day has come and gone. Today I want to spend a moment remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. To all the families who may have celebrated in a different way Monday or are mourning the loss of a friend or family member, may God bless you. Thank you all for the opportunity to live free.

This topic of accountability partners continues to come up in conversations I have with clients and others. The question was raised about whether a particular person should do a specific program. He stated, "I would do this and stick with it because I will have accountability partners." My response: "What happens when your accountability partners quit?" Does that mean you get to quit? The best accountability partner ever is YOU! If you rely on others to show up so you can get the result in your life you want, then you will most likely fall short. You don't need accountability partners. They're an excuse for you to quit on yourself.