Create Your Own Luck

There are two kinds of people in this world. The first looks at others who have accomplished things and thinks: Why them? Why not me? The other looks at those same people and thinks: If they can do it, why can’t I?
I've always believed that there's a bit of luck involved in most people's success; especially my own, but that's because I believe luck can be created. Everything in life is precious and the most precious things in life are usually earned through countless trials of both success and failure. These trials allow us to gain a better understanding of our own resolve and what we can create with it. We all have the power to change things, these changes we desire can be physical, mental, or spiritual and will require some form of work on our part.

Diligence is the mother of good luck, accept responsibility for your own life and self-respect is bound to spring from within.

The discipline to execute the necessary steps to manifest our reality is a chore, it will test what we believe to be our limits. These limits just like all other things in life can and will change, the increase or decrease is totally up to you.

While living in a 3rd world country to learn a new skill, my discipline and ability to execute were constantly challenged. Thankfully my desire fueled my diligence which led me to overcome the many obstacles that lied ahead of me. Like many of my peers, I faced some common obstacles, procrastination, fear, laziness, distractions, basically life in general.

The 3rd world had much more to show me though, never before had I dealt with things like unreliable power, WiFi, and even heating and cooling; for the first time in my life, the things that were once basic necessities were now luxuries, and I had to learn to work with what room was left. By that I mean even in the most uncomfortable situations I had to be actionable, I had to relinquish the victim mentality and just start where I was. My environment was not going to accommodate me the way I was accustomed to. It might not seem like it makes a big difference to see life as something you have to do versus get to do, but there is a huge, magnificent difference. I became a man of action instead of reaction holding myself accountable for making the most of my time and life.

There is success all around us, and if that is not the case for you, change your surroundings or better yet change your mindset. We see those who do and wonder why they are so lucky, I'm here to tell you that they aren't. This thing we see as luck is a manifestation of an individual's decision to stop passively discovering who they are, and instead actively creating who they want to be. Often this will not happen overnight, it may take thousands of days to know who you are, but it only takes one day to quit asking, never let that day come. Your expectations are a bigger enemy to your happiness than your circumstances, start where you need to and don't stop until you get where you want to be.

Sustained execution, bears more fruit than shapeless epiphanies

It’s far better that we become pragmatic and adaptable— able to do what we need to do anywhere, anytime. The place to do your work, to live a good life, is here.

A Silent Mind

I often wondered why the saying "silence is golden" has become such a moniker of success.

 Maybe by being silent, you don't let people know what you're planning, thus preventing unnecessary obstacles from manifesting. Maybe silence is what will allow those around you, to value the words you do choose to speak more, since rare things are often given a higher value. While I believe that within both these statements lies a truth, I also believe that there lies an even greater value in silence.

 Being quite creates the opportunity and space for God to relay the message that was specially made for you. Divine messages are not always going to come to us in grandiose ways, sometimes the message you seek comes from a place or person whom you would never expect it to.

No matter what religion you identify with, the Gods, God, Creator, Almighty all are jealous, they want your praise and they demand your attention, at times they may even require a stage to be created for them to perform these miracles both big and small. That is what silence does, it creates the stage for magnificent things to happen.

 There is more than one type of silence, we all are familiar with the silence of not speaking, but there is another that I have only just discovered and am attempting to master, the silencing of the mind. Silence of the mind is something that I believe to be of value to us all, we are constantly being triggered by the things around us, our minds running, sprinting, never finding time for rest, time for peace.

 Peace of mind is elusive, it's kind of like trying to catch a fly in your hand, as soon as you think you've got it, it flies away before you can grasp it, as if reading your thoughts. If it had no thoughts to read, then you could slowly close your hand, and grasp it easily, that is the power of silencing the mind, and the secret to grasping peace of mind.

Take a moment today, even if for 30 seconds, sit in silence and try to quiet your mind, focus on your breathing, focus on the marvel that is your body, from head to toe. When you have mastered that, make it a full 60 seconds and keep adding time until you reach 5-10 minutes. That's all it takes, 5-10 minutes of peace of mind a day can drastically change the way we think, feel, and act.

 I'm going to get a little nerdy on you for a second but bear with me, there is this stuff called gray matter in the brain, its involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing, hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. Science has shown that by training your mind to be silent, you not only train your mind and body to become more powerful by expanding your neural network, you also heighten your control of that power.

 Training your brain requires a bit more finesse, but it is worth the journey, and meditating is a proven tool to increase the grey matter rolling around in our skulls. This is like putting a bigger engine in your car but instead of going faster, your more powerful brain will let you have better emotional control, be more relaxed, and handle adversity more swiftly. You can literally give your brain an upgrade by sitting in silence for a few minutes a day.  

If silence is golden, then silence of the mind is love, it has been invaluable for me, it has brought light to darkness in my life, by quieting my mind I’ve strengthened my soul. The mind wants to run wild like a 2-year-old, but you must train it to sit still, so you can learn the lessons that life so badly wants to teach you.

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear" -Ram Dass

Who Do You Love?

It’s the month of February and people everywhere are talking about love. But it’s probably not the type of love I’ve decided to speak on today.

Today I want to talk to you about…you. Whether you’re in a relationship or single it’s so important that you love yourself. We at times can be our own worst critic; running away with the idea that we are not enough, that we are “lacking” . We are beings that are in a constant state of growth and change and if you can accept that fact, your outlook on life will become a little brighter.

Life moves fast, if you feel like it’s moving too slow ponder on this, you’re literally moving at 1,040 mph (that’s how fast the earth rotates). But that’s not me telling you to panic, don’t worry gravity has got you. I’m trying to get you to realize that you being alive and able to read this article is in fact amazing. You are amazing! We see everything around us but seldom do we look within, we look in the mirror assessing how we physically look, trying to point out flaws failing to realize that your outward appearance is not a reflection of your true self. If you can develop the ability to see the greatness in yourself, you will begin to see the beauty in each day.

Take some time out today to close your eyes and create yourself in your own image, that is who you are! Even if others don’t have the ability to see it. Now if you have decided that you are not that person, then make today the first step it making that who you will become. It’s sad that we as humans beings are a bit over-critical of ourselves and our looks. We see ourselves as “less” attractive or appealing than even strangers see us. Don’t let it get to that point, always believe in yourself, your own greatness, and potential.

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than we are

- Charles de Montesquieu

We see the beauty in others and what they have, and yet can only see what we lack. But here is the cool part, it’s all in our heads, which means we are fully capable of repainting the image. Even if you don’t see yourself as creative as I once did, you are an artist in your own right, your opinions and beliefs do matter, because you matter.

Now do me a favor and close your eyes and create that self image one more time, but this time think of what you love about yourself… that is who you are.

And again if you feel like it’s not, that is who you can and will become.