Warrior Mind Podcast

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to share 8 ways to supercharge your motivation to achieve your goals and personal success.  

8 Simple Ways To Supercharge Your Motivation Every Day

If you try to do something great, you’ll inevitably encounter obstacles. The more obstacles you encounter, the more difficult it is to keep your motivation at a high level. In these moments, you need techniques to fuel your motivation engine. Here are 8 simple ways you can supercharge your motivation.

* Focus on the things you can control. The more you focus on things out of your control, the less motivated you’ll feel. When you focus completely on things you can control, you’ll realize that you can quickly and easily change your situation. Every day, focus on the things right in front of you. Don’t waste your time or energy on things out of your control. 

* Constantly remember your purpose. Why are you pursuing a goal or dream in the first place? What is the big, audacious purpose that motivated you to embark on the journey? More time with your family? More money? Getting the dream job? To keep your motivation high, constantly keep your purpose in front of you.

* Celebrate the small wins. It’s important to keep the big picture in front of you, but it’s also crucial to celebrate the small wins. Remember, you climb a ladder one rung at a time. You’re reaching your goal one step at a time. Celebrating the small wins will allow you to see the progress you’re making and increase your motivation.

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* Act first, feel later. One of the best ways to get your motivational juices flowing is to simply take action. If your goal is to read fifty books in one year, sit down and read a book for five minutes. If your goal is to lose 50 pounds, go for a 10 minute walk. It’s common for motivation to follow action. Once you take the first step, you’ll feel motivated to keep going.

* Do visualization exercises. By visualizing your goal, you bring the future into the present. As you visualize your dream job and all the benefits it will bring, you’ll feel your present motivation skyrocketing. As you think about what it will be like to double your income, the obstacles you’re facing will melt into the background.

* Break your big goal into small goals. Depending on your ability to focus, it might be necessary to break up the goal into segments that last anywhere from one week to 12 weeks. This way your brain can experience success and logically see a positive long-term outcome. You’ll procrastinate if the path looks too challenging.

* Repeat affirmations daily. Affirmations help you believe that you’re going to achieve your goal. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or low on motivation, saying things like, “I AM on my way to a healthy body,” can help you keep going.

* Surround yourself with people who motivate you. One of the most effective ways to boost your motivation is to surround yourself with other people who are motivated. If you’re building a business, spend time with other passionate entrepreneurs. If you’re working toward a goal weight, join weight loss support groups. You need encouragement and support as you pursue your goals.

These ideas may be simple, but they’re profound.

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to share 8 ways to become more fearless to achieve personal success.  

How to Become More Fearless

Your life would be a lot more interesting and rewarding if you could just be a little more fearless. Staying in your comfort zone is strangling your life. Just a tad more courage will help your self-esteem, too.

You don’t have to just wish you were bolder, you can be bolder. There is a fearless person lurking inside of you!

Use these ideas to build your bravery:

* Avoid worrying what others will think of you. Unless you can find a way to put yourself into the history books, it won’t be too long until there’s no one left that remembers you. So, what are you afraid of?* Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Unless you’re in danger of falling to your death or losing a limb, there probably isn’t too much to worry about. When you’re feeling fearful, figure out the worst possible outcome. If you can live with that, there’s nothing to worry about.

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* Deal with smaller stressors and fears. The key to managing big fears is to deal with the smaller ones. Your mind will become accustomed to your new patterns of thought and action. Plus, the skill and confidence you gain by overcoming smaller fears will give you the ability to dominate larger ones.* Learn to relax. The best way to overcome a fear reaction is to relax.  You can train yourself to automatically relax when you first feel fear. Relax your muscles, think peaceful thoughts, and breathe deeply. Again, practice with smaller upsets first.* Play the odds. How many of your fears actually come true? Some studies suggest the number is about 20%. So, there’s an 80% chance your fears won’t come true. If you can deal with the worst possible outcome, and there’s only a 20% chance it will even happen, you have little to worry about.* Realize that fear only happens between your ears. Almost all fears are unique. You might be afraid of snakes, but your friend isn’t. You might be afraid of heights, but your sister finds them exhilarating. In most instances, you are the source of your fear.* Focus on the positive possibilities. Rather than thinking about every little thing that might go wrong, consider what might go right. Allow yourself to feel excited about the possibilities. Imagine how much more exciting your life would be if you give yourself the chance to have something amazing happen each day!* View fear as a challenge. Think of fear as the beginning of a game. See if you can get yourself to take an action that makes you afraid when you think about doing it. Of course, be smart and challenge yourself to do things that can actually improve your life.

You can live a fearless life and experience many more rewarding adventures than you do now. Your fears are manufactured inside your head. You can let them go and be bold.

Start today by doing something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t quite have enough courage. Just relax and do it. Show yourself that there’s nothing to fear.

For a more in-depth discussion about this topic request your Introductory Consultation.

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Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to share my personal experiences and personal reflections about the importance of mental strength.  

Personal Reflections On Mental Strength

1998 – Avalanche on Mt. Rainer: Survived with torn PCL and broken hand.

2016 – CrossFit Open: Finished top 20 in the world (in my age bracket).

2017 – Orthoscopic knee surgery: Removed meniscus, no cartilage left, PVNS, basically bone on bone

2018 – Double pneumonia and Empyema: Lost 25 lbs. in less than a month

2020 – Knee replacement surgery: Looking forward to the come back!

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Mental Strength is comprised of:

* Challenge* Confidence* Commitment* Control

This results in the development of:

* Grit* Resilience* Positivity* Inner Strength

For a more in-depth discussion about this topic request your Introductory Consultation.

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Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to discuss the 15 ways to empower yourself for personal success.

15 Ways To Empower Yourself

Anyone can attain personal empowerment. It depends more on your actions than on the size of your bank account or the title on your business card.

Do you want to be successful and experience more control over your life? Learn more about the meaning of true empowerment and run down this list of 10 simple things you can start doing today to build your competence and confidence.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SELF-EMPOWERMENT:

1. Set realistic goals. Small victories provide motivation. Aim for targets that are within your reach. If losing 50 pounds seems overwhelming, start with one diet tweak at a time, like putting less sugar in your coffee.

2. Strengthen your skills. If you’re willing to keep learning, you can expand your potential. Read self-help books and take online courses on communications or coding. Talk with others about their areas of expertise and teach them what you know.

3. Manage your emotions. Going beyond your comfort zone can be scary. Acknowledge your feelings while making decisions that serve your long-term interests. When your emotions are intense, think them through or talk with others who can help you sort things out.

4. Believe in yourself. Challenge the assumptions that have been holding you back. Think positive and focus on what you have to gain.

5. Gather support. Empowering yourself can enhance your relationships with others. Surround yourself with family and friends who boost your self-esteem. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and ask for help when you need it.

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SIMPLE WAYS TO EMPOWER YOURSELF:

1. Respect your time. Treat your time like a precious resource. Clarify your top priorities and devote your energy to them. Limit distractions that would pull you off track.

2. Protect your privacy. How do you handle intrusive questions? Set healthy boundaries and be assertive about maintaining them. Give yourself permission to end conversations that make you uncomfortable.

3. Meditate daily. Self-knowledge makes it easier to empower yourself. Observe your thoughts through meditation or other methods like keeping a journal. You could also take personality quizzes online and ask others for feedback.

4. Practice self-care. Honoring your needs is an important part of valuing yourself. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

5. Follow a budget. Putting your finances in order will help you to feel more secure and increase your capacity to take on meaningful projects. Create a sound plan for your savings, spending, and investments. Consult a professional advisor if you need more guidance.

6. Share housework. Are you satisfied with how you and your partner divide household chores, as well as parenting responsibilities? If you want to achieve more balance, initiate a conversation about making some changes and track your progress.

7. Gain recognition at work. It may take more than excellent performance to make you visible at work. Keep your boss updated on your achievements and s...

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to 9 ways in which to build resilience and grit personal success.

9 Ways to Build Resilience and Grit

You might be skilled, talented, educated, and brilliant. But, if you’re not resilient, persistent, and gritty, you’ll never make the most of those other attributes.

Think about the five most successful people you know. On the average, they’re probably not that talented. However, they know how to get things done and persist.

Resilience and grit might be the missing ingredients in your quest for success.

Try these techniques to build your resilience and grit:

* Stay in contact with others. When times are tough, it’s natural to crawl into a hole and be by yourself. This is a mistake. You’re more capable with a support system. Give up the idea that strong people take on the world by themselves. You’re stronger when you have help and support. Maintain your relationships.

* Have high hopes. It’s easier to stand strong when you expect things to improve. Consider every bad time in your life. Haven’t things gotten better every single time? When you know better times are ahead, grit and resilience are easier to demonstrate. Focus on a positive outcome.

* Know that the most successful people are those with the most resilience. It might be easy to be wealthy and successful but becoming wealthy and successful is anything but. The most successful people were willing to take on challenges that the average person would avoid like the plague.

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* Take excellent care of yourself. No matter what is going on in your life, you still need food, rest, love, exercise, and fun. Take good care of yourself and you’ll be in a better position to weather challenges. Most people ignore their needs during difficult times, but this is a huge error.

* Be active, not passive. It’s easier to last when you’re doing something to make progress. Rather than passively waiting for things to get better, take steps to improve the situation. If there is something constructive you can do, do it.* Give yourself mental breaks. No matter how resilient you may be, take regular breaks to recharge your batteries. What is your favorite way to take a mental break? You could watch a movie, read a book, or go play horseshoes with a friend. Do whatever works for you.* Remind yourself of all the adversity you’ve overcome since childhood. No one’s life is smooth sailing 100% of the time. You’ve already overcome many obstacles. Remind yourself of your past successes during challenging times. You’ll have the fortitude and motivation to continue.* Live a life that revolves around your interests. If you have a job you hate, it’s hard to have a lot of grit and resilience. It’s much easier to have perseverance while doing something you love. Find a career and hobbies that you love. The need for grit is much lower!* Hang around with resilient people. You become more like the people you spend the most time with. Choose your friends wisely. You’ll become a stronger person if you hang out with strong people. Find some people you want to be more like.

What could you do with your life if you were the most resilient and gritty person you knew? You’d be unstoppable!

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to review the Six Dimensions of Wellness and why they’re important for personal success.

What is Wellness?

* Wellness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.* Wellness is multi-dimensional and holistic (encompassing such factors as lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being and the environment).* Wellness is positive and affirming.

The Six Dimensions of Wellness Model

 Developed by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI), this interdependent model, commonly referred to as the Six Dimensions of Wellness, provides the categories from which NWI derives its resources and services.

A Description of Each Dimension

OCCUPATIONAL

The occupational dimension recognizes personal satisfaction and enrichment in one’s life through work. At the center of occupational wellness is the premise that occupational development is related to one’s attitude about one’s work. Traveling a path toward your occupational wellness, you’ll contribute your unique gifts, skills, and talents to work that is both personally meaningful and rewarding.

You’ll convey your values through your involvement in activities that are gratifying for you. The choice of profession, job satisfaction, career ambitions, and personal performance are all important components of your path’s terrain.

Occupational wellness follows these tenets:

* It is better to choose a career which is consistent with our personal values, interests, and beliefs than to select one that is unrewarding to us.

* It is better to develop functional, transferable skills through structured involvement opportunities than to remain inactive and uninvolved.

PHYSICAL

The physical dimension recognizes the need for regular physical activity. Physical development encourages learning about diet and nutrition while discouraging the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. Optimal wellness is met through the combination of good exercise and eating habits. As you travel the wellness path, you’ll strive to spend time building physical strength, flexibility and endurance while also taking safety precautions so you may travel your path successfully, including medical self-care and appropriate use of a medical system. The physical dimension of wellness entails personal responsibility and care for minor illnesses and also knowing when professional medical attention is needed. By traveling the wellness path, you’ll be able to monitor your own vital signs and understand your body’s warning signs.

You’ll understand and appreciate the relationship between sound nutrition and how your body performs. The physical benefits of looking good and feeling terrific most often lead to the psychological benefits of enhanced self-esteem, self- control, determination and a sense of direction.

Physical wellness follows these tenets:

* It is better to consume foods and beverages that enhance good health rather than those which impair it.

* It is better to be physically fit than out of shape.

 SOCIAL

The social dimension encourages contributing to one’s environment and community. It emphasizes the interdependence between others and nature. As you travel a wellness path, you’ll become more aware of your importance in soci...

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to review 7 top tips for personal growth and development.

7 Tips To Boost Your Personal Growth

 “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” — Will Durant

Have you ever tried to define personal growth? It’s that immense feeling of expansion. You feel like you’re a greater person when you become better, kinder, and more knowledgeable. Your soul grows bigger. It’s the goal we all have in life, whether we realize it or not.

Why should we be concerned about personal growth, you might ask?

The goal to become a better person gives us a sense of direction. You know that feeling of being lost? You won’t experience it if you know where you’re headed to: towards a better you.

The journey of personal development makes us more self-aware. We get to realize who we really are and what we want to become. We identify our beliefs and values, as well as our purpose in life.

This goal gives us focus. We get the feeling that we’re not wasting a single day when we continue working on ourselves. We become more motivated to achieve our goals, and we develop resilience against stressful situations.

There’s no question about it: it’s important for each and every one of us to develop a culture of personal growth. The only question is: how?

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That’s why we’re here for today: to learn how we can give a boost to our personal growth journey. I have a few tips to share:

1. Then, Act!

We all have dreams. Until we start acting upon them, they remain dreams. To turn those ideas into tangible goals, we need to strategize a bit. If for example, I want to become more knowledgeable, I’ll define a precise area of study and I’ll locate several online courses I can take. Then, I’ll include the timelines of those courses in my Google Calendar and I’ll plan my time in a way that helps me achieve that goal. That’s how I managed to complete a mindfulness course on Coursera. It was a great experience that made me realize I can turn every dream into a goal, and every goal into action.

Your strategy needs to include long-term goals, which you’ll translate into short-term goals that lead you in that direction.

Then, you’ll need to work gradually towards the desired results. You can’t expect rapid, flashy personal development. It’s a process, so be patient and walk through it.

2. Confront Your Comfort Zone

Is it a comfort zone or pure laziness? However, you put it, it’s the same thing. If you want to develop a personal growth mindset, you’ll have to stand against that comfort zone. You’ve been thinking about joining a book club, but you don’t like meeting new people and you can’t relax when being in a group? It’s time to get out of your shell.

Whatever it is you dream about doing, do it! Whether it is about learning a new skill, developing a new habit, or visiting Japan, just make your strategy and start doing something. The comfort of your personal space is cool, but it may suffocate the growth.

3. Read!

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to go over the differences between habits, routines and rituals and why knowing the difference is important.

In my coaching I assist many clients with releasing unsupportive habits, creating empowering routines and introspective rituals.

Often when I’m going through the process there are inevitably questions about the difference between the three. 

Many people I have found use the phrase habit and routine interchangeably.  Since words have power, when I help with the distinguishing the difference in these three, there is a subtle shift in perception. Once this begins and the person begins to describe these differently, they act differently and then almost like magic their results change.

So, what is the difference between habits, routines, and rituals?

First let’s look at dictionary.com definition of each for them

Routine

* A customary or regular course of procedure.* Commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity: the routine of an office.* Regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative, or rote procedure.

Habit

* An acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.* Customary practice or use: Daily bathing is an American habit.* A particular practice, custom, or usage: the habit of shaking hands.* A dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality: She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.* Addiction, especially to narcotics (often preceded by the).

Ritual

* The established form for a ceremony; specifically: the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony* Ritual observance; specifically* System of rites* Ceremonial act or action* An act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner

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We can look at a habit as an individual and stand-alone behavior, i.e. smoking, negative thinking or even positive thinking, something that is completely unconsciousness.   The individual is almost totally unaware that they are performing the habit.

A routine can be looked at a set of actions that have an outcome in mind, i.e. working out, driving to work, etc.  A routine is also unconsciousness and the difference between a routine and a habit is you can look at a routine as a series of habits that have a specific end result.   

A ritual is a completely different way of performing a task or series of tasks. A ritual is performed with mindfulness and awareness.  A ritual doesn’t have to be associated with a religious or spiritual practice, but it does require being in the here and now.

So, when we look at these three actions the one thing that separates them is mindfulness, which is being 100% aware of what you are doing.

You can turn any habit or routine into a ritual simply by being mindful.  And here’s the great thing,

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to go over the acronym TRIALS 5 and how it applies to your personal transformation.  

The 5 TRAILS of Personal Transformation

Maybe you are just about ready to take on the task of personal transformation or maybe you’re in the middle of it. Wherever you are in this journey, there are times when you need to recall (without the help of a book or a laptop) what the basic principles of personal transformation are.

Here is TRAILS 5, an acronym for you to call to mind whenever you need a quick reminder.

* Take your past hurts where they belong. Bring them to the place in your heart that allows you to accept that you were wronged; realize that you are greater than the sum of all your hurts and gather strength to move on. This is not going to be easy but nothing worthwhile ever is. You don’t need to forget the hurt because that is sometimes not possible but you need to put it someplace where it cannot hurt you and you need to be able to tell yourself that it will not determine how you live the rest of your life.

* Reflection is part of your life. Reflect everyday on what has happened during the day and think of where you are going. Give this a regular schedule. Begin your day with it and end your day with it. People are not supposed to live their lives in a constant whirl of action; you need quiet time to center your thoughts and to pray. With reflection you have assessment and analysis. You try to find out where you are in terms of how far you have progressed and you take a look at what still needs to be done.

* Affirm your achievements. After reflecting on what has transpired during the day, don’t forget to affirm all the positive things that you have accomplished so far. This affirmation is an important part of transformation. You cannot simply reject all the parts of your own behavior that you like; you have to strengthen the good qualities in you.

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* Internalize the lessons life has given you. Internalizing lessons means paying attention to what life is teaching you. It means doing what you need to reverse any trend or cycle that is self-defeating or counterproductive.  Determine what works and what doesn’t work. For example, if you recognize impulsive shopping is the reason why you are always short of funds then promise yourself you will not go shopping without a list and you will stick to what is written on it.

* Live life as you believe you should. Be true to your principles and concentrate on doing what you think is right. If all around you people are doing things that you are uncomfortable with then either move away from their circle or pay no heed to what they are up to. This is not easy to do at all but remember that you won’t be happy either living life according to what others want.

* Straighten the way you think. Get rid of all the thoughts that limit you. Stop thinking that others are better or more talented and that you will never make things better. Every time you catch yourself thinking negatively shift your thoughts to something affirmative and positive. Remind yourself of one or two accomplishments you achieved.

* 5 priority goals.

Over six years and going strong!  With over 1M downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going talk about the keys to an achievable outcome (goal) and why they are so important!

Keys to An Achievable Outcome

Now that we’ve last the halfway point in 2020, how are you doing with your goals?

If you’re not doing too well, that’s OK; you still have half the year remaining.

To help you reach your personal goals and achieve personal success I’m going to revisit Keys to an Achievable Outcome.

So, let’s begin…First ask yourself “What do I want?”  Really…what do you want?  When develop your goals according to the formula for a well-formed outcome you’ll be answering the following:

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* Stated in the positive* What you want* Moving toward

* Self-initiated, self-maintained and in my control* Am I doing this for myself or someone else* Does the outcome rely solely on me?

* Specific evidence procedure* How will I know that I am getting (or got) the outcome?* What will I be doing when I get it?* What will I see, hear and feel when I have it?

* Context clearly defined* Context of goal clearly defined* Where, when, how and with whom do I want it?

* Identify needed resources* What resources do I have now?* What resources do I need to acquire?* Do I evidence of achieving this (or similar) before?* What will happen if I act as if I have all the resources required?

* Is it ecological?* Good for me, good for others, good for “community”* Who else will be affected by this?* What do I want to keep the same?* What is the real purpose why I want this?* What will I lose or gain if I have it?* What will happen if I get it?* What won’t happen if I get it?* What will happen if I don’t get it?* What won’t happen if I don’t get it?

* Identify the first step to take* “The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” Lao-Tzu

I’ve gone over these in other post and I want to focus in Step 5 “Identify Need Resources.”

Often when we set personal goals, we get so excited about the possibility of achieving them.  We use the SMARTER process and get at it.

Then we hit frustration, lack of progress and sometimes backsliding. 

Why?

Because we haven’t stopped to take a close look at our resources; those that we have and those that we need.

In this “lone ranger” society we feel we can do it alone.  After all isn’t that what a warrior does?

Absolutely not! 

Any successful person took stock of what they had in resources, i.e. physical capabilities, mental capabilities (intelligence), connections (they’re network), etc.

Before you being to charge after your goal take a deep breath and really think about your resources.

Some questions to ask are:

* What’s it going to take to accomplish this goal?* Am I capable of doing it all myself?* What else do I need to learn?

* Who else can help me?* Have I ever done something like this before?