United By Stoke - Chin up Chest out We Rise Above

How To Be Your Best Self #IYP

How To Be Your Best Self #IYP
Do we really want to be our best self? Or is it just to much work?
Have we become to civilized?
Have we become to comfortable with what we have?
Have we succumb to the fear of loosing what we have?
I personally think from self talk, self study, mindfulness studies, and self realization that all of the above and more are correct. The one thing that I do know for sure for myself is that something is always pushing me, and or directing me towards (I want to say happiness or purpose or some time of drive or enjoyment)
So for example there was a time and I talk about this a lot when I was off social media when I was not really creating and not really producing much. I mean I was still doing it but I mean just the bare bones.
I would not say that I was depressed in those times as I am blessed to be living the life I have created, however and this is a big thing to understand once you get that inner awareness and what I was being told and what I felt in my bones each morning when I woke was this "something is missing", something was off, I was not fulfilled I think that maybe the best way to state it. Even though I had and have a lot to be grateful for, there was a void.
At that particular time to be honest I was not sure exactly what it was that I was missing. Looking back on it now I can with 110% confidence say that I was not following my passion, my dreams, or my purpose (as I understand it at this point in time)
So from a soul point of view I was super off course, and if you want to call it spirit, energy, universe, god, but my higher self was trying its best to get me back on course.
It took some time, it took a lot of inner work, and then it took myself getting myself motivated to work because this shit ain't easy, it takes time, knowledge, dedication, rejection...and on and on. 
This is why I said at the beginning that once we become comfortable, bougi, civilized, high end, snobby, and the best of the best lazy, it is all over and then we start to like I did live a life of just auto pilot, until we get to a point of it being to late and then we live with regrets until we die. 
A few of the mentors I have in my corner whom are later in life one is an investor who does not need more money, but he also tells me he does not need to be playing golf or laying on the beach 24/7. His goal now with his incomes is to give back to those starting up their businesses, and he reiterated that laying around doing nothing was not his calling and it also was putting him into a slump. So he changed his mindset and listened to his heart, he knew his purpose and passion and continued to follow it even when he did not need to be doing it anymore! 
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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UnHappy At Work Should I Quit? #IYP

UnHappy At Work Should I Quit? #IYP
I mean tell me this does not ring true to almost every single human on this planet who is blessed enough to be in a country that having a job to earn a wage is a thing!
So last night I sat down for some me time, some information gathering time and what I did was I read a report on a 200 country study of happiness relating to jobs, and as well I watched a documentary on a young music artist that passed on. 
Both not at all related but yet through the vail of the matrix totally related!
So this study which took place over a 25 year period and over 200 hundred countries (so a pretty well rounded study) now we can always look deep enough into a study to find so reason as to why not to agree with the findings, but for the purpose of this show and to go with the overall vibe we have been feeding off her on the show, I will agree with this one!
Many question's were asked, many topics, many points of focus as to why each person was doing what they were and in a round about way the answer to each question was somewhat the same. Each of us is taught to be realistic, we are taught not to aim very high, we are taught we need to earn, we are taught following your dreams is a waist of time, and at a certain age (I think it was the mid to late 20) we should conform to the societal ways.
In a nutshell go watch the Matrix and each one of us has created our own Matrix which most of us never realize we built and we never break free of it.
We are doing this day to day task to make money to pay bills, to buy things and to one day retire (which is not at all a bad thing) but the balance of it all maybe the bad thing. We give up our healthiest, most active days, to work to earn, to feed the machine, to then in the so called golden years live off of what we did the 40 years prior. 
When you say it out loud, it's NUTS right!
If I speak for myself on here but there is a lot one could do to lessen the work road if you don't love what you do. We don't need all the fancy clothe's, car's, house's, meal's out, drink's, I mean once in a while but why keep up with the Jone's why not just spend as little as possible on the necessities and do more of what we actually enjoy?
It's just not something we are taught or we think of is it. Yet it seems so simple and easy. Obviously Not if 85% of us are this unhappy!
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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Excuses To Get Out Of Things #IYP

Excuses To Get Out Of Things #IYP
I continue on today all about the lesson's the universe continues to provide myself through others and my own actions and reactions! Fascinating stuff, really!
The topic today is this new found rant vibe I am on, which I feel is because these topics are so near and dear to my heart, having gone through them, or going through them and either learning or failing forward but not giving up!
After a few message's that all had the same sort of tone today this last one I read said it all and took me back to a place I know all to well. 
For those who don't know part of my story (the excuse of social media part) is that I was off it for about 7 years, not at all on it using it to promote myself my music or my shows. WTF! 
The reason being that because 1-It was a hard thing to learn and 2 - some outside influences told me that it was a bad thing. I personally took that as my scape goat as to why I could use that excuse to get off it, and then lay blame about how things were not happening to or for me.
So I got this message today, then a follow up on all their social media pages on how they were getting off social media and then listed a slew of reason (all of which were bad and for those bad reason's they then again blamed it all on the social media not their own personal habit's).
This kinda rocked me, like why if you were truly done with being online would you announce it to the world? The next one for me is if you do find it let's say consume's to much of your time, why would you not limit it to certain times or days or whatever? Why would you blame it for you being on it to much?
Again for this we are not talking about selfies, and food photo's, we are talking about social media as a marketing and branding tool. 
Yes, it is hard and yes this takes hard work, and yes this does not happen over night, just like anything else in life. And for all those reason's we want to blame something like social media or "the man," whom ever is "holding us down from success" and so we quit.
We really think that the easier road now will not lead to the regrets and bitterness later on in life.
It's simple we either pay now or we pay later...that is a FACT! The choice however is our's! 
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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Wallowing In Self Pity #IYP

Wallowing In Self Pity #IYP
After Yesterday's talk I am somewhat on a role of rant's but only to better understand the why behind some of these actions I am witnessing as of late. 
Also understand what we see is a chance for us to learn from and grow, and as well it can also be a mirror into our own reality. 
This is one of the things that concerns me with as an extension of yesterday's talk, are we really doing things for ourselves or are we doing them for others to think we are in a better place, or an influencer, or coach, or whatever, on social media?
How did I come to that conclusion? Well, let me tell you the story from today which as I talk about and write about still blows my mind as far as understanding where a persons head space must be at if one is truly looking for a pity party from others to then give credit to themselves for where they are at.
Now that is a mouthful!
I was invited into a closed course to review and to take part in one section of the course package, an area on ancient healing that the instructor thought could benefit me. So I jump on board to the group, and all its banter and chatter in the online forum. This type of message was not a one off either, it was almost (to me at least) a normal occurrence or acceptable behaviour. 
So certain people no matter male or female, and again this is in an education course (where you are meant to learn, grow and expand your health knowledge) in the question area's for trouble shooting on questions or formula's or whatever, people were no word of a lie posting video's of themselves talking about how bad their bad was, how they could not find the time for the homework, or the due paper, or whatever drama or pity party they needed to vent for all the others to weigh in on and to let all the others know where they stood and how they felt. 
Again this was the norm for sure. 
I had and still have a hard time understanding the point of the need to air your dirty laundry out, yes putting it out there for others to judge. Yet the reason after viewing this was really for the ones putting up the video to have other's feel sorry for them and then send their condolences which was in some way a form of fortifying the belief they hold as to why they can not do something. Looking for that positive reinforcement or excuse as to why one does not have to set the bar higher.
Honestly a very unique culture, and frame of mind. 
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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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