United By Stoke - Chin up Chest out We Rise Above

Nothing Changes Until You Do #IYP

Nothing Changes Until You Do #IYP
A little bit of a rant today but this rant comes from a place of love, truly.
I got this same type of talking to when I was starting out in soto zen and mindfulness studies. Every time I had an aha moment in the first few weeks and months, I fully believed I was a changed human, but 10 plus years later I now understand that, this is not the case what so ever.
What has been coming up for me in my circle and business as of late, from a lot of people is this belief that after a very short time in or on this new path they are on, that all is changed and everything is beyond perfect and life is amazing. If this was truly the case I mean I would applaud them and ask them to write a book, but as with anything in life once you have been there and done that, then you understand what it is that is truly happening.
What is actually happening at the beginning of any process is that Puppy Love stage right, you know what I am talking about. It all feels kind a warm and fuzzy, very thing is exciting, so new, different, and at that point it's very easy to over look numerous things.
So ya it's Puppy Love (which by the way is a good thing) any step in this direction of bettering ones self is beyond on point from my point of view.
Here is where it get's sloppy though if we are not called out on our B.S or held accountable by those whom we are on this journey with. You fall off quickly, say it was a bunch of garbage that doesn't work and go back to your old ways. A lot of diet's work this way. 
There are so many ways to look at all the fu fu crap that get's passed around, but some of it is that let's hug all the tress and love everything because I am now so in tune with the vibrations of the universe (which again can happen) but after a 1 day course? Let's be real here. 
This stuff takes real work, to break a program you have been running for over 10-20 years does not just stop after a few hours. If it does, well that is really amazing, however if we don't work on the beliefs, item's, emotions, and patterns that got us there (the spot we want to better ourselves from), then we maybe very likely to fall back into that original program and hard wire that we grew up on. Which we will then reinforce and hard wire in even harder because we gave up on or failed due to lack of understand on this new path....and that is a very sad spot and sad thing to witness in another human trying to get on a better path. 
I think of addicts who try over and over again to get clean, not an easy thing to do at all. It's a challenge at time's not a walk in the park with sunshine and rainbow's 24/7.
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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Are You A People Pleaser and Why? #IYP

Are You A People Pleaser and Why? #IYP
Ok so as most of you know I have been going at this mindfulness game aka soto zen for over a decade and its been on heck of a ride. Massive up's and massive down's and that is just scratching the surface.
There has been a lot coming up recently with all the energy shifts and planetary alignments happening in our solar system which I personally feel has been either waking certain people up to a higher level or on the other hand putting certain people into an even deeper sleep.
One thing that again for myself that has become very clear and currently intolerable is trying to please people, and a further statement would be allowing that want for acceptance (the base reason for trying to please other, and not thinking you are enough) as well as allowing them to project their "insecurities" onto me. 
What I mean by that, and something I am going to take from the great Jay-Z is that just because so and so in our life (Mom, Dad, Uncle, Lover, Friends, etc) says well I never made it so you shouldn't bother either and you and I actually take that into our awareness in our subconscious minds and allow it to penetrate into our hearts and beliefs, solely to appease them....
Then we are the fools not them. We have to stand up for ourselves, we have to be strong for ourselves. For just because it did not work for them has absolutely no relevance as to how that will work out for us. #FACTS
Again they may not be coming from a place of malice, they may actually even becoming from a place of love, but again it's on us to live our lives not to aim to please everyone else by listening to their advice or stories. This is all of our's one life, and we cannot douse the flame on it, we may never get this chance again.
On that note after this many years and finally and I mean just finally starting to realize that there is no time left to waist on trying to take everyone else's feelings, thoughts, and reactions into consideration for what it is I know my soul and heart want! 
I wish this same clarity for us all! Non judgement all aroud ~
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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We Are All The Same But Different #IYP

We Are All The Same But Different #IYP
Ok as always I am talking about an eye opening conversation I had with a group of ladies today. Very open, very honest, and very deep with a lot of great points being brought up between all of us involved. This group of ladies happened to be close to retirement age and were, well let's say well off at this point in life, and I only mention that as an understanding towards the amount of time in a day available to them to research and campaign.
This type of conversation is nothing new to me and I am sure in the current political and just general state of the world it happens to be a hot topic so there is no doubt in my mind you have either been part of or witnessed this type of chat in your world as well.
It was your typical and I do not want to say environmental movement chat, but somewhat like that to be honest. These ladies were very adamant about the belief that there was to be absolutely zero development and as well restricted growth in the areas that they lived. I am and have been a visitor to this area for the last number of years for a few times a year and so as someone who travels there it got my attention.
Again this is nothing new, as to be honest in most parts of the world and especially in the most abundant, beautiful, and amazing places on this planet, this belief seems to be  even greater, and fair enough. Again these ladies had some valid point and these point which are echoed around the world do have some depth.
I also live in an area where this type of mentality is preached on the loud speaker. Yet the biggest source of growth and abundance in these areas is from tourism and development due to these visitors.
Anyway back to the point, and the point is we all came from somewhere else.
So I asked these ladies and I have done this back in my own area as well, so are you born and raised here, have you witnessed this massive change (which again is happening every where) and all the answers were the same. No, we have been here a couple years now, but this is getting out of control so we need to speak up.
My only beef here is this, there were the exact same type of people 10 years prior to these ladies arriving to what ever area they currently reside in saying the exact same thing that no one else should be able to live here full time, but yet they got in. So how is it ok that only after you or I get to these spots then after that it should be a no go zone?
To further that they also spoke about their vacation spots and other homes in 3rd world countries, and again I had to bring up the point, that they were doing the same thing in someone else home town. Raising property values on the local's as they increase the demand for development but by doing that creating abundance and economy in the area 
So in the end we are all the same but different.
Let's all keep an open mind to this amazing planet we live on!
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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Ice Bath Challange and I Failed #IYP

Ice Bath Challenge and I Failed #IYP
To think of greatness and to be humbled, we have all seen it play out in boxing, mma, and most sporting events. You have someone talking that great talk that they are at the top, unbeatable, no one can stop them and then after the event they fall from grace, loose, and or are defeated. Facts this is life and at that point we either have 2 options learn from it and prosper or become a sore loser and never be able to get over it.
This is what went down for me today during the Ice Bath Challenge put on at our local box. Not any type of event where there was anything on the line or anything to be won. However in my mind there was, well maybe not won but in my head I was like I got this, this is going to be a walk in the park and the others will be impressed with my mind strength. For me with my background in Soto Zen, Krav, and Cross-fit I had zero doubt about my mental strength and was almost thinking it would be easy. 
This is because when it comes to the cold, for one I live in the cold and train in the cold, I have cold showers all the time and also I have jumped many times into lakes in the Canadian spring time when those lakes are to put it best friggin freezing! So ya I was confident. 
As I watched others jump into the ice bath and make it look like they had done this many times over most staying in for a minimum of 3 minutes, while other's pretty much feel asleep and looked very comfortable to say the least I awaited my turn while enjoying the sun. 
Ok my turn, I dip a toe in and ya wow its cold, I put a leg in, and I am kinda blown away with the pain already, 2 legs and I start to sit. At this point I am huffing and puffing as this is knocking me out with pain. I sit down and submerge myself and at this point I am breathing out of control and in total pain. I calm my breathing down and sit...I jump out 
It's been 20 seconds. What the F$$K I say to myself, let's shake it off, and I go again with the exact same results. I rest and repeat. A total of 6 time's I do this with a total of only 20 seconds max staying in the water. 
A total bust, failure, humbling go at the ice bath. 
Here is where I feel for myself the growth aspect from Meditation comes in. I was humbled but in a really good way the kind of way that made me smile on the inside. Not damaged from my ego by failure but impressed that I still have so much more to grow. Starting to understand that we each really have no clue in general of the big picture and all we can do is our best today with the knowledge and tools we have. So much more growth to do, which I can now look at with excitement and understand that this is a truly amazing place to be. 
Stagnation would mean death for the human soul.
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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No Skin In The Game So Why Bother? #IYP

No Skin In The Game So Why Bother? #IYP
We all see it, we have all done it, and we have all been apart of it, yup that's right we all have done it. 
You know that I'll do that later, or next week, or after I finish this bag because it was expensive. Or we were told that someone would help us out of the goodness of their heart for our betterment and then never showed up or never took them up on the offer...for what ever reason.
Now I say this because it is something I have been witnessing a lot lately since we have putting out content and since we have started helping others, a lot of the time out of the goodness of wanting them to be better. 
What we talk about in the show though is how we as individuals have to show up, we have to, and I mean we have to show up and meet the universe half way. This is almost like an unwritten law that is out there in the energy world.
Meaning if I want something I have to get up and physically get after it. I cannot however want that something and sleep all day and think it will happen just because I want it to. Again we have to meet it (that want) half way. There are the positive thoughts yes and the vision boards and the desire and all the rest of it, but it's the action part that let's everyone know...ok this is for real.
For myself I have also noticed that maybe 95% of the time unless there is an actual value applied to the "thing" you want or try to achieve or whatever, then we tend to fall back on the old habit of I'll get to that later...why you ask? Well, I personally think its because we at that point have zero skin in the game. 
I can only speak for myself, all the classes and organization and communities that I still belong to after many many years...I pay for them. So I attend not only to better myself but for me if I am paying then I damn well need to show up, and if I show up then I damn well better put forth one hell of an effort, again why...because I work hard for my money so I want the value that I perceive out of it!
So if you are on any path or endeavour please make sure you are all in, that may be financial or that may be mental, but be all in - no half ass. That is the road to failure!
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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No Skin In The Game So Why Bother? #IYP

No Skin In The Game So Why Bother? #IYP
Today we talk about the Why behind our desire's, wants, and goals. So what does it take to get to where we are going. Next on that statement would be why bother if we don't have the follow through...and how do we attain that follow through?
Something that I have personally noticed for myself even is unless there is some type of investment on my end when trying to learn or accomplish something, then I tend to slack off or even just sorta forget about it. That I'll get to it later type deal. I notice this about myself when buying a book I start out strong but when life gets busy or other things come up I put the book off. 
So that then also bring's up accountability and how do we get and how do we strive off of it. 
Again and as always I use myself, my failure's, and my experience as the blue print to moving forward for the Ignite Your Purpose Team. So for example I noticed for myself when taking a class that I pay for I go all in. On that same not when we have put on classes in the classes that are paid for those people taking those classes seem to be involved and be more serious about the outcome.
It is a "thing", if we pay for it (usually not always) we put more effort into it, because ( I think at least) we work hard for that money and it has value to us, so if we spend it on ourselves in the form of education, then we place a certain value on the outcome of what we put that perceived value (the money) into.
Also the next thing that I have noticed would be the accountability. We as a people unless we are uber next level need to be held accountable. If this happen's (again from my own experience and from the classes we have put on) people tend to really show up and their best self comes and play hard ball.
There maybe some type of friendly competition or wanting to prove to someone else we are capable. It's some type of play on our mental state, and from that we tend to shine brighter than if we were to go in solo.
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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Health Is The Most Important Thing In Life #IYP

Health Is The Most Important Thing In Life #IYP
There are times you just vibe with someone, times when it seems as if someone or something put that person in front of you, like it was meant to be! This is what happened to me today and in this 2 hour conversation I made a life long friend and now I know it was the universe that placed this guy in my face today.
It started out as small talk (which I can only do for a short time) but this quickly went deep, into a whole bunch of topics that are near and dear to my heart.
Looking back on this, it's almost as if I was talking to myself 20 years in the future (probably the age difference between us) and I was answering my own questions, concerns and putting to sleep some of the doubts and fears that we all hold near and dear to our inner hearts and mind. That's me looking at it from another angel which is also kinda blowing my mind.
Ok back to it. This guy lived the rock star lifestyle "Drug's Sex and Rock and Roll" he owned business that the famous hung out at, was friends with all the right people and was making money hand over fist. 
I do not want to go to deep into that side of it as it was somewhat confidential, but it was the sort of story where you say "oooh I wish I did that or had that as well". Yet he said he was at the top of the mountain and then he lost it all. So he fell form grace, and he could not believe and did not understand how everyone left his side at that time. We have all heard these stories before, rite!
He then climbed his way back up the mountain almost 10 years after the fall, yes it took him that long to try to get back to where he was. Yes, he learned a lot and did not make the same mistakes ever again, and looking back at it with me a younger buck still trying to get where he wants to go. 
How I explained that was; I am amazed and grateful for all that I have and have accomplished but I am no where near where I want to be or am going!
This is what he told me when he was my age he thought it was Wealth on the top of his to do or want list.
He said looking back at it all the high's the low's the up's the down's he said it should always be like this 1. Health 2. Happiness 3. Love 4. Wealth
I kid you not this conversation was like a parenting session and honestly made me feel at ease. I hope this show helps you out a little on seeing what it is that is the MOST IMPORTANT
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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What More Do I Need To Get More? #IYP

What More Do I Need To Get More? #IYP
So speaking for myself (obviously) the thing I have noticed in myself which has been also manifesting out side of me is the need to add something every time I think something is a little off, and that thing that I usually need to add is something external. Meaning food, or a supplement, love or words from someone else, things like this.
So today at the gym I was asked by someone asked what can I take or what can I add to my eating or what supplement can I take as I am super drained and tired all the time. They mentioned that they were even drinking these (in my humble opinion nasty ass energy boosting drinks...or as I think of them as poison) at least one a day.
So this exact conversation hit me like a ton of bricks. Because as I always mention on this show it's that what is happening out side of us is not separate from us, it's actually a manifestation of what already going on inside us. Wow rite! I know a little wo wo fu fu. 
Facts, and as I listened to this conversation I saw how I think in this exact same way but related to something different. So whenever I feel like maybe something like a cold, or soar throat is setting in...I immediately think what can I reach for (supplement wise)
So the same answer for them rang true as the exact same answer for me. Things like what about stress level, how has sleep been, what have you been eating, what have you been drinking? Water intake or hydration, vitamin D or sunlight exposure...and on and on. Yet we all think that drink, supplement, powder, drug is the answer. 
Coming from a place of lack. When we should be coming from a place of empowerment. We far to often (and I still do) forget the power is our's, not that of what we add. yes it can all aid us but it is not the end all be all, we are!
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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Surround Yourself With Good People #IYP

Surround Yourself With Good People #IYP
Speaking of surrounding yourself with good people today we have been added to PODCOIN, a very cool app where you can listen to Podcasts and get paid...crazy rite!
Ok so for me a lot of my work is done solo, in my studio and in my office and even when out and about I am pretty low key and not around a lot of people. The few times I am are either at the gym and or social events. 
Both those which are very fun and I can get my ya — ya's out, they are not a super deep and impactful time to vibe with people. It's always fun and super positive, but what I am talking about is that higher connection, that being inspired or getting fired up for life and the adventures that await ahead of us type deal.
Now I do think it's a must to be around these types of situations for me anyway I feel the type of work out group I am involved in could not be any more positive on myself my soul and those around me. A group of like minded people who are trying to be better than they were yesterday and at the same time pushing each other to the limits through positivity...very cool experience for real.
But again that's for an hour to an hour and a half, so when for this whole month I was able to vibe basically 24/7 with people who are pushing the limits for themselves and in their respective industries, I mean it was amazing. It was refreshing, it was obviously an energy rush, it was empowering, it was humbling, and it made me want to be better. 
At that point I realized something, I can remember back when, and even now I can feel it when I am around the wrong type of people. There are those who seem to look at the negative all the time (and thats fine) but then compare that feeling you or I get at that point to being around 1 person or a group of people who are high on life and look at things positively and that the planet is full of opportunity.
From my perspective I either feel like I am contracting or expanding, and let's just be honest life is short and our time is very, very valuable. So I choose to be in an expanded state surrounded with people who think the same and have the same goals. So amazing!
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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Always Remember Where You Came From #IYP

Always Remember Where You Came From #IYP
So while away on my healing trip this year, I tossed in a book to take with me, which I had already read the year prior at same time in same place. Weird right. It was just a book about marketing. At that point I thought nothing of it, just something to read while I was relaxing type deal.
Anyway once I picked the book up and looked at it I was sorta put off with myself for taking it with me once I realized I had already read it, and on the same trip the year prior! I saw all my notes, and remembered all my frustrations, doubts, fears, and was like nope won't be reading this, and I thought well maybe instead I'll buy another book.
I left it in my beach bag and there it was the next, I opened the bag after my meditation, walk and gratitude session and was like ok, well let's review this then. Let me get over myself and all the negative memories I have about the book (which were actually just my own personal insecurities in myself of not being where I wanted to be the first time I read it). What do I mean by that...well for example in the first chapter of the book there is a questionnaire and the point to it was to determine the tier and also place you were truly at for marketing your brand (sometimes the truth hurts...the ego)! 
Again as I reviewed my notes I saw that I at that point a year ago out of about 50 points total I was around the 10 points mark, which basically meant I had a ton of grunt work to do before I even began to think about marketing my brand. Which then also as I read the notes I left think of how much I really did not understand what was even in the book (it was way over my head at that point in time). Thus the reason I thought I did not want to read it again.
However I thought well there must be a reason it's here, so let's just roll with it. I was like let me just re read the first chapter and take the test again and see how I feel. So I did. It made way more sense, even inspired me to be honest, lit more of a fire under my ass. Then at the end I re took the test...boom my mark was around 30, which blew me away. I really did have a much greater understanding of all that I had been working on in the last year. 
I mean no where close to where I want to be, but maybe just maybe sometimes we should take a look in the rear view mirror just to remember how far we have come, how much we have learned and how much we have improved. 
For me at least to always look forward sometimes leaves me doubting, so I was happy that I took a moment to review and pat myself on the back for a job well done!
 
We talk Longevity through a Healthy lifestyle, a mix of Mental, Physical and Spiritual knowledge, the Mind, Body Soul trifecta - Negative 2 Positive Everyday 
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