Drive baby drive, until your trouble’s gone.
Run, baby, run, until it all goes numb.

You are the wind, the flood and the flame.
Nothing here can get in your way.
You’ve come too far to care what they say.
Now you’re the only thing in your way.

Fly, baby, fly, until nothing can get you down.
Sing, baby, sing, until it all comes out.

You are the wind, the flood and the flame.
Nothing here can get in your way.
You’ve come too far to care what they say.
Now You’re the only thing in your way.

Breathe, baby, breathe, until all is calm.
Love, baby, love…

You are the wind, the flood and the flame.
Nothing here can get in your way.
You’ve come too far to care what they say.
Now You’re the only thing in your way.

Cloud Cult

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Remember to never forget who you are…. Infinite Being having a finite experience. No worries. Challenges are temporary and , besides, you are probably a lot stronger than you think you are. It’s okay to make mistakes. Establish your own terms for your life. A life lived by someone else’s terms is not living.Demand happiness and , while your at it, make it a point to tell people that are close to you how much they mean to you. Remember to smile. You’ll feel better. Above all, be determined not to leave this world with your beautiful,unique music ( gifts, abilities, talents, perspective,etc) still playing. Live your best life:) Until next time.

Buy my book, “The Authentic Life” here

It is okay to be afraid. Fear is a natural response. What matters most is whether or not we are “crippled” by it or learn how to manage it. Perhaps you’re asking,” Todd, what does it mean to be crippled by fear? Well,it means that you fall short of realizing your own personal potential and, consequently, true lasting happiness. Fear cannot be avoided. It is my opinion that anyone who has made any significant contribution in any field has faced numerous fears, self doubts and uncertainties. In many cases, they were either ridiculed or lost support along the way towards realizing their goals.

The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that successful people use fear as a motivator rather than being crippled by it. They continue to move forward despite their emotions. We tend to be more conditioned by “outside forces” than we might realize. It is natural to seek approval, but at what cost? As humans , we are designed to evolve and blossom. We are not here to maintain a stagnant existence. We are each equipped to build our own life on our own terms. Anything less is a “soul crushing” existence. Truly successful people always find a way to “escape the fish bowl”. Have you ever observed gold fish? How much critical thinking do you think they apply towards their decision making on an ongoing basis. They simply exist….no more,no less. Each of us is here to not only exist, but to grow, evolve, create and thrive. Anything less is wasting time. At the very least, give life your best shot. TRY!!! True life begins outside of the bowl because it is only then that you learn to truly “breath”. A restrained life is no life at all. Living an extraordinary life doesn’t necessarily depend on how much money or toys that you have. It is possible though that , in certain cases, accumulating more material wealth can be a result of this lifestyle.

“Fear tells us what we have to do.”

Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

It is not common for anyone to realize , at any moment, that the very thing that they are afraid of is exactly what they need to be doing in order for them to grow as a human being. As I wrote earlier, you are not designed to stay stagnant. This doesn’t mean that you can’t choose to stay where you are in your  life. You have free choice. Choose greatness. Decide that as long as you have a breath in your body that you will never ever give up. True , lasting greatness can only be achieved once we decide to live an uncompromised life.

Don’t Be Afraid To Look Stupid

Too many of us are more concerned about other peoples opinions of us than being happy. We dread looking bad. Most of the time, the fear is unwarranted. The majority of people don’t care enough about what you are doing to even notice. They are too involved with what they have going on in their own life to be worried about you. If someone takes the time to comment unfavorably about what you are doing, more than likely ,they are basing their opinion on their own fears. Promise yourself that you will never live for other people. Live your life on your own terms once you have decided what they are.

Never Play Yourself

This a popular saying of a famous DJ named DJ Khalid. For me, playing yourself has to do with underestimating your capabilities. Failure is never 100% certain. It doesn’t matter as much that you fail or not, but , rather, how you respond afterwards. Just because someone else failed at the same endeavor doesn’t mean that you will .

Stop Being a Perfectionist

Just start already!!! There might never be a “right time.” Be determined to learn as you go. You don’t have to know everything about everything. Start and keep going. Oh, and ,by the way, don’t forget to have fun. Enjoy the journey.

Choose Yourself

Recently, I read a profound saying  and I quote , ” The chosen one’s choose themselves.” That’s pretty deep right?!! You deserve to live a spectacular life. You deserve to live a life on your own terms. Don’t wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder to tell you that you are “it”. It’s your turn once you choose for it to be so. Choose yourself for happiness. Choose yourself for fulfillment. Make your own luck.  Be determined to find the good in every circumstance and never ever stop moving forward. Fear is a notorious liar. If we are not mindful, we can become creatures of habit and comfortability. Habitual behavior isn’t necessarily bad. It becomes bad when the habits are self sabotaging. On the other hand, becoming comfortable can be deadly depending on what your current lifestyle has become. It is possible to live a life of quiet desperation ,yet ,still, not be willing to initiate change. Many of us, fear being uncomfortable. We anticipate stress. A certain degree of stress is necessary for evolution. It is never permanent. How many “end of  the world” circumstances have you or someone that you either know or have heard about faced only to find out that the next day came? … and then the next day? Was it ever truly the end? If it was, you wouldn’t reading this blog post would you? Choose to make at least one courageous decision a day no matter how small or unimportant it might seem? Just do it without giving it too much thought. Indoctrinate yourself into the “Chosen One’s Club”. Ahhh!!!, what the hell!!! …. Become the club president:)

The world thrives off of the efforts of the courageous. Decide what you stand for. Stand for your true self and encourage others to do the same. The world needs courageous people to stand up in order to inspire everyone else to stand. Run toward your fear and , then, run through it. Ultimately, you will find it to be a “paper tiger”. Remember who you really are…. an infinite , all powerful being having a human experience. Experiences are designed to be temporary. Make a decision to make the most of the time that you have left.  Oh!!, and one more thing. If you decide to be led by an emotion,let it be love. Live a powerful life…. Establish your truth…. Onward!!! ….. Until next time…

Buy my book here

Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are an artist. Each day is an opportunity to create or “sculpt”. Your thoughts are your instrument. They always have been. What would the world be like if each of us , as human beings, learned to become more aware of our thoughts. What would happen if we each took a moment to evaluate ourselves in order to identify which thoughts served us and which ones didn’t? Many of our thoughts go unnoticed throughout the day, yet reoccurring thoughts have a profound,lasting effect on how we think about ourselves and our world. If you,subconsciously, humor negative thoughts about yourself, situations will begin to manifest in your life to “support” that belief.

Every tool that you need to develop your best “you” already exist inside of you. Most of us only use a fraction of our innate ability to develop ourselves. We have been conditioned to believe that we have to rely on others for our development. It is my opinion that the goal of education is to introduce us to the concept of learning as well as the value of it. Once we have realized the intrinsic value of it, the responsibility becomes our own. The word “educate” originated from the word ” educare” which means to bring up. What is being brought up, you might ask? The unique “genius” that lies , in many cases, dormant within each human being. Each individual that has or will walk this earth has been endowed with abilities. Certain abilities are more apparent than others. Nevertheless, we each possess them. It is up to each  of us to both identify and cultivate these unique gifts . Each of us has the potential to add significant value to the lives of others once we decide to share them.

What would the world be like if  each human being on this planet decided to do so? How would that decision to act on that impulse effect the entire planet?

It is my opinion that each of us  play a significant role in the human story. How we view ourselves determines the significance of this role. We each have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the world around us. This impact can be largely felt through how we interact with one another on a consistent basis. Do you realize your connection to each person around you?Learn to live life on the highest frequency possible. This frequency is love. To live “in love” is to realize your connection to everything and everyone. We are all one . We are each different aspects of the whole. We don’t have to agree on every point of life. We , simply, decide to respect one another’s right to free expression. We , each, decide to embrace the idea of determining our own truth as long as there is no intentional conflict. We agree to disagree because we acknowledge our “oneness”. Again, I ask the question, what would the world be like?

What would the world be like if each of us  realized that we had the solution to any and every problem that we face as a species? If we learned to collaborate rather compete with one another, there is no telling how far we could advance in any field such as food supply, housing, healthcare, education or the global economy. We each share a “stake” in both the preservation and cultivation of this planet. Imagine a society comprised of self realized individuals “driven” towards the fullest  expression of their unique gifts while being united in their conviction to share these attributes with the world around them. I envision the establishment of enlightened societies around the world. Each society populated by individuals that have each realized their own potential while being supported by a “governing ” body that’s sole purpose is to protect their right to continue to do so. Make no mistake, this is not a model for a utopian society, rather, one in which the free , nonjudgemental exchange of ideas is the “embraced” norm , without exception, across demographics. It is my conviction that if the concept can be envisioned, it can be realized. Anything’s possible…. Really…. The future is for the dreamers. Until next time…

Buy my book , “The Authentic Life” here

I have said it before and I will say it again. You are brilliant!!!! You have unique talents and abilities that, perhaps, you have yet to discover. Nevertheless, they are there inside of you. Believe it.Believe it or not, we have all been conditioned ,to an extent, to think the way that we do about ourselves, others and the world around us. You have more to offer this world than you might realize. Not all talents are obvious. In many individuals , they may lie dormant. It is your responsibility to both identify and develop them. They are key to both your happiness and fulfillment. When we have a strong sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world , it inspires us to live each day “on purpose”. Living each of your days on purpose adds meaning to life. You actually have a legitimate reason to wake up every morning. No one is here to simply exist. You are here to experience life to its fullest. Each one of us will have a different version of what that looks like.

Once you acknowledge your own brilliance and have the courage to share it with the world , you begin to live authentically. The ideal is for you to take personal responsibility for your own personal development. Here are some potential steps that can possibly help you come to this realization:

1) Practice Reflection

Reflect back on the times that you were most in engaged in whatever activity that you were doing. Who was there with you while you were doing it? Did you have an impact on them? Did they make comments? What did they say? What are you known for? What have others told you that you were good at? These are all relevant questions. More than likely, if you were to reflect backwards on your life, you would notice  patterns of experiences that could serve as clues that could be used identify your unique strengths and talents.

2)Practice Awareness

Pay close attention to your daily routine. Mundane activities that you might , otherwise, not give serious thought to can become opportunities for self discovery and enlightenment. I have , personally, come to numerous epiphanies while simply washing dishes. I have found answers to questions about myself that I might have asked several days earlier . What type of thoughts tend to run through your mind throughout the day. Are your thoughts genuinely positive? How do you react to certain people that you deal with on a daily basis.How do you genuinely feel about people? Be honest with yourself. What bothers you and why do you let it do so? Ask yourself if whether or not your consistent thoughts serve you. You will know if  they do by how you feel while you are thinking  them. We are emotional beings. Make  a conscious decision to monitor your thoughts. If necessary , adjust each one until it invokes a pleasant feelings. For example, if you start thinking about a person that has hurt you in the past, consider the situation from their point of view. Ask yourself if whether or not they were aware of the negative impact that their actions had on you. I am not justifying abuse . I understand that it depends on the situation and the extent of the damage. I am a firm believer that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger if you allow yourself to be “trained” by it. Make a conscious decision to learn from your challenges even if you have to dig for it. Your happiness and emotional freedom depend on it.

3) Make a Decision

Decide that you are going to pursue interests that resonate with you. There is no limit. Each situation or person that arrives in your life is there to serve you in some type of way. This list includes the unpleasant ones. You have a purpose for being here. Do not settle for status quo. Find the good in all situations while making a conscious choice to be an active participant in building your own life. You deserve to ,ideally, spend every waking hour doing what you love to do. You also deserve to go to bed proud of what you accomplished each day. Many will say that this type of lifestyle is unrealistic. It is unusual, but not unrealistic. It’s possible. It all goes back to mindset. Tolerate nothing less that genuine happiness and fulfillment. Find the good in whatever you are doing right now. There is no such thing as a useless experience. Decide to learn and grow from every situation. Become a lifelong learner. Do not allow anything or anyone to determine your self worth or happiness. It is necessary  for you to realize the significant value that you bring to this life. There is no one quite like you and there never will be. Understanding your self worth is key for awakening your brilliance. It is your brilliance that makes you unique.

4)Practice Makes Perfect

The definition of brilliance is exceptional talent or ability. Although we each have gifts and talents, we may still need to practice in order to develop them. Even the most seasoned artists still needs to nurture and cultivate their art. The key is to practice at what you genuinely love to do. You will put in the time to develop yourself at what you naturally enjoy doing and learning. You have to put the work in. This rule not only applies to career choices, but also relationships, personal goals or any aspiration that you might have. As the old saying goes,,”Do what you love and you will never “work” a day in your life.” Which activities fulfill you? Which subjects are you interested in learning about. The sky is the limit.

Even if you don’t seem to have a lot of time to pursue your personal interests, do something…. anything. You may have to start with simply reading an article online about the subject. It’s okay. Start  there. The key is taking the initiative to make a consistent effort. In order to stay consistent, you have to be certain that the activities that you are engaging in are important to you. This is where the emotional connection comes in. When you are practicing at developing in an area that you are sincerely interested in, the process is more natural. You look forward to practicing because you are emotionally vested. According to Malcolm Gladwells’ book, “Outliers”, it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to master a skill. I don’t necessarily agree with that rule, but I do believe in the power of consistency. Our consistent actions  exemplify our decisiveness. They show that we have made a solid decision that we are supporting with our actions. It is at this point that the “magic” starts. The universe conspires on our behalf in order to assist us in realizing our intentions, regardless of what they may be.  Start where you are at with whatever resources that are available to you at that moment . Do this consistently and you will discover more of your personal brilliance than you might  have thought possible.Don’t give up.

You are a creator . It is your nature do so. Set your mind on becoming a lifelong learner. You are designed to constantly adapt, evolve and grow. Embrace your brilliance. Live your best life. Until next time….

Buy my book , ” The Authentic Life” here

Love is the answer. Have you ever heard that saying before? Probably. I would think that most of us have heard a similar comment, at some point in our lives. It’s one of those sayings that sounds nice , but , in reality, most people don’t take seriously. The word “love” has become so commercialized that its meaning has become unclear, at best. It sounds right, yet lacks “staying power”. If you are like most traditional churchgoers, the word especially has meaning for you after church service. The fuzzy, warm feeling that the word might produce inside of you last as long as it takes for you to get to your car to drive home from church. On the way home, it still might seem like the right thing to do until someone accidentally switches over into your lane while almost running you off of the road. All of the sudden, you get amnesia. You start yelling at the top of your lungs calling that person ,who simply kept driving, everything, but a child of God. Where did the love go?

As humans, we tend to underestimate the power of love. It is my opinion that love is the most powerful,creative , resilient force in creation. It is and will always be the key to success for any and every endeavor. Love is the purest form of energy. It is also the most powerful,highest form of vibration. It inspires, unites and creates everything of value. It can’t be quantified. It is the key to fulfillment. Its potential is unlimited.

When we live in the love vibration,we start to see the best in people. Living in love helps us to notice the every day ,common events that we might , otherwise, take for granted. It helps us to stay present. We are each here to consciously create our own lives. Remaining in the flow of the “love vibration” assures that we each have the most ideal experience. Love effects every area of our life in a positive way. We , as humans, have the opportunity to play an active part in our own evolution.Love increases our awareness that we are all interconnected. Living in love reminds us that we are one with every animal, plant and mineral on this planet. Love heals. It helps us to forgive and be whole.

Being and feeling whole has to do with being completely secure with who we are on all levels as well as accepting of others. We treat each other better because we understand that we are each an extension of one another. We become more patient with one another. We embrace each others differences without judgement. Living in love dramatically reduces stress in our lives. We begin to trust in the natural order of things. Maintaining this mindset , significantly, improves our overall health. We may even begin to look younger. Even the simple act of smiling can mutually benefit both the person doing it as well as the person receiving it. Living in love attracts more of ” God” or good into your life. It can even take a traumatic experience and find the good in it. Because of this phenomenon,it can produce win-win situations for all involved with the challenge. This outcome can only be realized if all parties involved are focused on love. This is the ultimate goal. You cannot truly live an authentic life without love.

The human race is experiencing a paradigm shift. A paradigm is defined as a new way of looking or thinking about something. Throughout the world, there are various  incidences of protests as well as both political and social unrest. The old systems (political, educational,religious, business, media, healthcare,etc..) no longer serve the vast majority of the populace. Instinctively, people are longing for a new way. Many of us might not even be consciously aware of what’s happening. It can be a scary and uncertain time. The decision is up to us. Out of our challenges, we have the opportunity to take our next evolutionary leap in human consciousness. Whatever effects us directly effects every other species on this planet as well as the environment. Love is and has always been the solution. We have all of the resources that we will ever need. It is a matter of us opening our eyes to the truth. Everything and everyone is connected. Each one of our actions effect one another on some level. If each of us decided to live in love, it would send out an energy surge that would spread across the globe. Love is a vibration that inspires creativity which , in turn, will assist us in finding the solutions to each one of our problems. The world can be different. There is enough room for each of us. As humans, we will either thrive together as a race or bring about our own extinction. No other species can make that claim. We have the power to save both ourselves and this world. Love is the power. Until next time…

Buy my book “The Authentic Life.” here.

What is your story? Everyone has one. Your story stems from how you see yourself,how you see others and your view of the world around you. Your story reveals your perceived identity. Did you know that your perception of your “story” , up to this point, has a direct impact on your future? Do you realize that the current version of your story can be changed? Why?… You might ask. Why would you even want to change your story? Well, let me ask you another question. Does your story serve you? Is it one that revolves around victory or defeat? Do you see yourself as a conqueror or victim? Do you blame others for where you see yourself in your life right know or do you reflect back in sincere gratitude for the many lessons that you have learned. Are you better for challenges or scarred by them. Fostering awareness is the key. Without it , we are merely “dumb sheep”. In order to truly win in life, we must  begin to live it consciously while thinking critically. Each day you are building your life both consciously and subconsciously. We have a choice. The more engaged in life that we are , the greater , more fulfilling the experience. When I asked you about your story, I didn’t necessarily expect you to know. Honestly, I’m just finding out about my own story. Consider my question “food for thought”.

In many cases, we tend to reflect on memories that might not serve us. Please don’t get me wrong.I am not implying that your  past experiences are not valid. I am suggesting that past experiences revolve around your own personal interpretation. What would someone else perceive about the events that you personally witnessed. Would they come to the same conclusions? We can choose to reinterpret our experiences. This opportunity can be especially effective when dealing with the challenging ones. Do you know which one’s I’m talking about? I’m talking about those times that you would rather forget.

We , as humans, tend to allow these past experiences to define us. Some of the most common one’s are,” I grew up in a broken home.” or  ” I had an abusive parent.”, perhaps, physically, verbally, or both. Perhaps you were told by a teacher, coach or some type of authoritative figure that you weren’t going to amount to anything. You might have been bullied growing up or been through a number of bad relationships. Did you get your heart broken? Perhaps you spent time in prison or grew up poor. Maybe you have made numerous bad career decisions or dropped out of high school. You get the idea. The list goes on and on. Whether  consciously or subconsciously, we tend to allow these situations that we might have found ourselves in to define us for the better or worse. Again , you have a choice.

We are not designed to stay stagnant. We have the capability to both consciously evolve and grow. We are resilient creatures. It is programmed in our DNA to be that way. The vast majority of physical , mental and emotional challenges that we face , as human beings , is a result of our thinking , both past and present. Let’s take a look at some common examples.

When Someone Has Hurt You

From my own experience, there are certain memories of interactions that I have had with others in the past that I had allowed to emotionally scar me. For instance, I did not have a close relationship with my father. Frankly, as a child, I was scared of him. Although , as a family, we spent time together, I don’t remember any warm interactions with my father. The only time that he and I communicated was right before I was about to get beaten for doing something wrong. At 7 years old, I remember asking my father if whether or not he liked me and he said “No!!”. Perhaps he was kidding. It hurt anyway. He never told me that he loved me. I remember growing up resenting my father. For a long time , I hated him. Looking back , I now realize that it was never my father’s intention to hurt me. He responded to me in the same way that his father responded to him. The male figures in his life were his father and grandfather. Neither one of them were affectionate towards him while he was growing up. I remember hearing that his father even went as far as to point a gun at him during an argument. My grandfather disinherited him. There has been a vicious cycle of negativity and disfunctionality that has plagued the men on my father’s side of the family for generations.

The point is that each person has a “back story”. I am convinced that we all do the best that we are each conditioned to do whether we realize it or not. The key is to realize that we do not have to become products of our environment,especially, if it is an unhealthy one. It is possible for us to develop an awareness of the situations that we find ourselves in while we are experiencing them. We can learn to make more conscientious decisions. We can also learn not to take things so personally. Most people are unaware of the baggage that they carry with them throughout their lives. It takes practice to consistently step out of yourself and imagine being in someone else’s situation. It is more natural for us to react ,especially, if we are offended. Although the emotional response is real, there might be more to consider about the circumstances. There is a reason behind everything that we do. In many cases, our perception of an unpleasant reaction with another person tends to be biased. We tend to take our own side, don’t we? I’m not justifying the bad behavior of others. I am suggesting that we don’t have to allow ourselves to be defined by other people’s  reactions  to us , especially, if the experience was painful for us. We have the power to change the story.

Decide To Learn From It

My experience growing up with my father has inspired me to be a more engaged and loving father with my own children. I am not implying that I am “Father of the Year”. I, like each of us , am a “work in progress”. I will always be progressing in some area of my life for the rest of my life. Despite this process, one fact remains true as far as my kids are concerned. I make sure to both tell and show them that I love them. I have broken the cycle. Challenges and hardships can prove to help us become stronger and more resolved to do better if we allow them to do so. You and I can both witness an event and ,based on our perceptions , have  totally different spins on it. Even twins tend to have different personalities despite sharing obvious features and characteristics. Be determined to find the positive in each circumstance. Choose to be an active, conscious student of life. Every person and situation that crosses your path exist to “serve” you. There are no mistakes. This mindset significantly effects your viewpoint towards where you are now in your life as well as what you have been through. You will realize that you are both the narrator and main character in your story. You are empowered.

Momentary crisis situations, bad relationships, defeats and the like can prepare us to be that much more aware of the blessings that show up in our lives. They help us to clearly define the differences which lead to a sincere appreciation for who and what appears  on a daily basis. No experience is wasted . Your story can be richer due to the combination of all of them. You will begin to realize that  the perceived curses were actually blessings “in disguise”. You determine your  own definition of who you are. Your outer  world is a result of how you view yourself. There were no mistakes made with you unless you choose to label them as such. What is your story? Do you know? Decide to make it your best one. Until next time…

Order my book, “The Authentic Life” here

Catchy title,huh?First, I would like to start off with a disclaimer. I am neither  a psychologist nor any other type of mental health professional. I am though a person that has , at different times, been depressed for various reasons. I am the guy that normally is most optimistic and genuinely enjoys encouraging others. I love it when people feel better about themselves after hearing me speak. I wake up looking forward to who I can either encourage ,inspire, educate or empower through my words on that particular day. Yep, I’m one of those people or ,at least, I’d like to think that I am anyway.

Despite this fact, I have had a number of periods in my life that I have felt hopeless, discouraged and , momentarily, stopped giving a shit. During those times, I wasn’t much fun to be around.Ask my wife. There have been times that I literally felt that I was done. What do I mean by done, you might ask? I mean just that. Done!!! I was ready to die. I felt as though I was a complete failure. I never blamed anyone. I just felt that life had passed me by. I had made too many mistakes to come back from. I was doomed. I had a nasty habit of comparing myself to other people. I would hear about their new jobs , new houses and larger salaries and asked myself, “When is it going to be my turn?”. I would ponder this question for days and , in the process, send myself  into a downward spiral of negativity, self pity, hopelessness and doubt. Normally, this “funk” would last for a three day period.During this period, it would be as if I had “positivity amnesia”. All of the positive advice and self help books that I had both read and recommended to others meant nothing to me. By the end of the third day, I would reason with myself that my situation was not as bad as I had originally perceived and focused on finding the lesson to learn about myself that would serve to push me forward. Afterwards, I moved forward better for the experience. Ultimately , it came down to a decision to do so.

Perhaps you might be asking,”What motivated you to push forward?” It was that pinnacle moment of self realization that I refer to as the “kick in the ass!!!” It was the realization that 1)There was no one outside of me that was going to save me and 2) It wasn’t just about me. What about my children? Who was going to be a better father to them than I could? Why would I even want to find out? What about my wife? Would it be fair to her if I killed myself while leaving her to take care of two kids? I also thought about all of the added expenses and work that would go into burying me , not to mention, the emotional grief that my death would cause my family, perhaps, for their lifetimes.The main reason why I would get so deeply depressed ,in the first place, was because I felt that I wasn’t providing for them in the way that I wanted to from the beginning.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not an atheist. At the same time, I no longer believe in some long, white haired ,giant grandfather looking down on me from the sky while judging my every move and thought either. I stopped praying to something or someone outside of  me a long time ago. My current conviction is that we share “life” with whomever or whatever is responsible for each of us being here. I believe that there is a “source” for all life . We are it(source) and it is us. We are each Source, God or whatever term that you choose to identify it ” in action”. Yes, I said it. We are each “God in action”. I concluded that I had to find my own solutions, not only for me, but for those who I  love and that depend on me. A definition of love is to put others needs above your own.To an extent, I agree with this definition . How can you most effectively take care of others if you do not take care of yourself? There is a direct connection between the two.It became apparent to me that it was necessary for me to save myself in order to “save” others. I was inspired to find my own solutions to my problems. I am going to take this time to restate that I am not a mental health professional. I am merely sharing my experiences and what has worked for me.

I am going to take this time to share certain steps that have helped me to get through my personal challenge with depression. Hopefully, they will prove useful .

1) It’s Temporary

Whatever experience that I am going through , at that moment, it never stays that way. Although it might feel like a “snails pace”the conditions of life are constantly changing. At close observation, there is no such thing as identical days. I have found myself in certain situations that , at that moment, felt like the end of the world. It seemed as though the circumstances were terminal. They never are. I remind myself that every problem comes with a solution even if I might not know what it is at that time. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. I see the value of being solution oriented as well as continuing to move forward. If I am in a mindset of constantly moving forward looking for the solution, it seems draw the end of that traumatic scenario to an end much faster. The faster I gather both my thoughts and emotions, and focus on solving my issues or finding someone who can help me to solve it, the better I feel about it. I also find it important to mention that while I am going through this process, I am still remaining present. I acknowledge my emotional state, yet, I don’t wallow in it. I have learned the value of “observing” it. I give it the attention that it deserves and , in exchange, it begins to “pass on” or dissolve away. This is far better than ignoring it which , in my case, festers it like an exposed womb. I can’t hide from myself nor how I truly feel about anything. I stopped judging my depression. To do so seemed to give it power. It made the emotional state that much more “inviting”. I tend to go through my moment and , ultimately, it dissipates on it’s own. In time , I began to realize that depression din’t define who I was and it was merely ” visiting”. It has been my experience that it like all other negative emotions are potentially evasive, yet, when it exposed to the sunlight of reason and solution oriented thinking, it fades away. When it has dissipated, it was as if it was never even there. Do not give it anymore power than what it deserves. If it comes acknowledge it and watch it move on. It is never truly the end of the world and if it was, it wouldn’t matter anyway. It will be time for a new “adventure”. Never forget who you truly are. You are infinite being having a finite human experience. Let’s stay busy with the business of consciously creating your life. You are a creator. THIS is your true nature. Every situation exists to serve you. Expect it…no…Demand it!!! Don’t let a temporary state define your all powerful, limitless nature.

2) Physical Activity

Get out of your self. Find an activity that engages you. I good workout can give you a new perspective. It takes your mind of off of what you are depressed about. It also helps to release endorphins which strengthen your natural immunity, lower blood pressure and prevent cancer. Studies have shown that Cancer is tied tied to stress and stress is a main factor fueling depression. Exercise helps you to clear your mind . If your mind is clear, there is room for new insight about your situation. This new perspective can inspire you to become more optimistic. You might start to realize that your situation is not the end of the world, but rather , a transition into a new beginning with new  possibilities. Exercise can also increase your serotonin levels. Serotonin is considered the “feel good” hormone. It helps to improve your mood. Give it a chance.

3) Practice Mindfulness

Fully engage yourself in whatever you are doing. Even the most most mundane task , such as washing dishes or making your favorite sandwich, can serve you by getting your mind off of whatever you are depressed about. The primary purpose of life is to experience it. Learn to add meaning  to every experience. Take notice of the  things that most of us take for granted. Allow events to unfold at their own pace. Stop worrying . Instead of reflecting on the past, practice staying present. Take notice of your emotional state without judgement. Your response doesn’t determine who you are nor your self worth. The vast majority of our responses are a result of conditioning anyway. They are not necessarily true. Practice the art of observation. Observe the emotion and let it go about its way. Don’t allow it to define you.

4)Start Journaling

Write out your thoughts and I mean all of them. Don’t judge. Let it flow. Use profanity, if you’d like. Get ugly.Stay real. “Vomit” on paper.  From my own experience, each time that I had decided to be “gut level” honest with myself and my feelings, I have always felt better afterwards. There is something about expressing my true feelings on paper that cleans me out .  I feel refreshed afterwards and tend to think clearer. Try it.

5) Read

Read more. Read about people that have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Read about people that struggle with depression. There are many individuals that have faced challenges that neither you nor I will ever have to face in our entire lives. Find out how they did it. What were they thinking about at the time? There are many individuals that faced various challenges and overcame them. They deserve your respect. Read about them in order to learn from them. Certain parts of our life journey can seem extremely lonely. In certain cases, we might feel misunderstood , especially, by those who are closest to us. Trust me, you are not alone.

Most importantly, never ever give up. Ever. You exist because you were supposed to be here. You deserve to be here as much as anyone else. There will never be another one like you. Never underestimate your worth. Don’t allow society, fads, political correctness or popular opinion to put a price tag on your value. Your value is invaluable regardless of your perceived mistakes. Consider them lessons. They exist to serve you if you would allow them to do so. Establish your “kick in the ass” moment. I am referring to that personal realization that will “fuel your dreams” and keep you moving forward. What is it. Be determined to find it. No more dwelling on regrets,alright? Make the decision to live your best life. Until next time…

Buy my book, “The Authentic Life” here

A wise person once said,”The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance while the wise man grows it under his feet.” It is my opinion that there is no true arrival. This is not to say that there is no such thing as an ending,but, rather, that each “ending” initiates a new beginning. Life is a series of transitions. Some of them may appear more challenging than others, nevertheless, they happen and are always temporary. The key is practicing staying present. One of the primary goals of living is to experience each moment of it. Take nothing for granted. Practice engagement. Most of us have a tendency to be more of a human “doing” rather than a human “being”. Think about it.

For many of us, from the time that we wake up in the morning  to the time we go to bed, we are looking for something to do. There is nothing wrong with being productive, especially if you are a goal oriented person. The questions of concern are  ” Does your sense of identity and accomplishment revolve ,solely, around the achievement of your goals?”  and “Is your sense security based , exclusively, on your “accomplishments” ?” Do remember who you truly are? Let me remind you.You are limitless spirit having a temporary human experience. It is my opinion, that the ultimate goal of life is to have the most fulfilling experience possible. Although I will be the first to encourage laser focus for the sake of accomplishment , I am also learning not to miss the priceless lessons available to me while being engaged in the process of living my day to day life. As human beings , we tend to take a lot for granted. As my wife had reminded me many times during our courtship,”It is the little things that matter.”

I don’t know of anyone who has made any significant accomplishment that has not had to overcome certain challenges. Challenges are necessary. They reveal to us who we truly are as people. They show us what we are made of. Embrace them and learn from them.In the middle of every difficulty lies an opportunity. Through facing are challenges,overcoming them and acknowledging the people that play a significant role in our lives, we add invaluable richness to our experience. Whether it’s having a meaningful conversation or eating your favorite sandwich, learn to savor that moment. Look forward to challenges because you know, without a doubt, that each one of them comes with a solution. Enjoy the process of finding it. Tell people close to you how much they mean to you. While “aiming for the stars”, take time to cherish the journey while still “on earth”. Make it a daily and conscious practice of “being” present,grateful, honest, loving, thoughtful and any other characteristic that adds value to your life and that of others. Practice being a conscious “human being” while in the process of doing whatever you have deemed necessary for accomplishing your set goals. The quality of your life will be better for it. This is the definition of true prosperity. Live prosperous. Until next time….

Click here to order my book: “The Authentic Life:Live The Life That You Were Designed to Live.”

What comes to mind when you think about the ego? The word itself can obviously trigger different emotions for  different people based on various factors. For many, the word has a negative connotation connected to it , but is that a fair assumption? The ego has been defined as your conscious mind or the part of your identity that you consider your “self”. Another definition of the ego is a person’s sense of self esteem or self importance. Personally, I am familiar with both definitions, but are either of them necessarily accurate? Does the ego define who we are entirely? If you have read any of my previous post, I am confident that you would have a good idea of what my viewpoint is on this subject?

Although the ego does not represent our true identity, it serves as a “vehicle”. It is not something to get rid of ,rather, it is useful for navigating through this world. It provides us with an awareness of our physical body . It also assist us in establishing ,to name a few,racial, cultural ,ethnic,gender and family ties . These various associations can prove useful to us for connecting with others in order to form lasting relationships throughout our life’s journey. They can add richness to our lives  if we develop a healthy perspective about them. They each contribute to the map which we refer to as the ego.

The ego can add significant value to the human experience once we remember that it does not nor will it ever constitute all of who we truly are. Once a person completely identifies themselves solely by their ego, they begin to define themselves by limitations. The same qualities that I just wrote about earlier (race,culture, ethnicity,gender,etc) can become like “bricks” in a prison that we create for ourselves. Based on our background,we can start to associate ourselves with the struggle that human history has associated with certain aspects of  our identity if we are not aware. We begin to see ourselves as victims rather than all powerful, unlimited spirit occupying this physical vehicle for the purpose of  having the ultimate human experience. Oh,  and did I mention? THAT is who you truly are!!!

For many of us , we have forgotten that our thoughts become the things, people and situations that appear in our lives. It is not my intention to blame you for your current circumstances, but, rather , for you to be empowered by this information. You can change your thoughts and viewpoint about your identity to ones that best serve you. This change will result in different in different actions while producing different outcomes. Suddenly, the right people , situations and opportunities begin to appear in  your experience because you have finally been “awakened” to your true identity. All of the sudden, each situation, despite the appearance, serves you in some way because you have actively chosen to look for the lesson aka the benefit/blessing within the circumstance. Life starts to take on a whole new meaning. You have become a conscious creator. You are no longer identified ,solely , by your ego. You , now , see it for what it is . You begin to use it properly. You start to take care of it because you are grateful to be alive. There is no more wasted time. Every thing exist to serve you. You are “God in the flesh” connected to everything and everybody.

We also start to consciously evolve and ,with us, our ego begins to change as well. We might be compelled to change our associations, perhaps, expand them. We begin to care less about what others think about us while respecting their right to their own opinion about us. It’s okay. Not only do we see ourselves in others, but we start to  realize that each individual must be allowed to come to their own conclusions without our tampering. There is no true right or wrong . There is consciousness…. awareness. We are each on our own journey navigating our “vehicles” through this human experience. Each one possesses unique qualities. Each of us has unique gifts and talents that can add significant value to the experiences of others. It is a beautiful thing. The ego plays a significant role in this process. Although it is important, it must be “governed” by our inner selves. It is within our inner selves that our true self worth lies. It is virtually limitless. It is directly tied to the life force that is at the core of every “thing”. This is the true source of power and creativity. The key to living a life of authenticity and , therefore, power is to stay “plugged in”. It is the wellspring of inspiration that is always flowing. Our true selves are constantly speaking to us , but do we listen? If we are ,solely , defined by our ego, it is impossible to do so. You cannot have two “masters”. Spirit must lead. It’s place is to direct the ego. This is the proper order. The ego will fight for dominance within us because it is familiar,yet it must be subdued. The quality of your life depends on it. The ego is never satisfied, but the spirit is aware that all is provided for. The ego  remains at war with the spirit, but spirit doesn’t need to fight with anyone. It doesn’t need to. It is complete. It is limitless. The ego is never satisfied because it never has enough. It is hopelessly tied to limitation. It is unaware of it’s proper place which is that of the vehicle,but the spirit knows. The ego can learn it’s proper place, but only the spirit can teach it. It’s purpose will be made clear.We will dive deeper into this topic in future posts. Until next time….

You can order my book ,”The Authentic Life:Live The Life That You Were Designed to Live.” here.

I finally did it!!! I completed my first book! It will be available on Kindle as an ebook and in paperback through Amazon.com I titled it” The Authentic Life: Live The Life That You Were Designed to Live.”

My passion is personal development. I love to see others “bloom”. You might be asking,”What does he mean by bloom?” I am referring to each person on this planet achieving self realization. In my opinion, it is impossible to realize your highest potential  personally nor professionally without it. Self realization is an ongoing process. There is no true arrival although there are possible “landmarks”. Landmarks are times in our lives when we experience moments of clarity. This may come in the form of an answered question that we might have even forgotten that we had asked ourselves previously. Perhaps we asked ourselves,”What am I doing here?” ,”What is my purpose?” , “Why did this event happen to me?” , “What am I supposed to learn from this?” or “What is life all about?”. The list goes on and on… It’s normal to ask such questions. Some might even  say it’s programmed into our DNA to inquire about the reason for our existence.

It is my conviction that we are each far more than we ever thought we were. We are not human beings capable of having a spiritual experience, rather, we are spirit having a human experience. We are the universe looking back at itself, experiencing itself…. “God in the flesh”. However way that we got here, who or whatever created us, we are it and it is us. We are each connected to everything and person everywhere. Each of us is a unique aspect of the whole( God ,Source,Universe,etc) Separation is an illusion. These are all key concepts that I have shared in earlier blog posts. The key word in my previous sentence is “unique”. This is where authenticity comes in. This is the primary reason why I wrote the book. It serves as an introduction to the type of lifestyle that I believe we each deserve… an authentic lifestyle. There is no one exactly like you in existence and there never will be. This fact is also true for twins, triplets , etc. Your destiny is to live this life according to your own design. Your lifestyle should express who you are on all levels proudly. Let’s do away with political correctness and succeeding based on others standards. Stop settling and learn to love yourself. If you are not sure of who you are , make it your mission to find out. Self realization leads to freedom and genuine happiness. These are the reasons why you exist. Your purpose is to create , be genuinely happy and live life to the fullest on your terms. You exist to do whatever it is that you truly desire to do. In addition, I am personally convinced of two more specific ideas: 1) I am here for those same reasons expressed above. 2) I am also here to help others do the same. I am passionate about inspiring others to live their best life through the written and spoken word(Acting, Speaking , and Writing). This blog and my book are a representation of me reaching out to the world…… to serve. I will keep you posted on when the book will be available. It is an easy read. It’s only 28 pages, but, hopefully, meaningful to you. Consider it “food for thought”. Stay true to yourself. Until next time…

Click here to buy the book