Life Of Mastery

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Mastering Discomfort from zenhabits.net

An excellent and true read from my favourite Zen website.

Overcoming discomfort is so difficult but is something we must endure in order to grow.

http://zenhabits.net/discomfort/

Monday, January 21, 2013

Every Artist Was First An Amateur

Read that again:

"Every Artist Was First An Amateur" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a moment and really think about what that means. Leonardo DaVinci, Karl Lagerfeld, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Livermore and any other human being you can think of or have looked up to is/was an artist sculpting their own destiny. But the one thing that every single person you can think of started with was the fact that they started out as an amateur and had to take the necessary stepping stones and building blocks to get to where they are.

They did not start out as stars or successful individuals.

Too often we see someone in their success and believe that they just started in their career and "got lucky". The actress winning the Oscar must have just stepped onto the scene and gotten lucky right? I guarantee that she has been working her tail off for years; going to every audition, spending countless hours learning about herself and networking and working dead end jobs in order to pay her bills. She walked a long and lonely road before she won that Oscar and will continue on that road behind the scenes AFTER she wins that award.

Dream big but start small.

Time and time again I would dream big and picture myself in the life that I had created in my mind. I would get so excited about the life I was going to create for myself and then all of a sudden the dream would come crashing down on me. I would be so depressed that no one could talk me out of my depression. I then realised that I had it in my mind that I would just wake up one day and become the dream I had envisioned without doing the work FIRST.

Prep work.

If you are making a career change or you are just starting out in the working world make sure you take the smaller steps first. When I was working to become a professional actor I knew I would have to pay my dues and learn everything I could before I had any kind of spotlight on me. There are some stars that get blinded in the spot light WITHOUT doing much training or taking those small steps first and they end up looking ridiculous and awkward. If you are serious about what you are dreaming about make sure you are comfortable with taking those smaller yet necessary steps to become the person you need to become BEFORE you present yourself to the world.

Prepare, prepare, prepare and don't be lazy about it!

Yes, it's boring to not get to live the dream right away and to have to spend countless hours training behind the curtain. Actors spend very little time in front of the camera and bodybuilders spend maybe 2 hours (depending on how many shows they do) on stage in the 8,760 hours in a year. So the other 8,758 hours are spent taking the necessary steps to become great.

Do what you need to do. Do it until you are exhausted and get angry about having to do any more and then when you feel like giving up, do more.

Never give up because when you give up on the dream you are allowing yourself to settle and essentially you are giving up on yourself.

Your age doesn't matter. You might be 75 or you might be 25 and feel as though you've spent all this time training for something else and you no longer wish to do that thing. The idea is to start somewhere.
Read 7 Steps To The Real You to help you figure out where you belong.

"Be humble in your beginnings and then be humble in your success." - Clare Baukham

The next time you see someone you admire, remember that they too began as an amateur and for them it has been a very long road.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

It Will Be Difficult

In my relatively short life I can remember a time that I wished more than anything for an easy life. The funny thing is, the more you wish for an address on Easy Street the harder things seem to get. This is a matter of perspective.

One woman's easy is another woman's difficult.

Once an individual has been through a difficulty in life be it a death in the family, overcoming a disease, a career change or even something self inflicted like changing a diet, her perspective changes when the next difficulty comes along. It is for this change in the way I see things that allows me to invite change and challenge. Once I started to see the results of a change I had to endure, I realised that change was the best way to become better than I was the day before.

Yes it's hard. Why would it be easy? Then EVERYONE would do it!

"Our major purpose on Earth is that of developing wisdom through struggle and self discipline." - Unknown

Think about how you feel after you have had a terrible day. Relieved that you got through it right? But also a little proud that you were able to deal with it that way you did right? Well, imagine trying something new and not stopping until you have won. Imagine how that would feel.

We waste our lives doing things that are easy because somewhere along the line we kept telling ourselves that we didn't have the time to look after our dreams, health and good fortune. Watching T.V., eating fast food or prepared meals prepared by someone else, not exercising, speaking poorly, emailing and texting rather than a phone call and the list goes on and on. Why waste your life? You only have one in this body (depending on your beliefs). Why sit in front of a T.V. and fantasize about what a fictitious character is doing? If you want that life then GO GET IT.

WARNING: It Won't Be Easy

"Life is a fight for territory, it's hard to keep your spirit up, it's hard. But you need to refuel yourself mentally emotionally and spiritually. You have to battle sometimes in your own home against yourself. But I can tell you from my experience, it's worth it! - Unknown

I believe that every human being has a set of priorities and standards that they live their life by. But they also have inspiration somewhere inside of them to become what they wish to become and whenever they do that thing or activity, they experience a fulfilment beyond measure.

"It doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times people tell you that you can't do it. It doesn't matter if you don't have a dime in the bank. You will fail your way to success. What's very important is do you really want to win?" - Unknown

"There is ALWAYS a way to win. There just is. Your job is to find it."

So go find it and don't worry about what everyone else is doing or saying. You know what you have to do. Do it and don't look back no matter how hard things get. You will succeed and then the next challenge will seem that much easier. You will then have a system in place for mastering anything.

Do what you have to do to get that system in place and then you will become the person you wish to become.

Monday, January 14, 2013

It's Easy...But Only When You Love It

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius

Whatever you choose to master in life, make sure it is something you absolutely love doing. It doesn't have to be

a money maker but something that you absolutely lose track of time doing. What do you find yourself searching

for on YouTube all the time? I search shark videos often just because I love the ocean, it's life and it's sports

(surfing for example).

With this passion and love for what you are pursuing you will find instant motivation once you start working at it.

An athlete like Tiger Woods would not dread going to train everyday on the golf course. Yes it would be difficult

at times when you are tired but you'd go and do it because you loved it and you would not have to talk yourself into

playing or training everyday.

When something becomes a part of your lifestyle, much like watching t.v., you would start to look forward to that

routine activity. That place becomes your sanctuary and provides you with a similar comfort to being home. In

essence that training ground, workplace, field, basketball court (or where ever) becomes your home. Once you

establish this feeling and routine you will create an amazing snowball effect. You start to see results and you

crave more and more. That is when you will become unstoppable.

Remember, nothing will happen if you are forcing yourself to do it. Whether it's weight loss or a new career or skill.

You have to WANT to do it.

As soon as you truly WANT to do it for the right reasons, you are on your way to mastery.

Do what you need to do, to become the person you need to become and you will succeed.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Once You Know, You Know What You Know

"Someone's opinion of you does NOT have to become your reality!" - Les Brown

Once you experience something you will never be able to go back to the way things were. We have a saying that goes "once you know, you know what you know". This means, once you learn something, you simply can never go back to not knowing that thing.

Try this:

Assuming based on the fact that you are reading this right now, you know how to read. You've learned that skill. If you looked at a page in a novel BEFORE you had that skill versus AFTER you had the skill of literacy would you be able to look at the page the same once you knew how to read ever again? Probably not. Once you learn something you know it for life.

Now on a different note. How many people told you in life that you were no good at something like mathematics? I was told in grade 10 that I was terrible at math and I should continue in the general classes (rather than the advanced or applied). My entire life I was convinced that I could not do anything math related, thus leaving out some very viable career choices. I now deal with numbers all day every day in the stock market and I am excellent with math.

Why? What happened?

It's very simple, I told myself (and believed) that I was excellent at math. Once I accepted that I was great with numbers and started to learn how to calculate ROI (return on investment) or percentages or Fibonacci numbers I couldn't go back. Once I knew, I knew what I knew!

The point is two fold. You decide what you can and cannot do and then once you know, you know what you know forever.

Go ahead, tell yourself you CAN do something and then DO IT. Don't be intimidated. Remember that the masters all had to start somewhere and if you are worried you'll look silly trying something new I can guarantee that more people will be jealous of your tenacity than think you look silly.

Believe in yourself and remember the next time you don't know something, don't shoo it to the side; figure it out and empower yourself to KNOW.

Think this looks intimidating? That's only because you currently don't know what it is. It's a VERY simple Fibonacci sequence. 1 then 1+1 = 2, then 1+2 = 3, then 2+3 = 5 and so on. Add the last number to the next number to get the new number in the sequence. See? Once you know.....

REMEMBER don't negate something just because it scares the heck out of you. I bet you'd be great at it. Increasing your skill set can only help you to be more successful and a well rounded interesting individual.

The Climb

Always strive to be on top in life because the bottom is too crowded.

The climb will not be easy but it will be worth it.

Just put your head down and keep going.

One foot in front of the other.

Don't ever give up.

It's hard.

But,

You CAN do it,

I will see you at the top.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Use Your Mind

Happy New Year 2013! Let's start this year off on the right foot:

"Our mind comes as standard equipment at birth, it’s free and things that have been given to us for nothing we place little value on; things that we pay money for, we value. The paradox is that exactly the reverse is true; everything that’s really worthwhile in life came to us free our minds our souls our bodies our hopes our dreams our ambitions, our intelligence, our love of family and children friends and country. All these priceless possessions are free but the things that actually cost money are cheap and can be replaced at any time. If our home burns down we can rebuild it and if we lose something we can buy another but the things we got for nothing you can never replace. The human mind isn’t used because we take it for granted. Familiarity breeds contempt, it can do any job we assign it but yet we use it for little jobs. We use only 10% of our minds. What is it you want? Plant your goal in your mind. All you’ve got to do is plant that seed in your mind. Care for it, work steadily towards your goal." - Earl Nightingale

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

9 Beliefs You Need to Succeed from marcandangel.com

With Christmas behind us, presents put away and cleaning up after a great holiday in the works you may find yourself pondering your New Years resolution. You may also find yourself reflecting on your past year, what you did or didn't get to do, the changes that occurred, any losses or gains you endured. Rather than wait for the New Year why not start today by reading this and the other posts on this blog?

Today's post has been borrowed from an amazing site called marcandangel.com. I hope it speaks to you as it did me.

These beliefs have tremendous power and truth behind them. Just listen to them then take a moment to process them then DO THEM!

1. “The problems I face are opportunities.”

The problems and challenges you face are not there to stop you. Their purpose is to bring your commitment to the surface where it can come wholly and forcefully to life.

The challenges that are the most difficult are often the ones that create the greatest positive difference. Situations with the most formidable problems are where you unearth your greatest opportunities.

The only question is: Are you willing to do what it takes? Read Think and Grow Rich.

2. “What’s important is creating value.”

Do something you are proud of. Instead of struggling to get one up on everyoneelse, raise your awareness to the point where the competition becomes insignificant. Get in the habit of creating real value, and you won’t feel the need to take anything away from others.

To be truly effective be sincere and helpful. Find satisfaction and fulfillment in making a difference and pulling all of life forward with you.

3. “I can’t anticipate everything, and that’s okay.”

There’s a difference between being prepared and being scared.

There’s much you can gain by planning and preparing, by anticipating what is most likely to happen and being ready for it. Yet there is no reason to be paralyzed by over-thinking and endless worry, because you have what it takes to handle even the most unexpected setbacks.

And no matter how well you plan, not everything can be anticipated anyway, and that’s actually a good thing. Sometimes when a roadblock forces you in a different direction, you cross paths with the opportunity of a lifetime.

4. “My fears are often an indication that something is worth doing.”

Do not to be afraid of your fears. Your fears are not here to scare you; they’re here to let you know that something you’re thinking about and considering is worth doing.

If you always feel afraid, it means that there are lots of things worth doing – lots of worthy options called opportunities. It’s time to pick one and take a chance.

5. “Passions and goals must be self-set.”

Just because someone tells you that you can’t do something doesn’t mean you have to let their opinion become your reality. If you spend too much time reacting and responding to everyone else, you will lose YOUR direction in life. These other people’s opinions, problems and wants will end up setting the course for your life.

So take a stand right now and say this to yourself out loud: “It is OK for me to think about and identify what I want for myself.” If you live by this statement, remarkable things will take place in your life.

6. “My time is sacred.”

Maybe you can afford to procrastinate. Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow. Maybe for you there’s a thousand tomorrows, or ten thousand, or more. Maybe you have so much time ahead of you that you can afford to spend it frivolously and foolishly without losing sleep. There’s a whole lifetime worth of minutes you can waste. Maybe…

But maybe not. For some of us – perhaps for you or someone you love – there’s only today. And the truth is, you never really know. Read Eat That Frog!

7. “Positive results are the outcome of positive daily actions.”

Your real religion is how you spend the majority of your time – what you do and think about on and daily basis long after the sermon has ended. Do something that makes you proud. Start walking the talk. Make your strategic plan: DOING THINGS THAT MATTER!

You don’t need a new year to make a change; all you need is today. Make this the moment you start changing your life.

8. “Perfection is a fantasy.”

Understanding the difference between healthy striving and striving for perfection is critical to laying down unnecessary weight and picking up your life. Perfectionism hampers happiness and success. It’s the path to depression, anxiety, addiction and life paralysis.

And this is true for your relationships as well…

Judge less, love more. Flaws are features. You don’t know a single perfect person, they don’t exist. Who you do know are a bunch of flawed people who are still worth appreciating and loving. If you try to avoid people for their little idiosyncrasies and shortcomings, this world will be a lonely place for you. ReadPersonal Development for Smart People.

9. “I am 100% responsible for my life.”

It’s easy to blame someone else for your troubles, but it doesn’t resolve anything. Sure, at first it might seem reasonable to expect your problems to be solved by those who helped create them, but stop and think about it. Do you want to give the people who created past problems for you any additional control over your future?

To move your life forward you must be willing to take full responsibility for it. That means moving past what’s easy and accepting that you’re going to have to do things for yourself. Perhaps life has given you a burden you don’t deserve. Instead of seeing this as an excuse to give up, see it as an opportunity to take charge and give it all you’ve got.

You are stronger and more capable than you think.marcandangel.com

Friday, December 21, 2012

Adaptation From Desiderata

This poem was written by Max Ehrmann (1872–1945) and has been added to by an anonymous writer. These words mark the beginning of the age of enlightenment as deemed by the Mayan Calendar ending today December 21st 2012. In business and in life, follow these words and no matter how much or how little money you have you will find your personal enlightenment.

After all, we can make all the money in the world but in the end of our days here on this beautiful Earth we will ask ourselves "what was it really all about". Keep striving but always follow these words. Copy them, paste them somewhere you can see them daily.

Tomorrow morning with a sunrise at 7:49am (EST) means that today (the longest night) will be behind us and we move into longer and longer days until the Summer Solstice when we embrace the longest day of the year.

Adaptation From Desiderata

(Desiderata - latin meaning Something that is needed or wanted. Desired things.)

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Find somebody to love, love what you do and always be excited about your future. When you find love give nothing but love, yet demand nothing in return.

Be a true friend, as being a friend is a gift you give to yourself.

Take kindly to the passing of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth, but never you health.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Spend your time wisely and only in the company of those that matter, as time is the only true currency you have.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful, be happy.

Happy Solstice and cheers to the rebirth of the sun (and sunlight). 

Monday, December 17, 2012

7 Steps to The Real You

How many of us are floating around doing the things that we thought we should be doing to impress others? How many have not made the decision to set our standards as high as we can think to set them so that we feel comfortable and falsely happy?

Steps To Becoming The Real You:
VISION
1. Think of your dream life.
2. Write it down in a book where you can refer to it daily.
STANDARD
3. Refer to it daily. Don't be lazy.
4. Take the first step to achieve that dream. Be it a new job or even reading and researching it online.
5. Set a new standard of living for yourself. The standard means you have a MUST that you have to achieve on a daily basis. It could be that you MUST read an article a day about your dream.
BELIEVE
6. Everyday through thick and thin you must believe that you can achieve this dream. Keep the standards high and once you achieve them, set them higher.
7. Never stop thinking about your potential. If you conjured every bit of your energy and potential and put it to work you could actually physically and mentally do anything that you chose to do.

Yes that's it.

Do it.

Vision - Standard - Believe

Go ahead! Start NOW!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Ultimate Master

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Got To Give It Up!

In the words of Marvin Gaye “Keep on dancin' You got to get it, Got to give it up!”

If any of you speak to me for any length of time you’ll eventually hear me tell you that “I’m starving my gadgets off” or “I’m so hungry I could eat my feet”. I admit to having a folder on my computer dedicated to junk food and fast food. I know that many people know that my husband and I have competed in the past for fitness and body building. I must quickly note here that I do not starve myself. I have a deep and intense love affair with food, however, food doesn’t always like me back. More on that later!

Let’s back up a touch for a minute though. I’ve noticed a huge trend for “detoxing” or for a “10 day challenge” and many of these include exercise and dietary changes for said challenges. I commend you as changing your dietary habit is one of the most difficult things you can do. Food is all around us and is so easy to succumb to. Especially if you can eat whatever, whenever and not suffer physically for eating it.

(Admire from afar!)

Anyone that has committed to any challenge knows that once we endure one feat we start to look for the next to continue our growth. As I have mentioned in the past, giving things up is merely “becoming the person we need to become” to be successful at that particular thing.

As you go forth in your quest to give up spectacular, delicious and heart warming food I want to give you some perspective.

Picture this; you are overweight and eating everything in your path from chicken fingers dipped in ranch dressing, to burgers with bacon and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, key lime pie, cakes, muffins, bagels, doughnuts, cheese buns, honey garlic ribs, chedder cheese melted on white bread, pizza! My stomach just got really angry at the thought and not the taste of these astounding treats. Then imagine that every time you eat one of these items you throw yourself on the floor because your gut feels like someone is stabbing it with a knife. You go from a very healthy weight of 150Lbs down to a scary 104Lbs in a matter of a few weeks. The doctors tell you that you have a disease called Crohn’s Disease (the inflammation of the intestine), that you will never be rid of it and that you will likely have to wear a colostomy bag (a bag that collects your waste, worn on the outside of your body...I know, very sexy) for a year after they remove part of your affected intestine.

You see a Naturopathic Doctor that tells you he can help you but you must drastically change your life. No wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat, sugar or pork. A.K.A. No muffins, ice cream, cookies, pizza, cheese, yogurt, milk, pop (soda) or anything that was your staple previously.

All you have to do is decide.

This is the moment your life changes. The point of decision.

It may seem extreme because you’re thinking about the fact that you don’t have that pain or problem and if you did it might even be helpful because then you simply can’t eat any of your oldies but goodies. Although it may be extreme, the principle still stands true. You can enjoy your favourites on occasion and you can admire them from afar (or in a file on your computer) and just decide that this is what you are doing. I promise it gets easier. Don’t ever think of it as a diet but rather your new way of living. As I mentioned in a past blog it becomes a part of who you are. Trust me, you will stand tall and proud knowing that you could have those things but you CHOOSE not to.

I commend you and I am utterly proud of you my friends. Keep it up.

Envision it. Live it. Be it. Because it’s YOU.

For a little help with changing your diet completely and a complete diet plan system please visit my friend Jennifer. Her system is incredible and it works 100%. This is the system I used to avoid surgery for my severe Crohn's Disease for over 11 years. Invest a little in yourself and be well forever.

Click here for Jennifer's site: http://c26b2mublirbnt96ppx5u0f6wr.hop.clickbank.net/