Choose to Take the Journey

I was at the “Unleash the Power Within” event last week, and it was outstanding. Rather than regurgitate the syllabus which would be unfair to Tony Robbins, I’m going to write about the incidental lessons that I learned.

1. It’s okay to hear the same thing twice. Because I have heard Tony speak before (through the magic of compact discs), some of the concepts were already familiar. However, hearing them again in a new context reinforced my understanding and embedded them deeper within my consciousness. My belief is that important life lessons cannot just be learned once, but must be relearned through repetition, affirmation, and action.

2. Always innovate. Even though I was ready to sit (or stand, jump, and dance) through 4 days of potentially old content, I was excited to find that Tony was armed to the teeth with new stories and analogies to hammer his messages home. I am sure that many people, including myself, benefitted because of his constant and never-ending innovation. This is why, despite the narrow focus of my blog, I always strive to come up with new ways to convey my ideas to you all.

3. No guru is infallible. A single man’s words should never be treated as gospel. Even someone of Tony’s stature and resources is still occasionally wrong. One of the best ways to learn quickly is to emulate a role model, but as you do, take it all in with a grain of salt. Decide for yourself what makes sense for your life and discard the rest. Carve your own path through the mountain.

4. Most people are threatened by change. When you try to make progress in your life, it is astounding how many friends and even loved ones will turn against you. If their criticism is valid, be grateful for it. But if it is not, then ignore it and keep moving. Human beings sometimes act like crabs in a bucket, pulling down those who seek freedom. Instead of regressing to gain their acceptance, be the tide that lifts all boats. Be the leader, not another follower. Don’t be upset if people don’t act how you would like them to act. If you wish to change others, you must go first.