Choose to Take the Journey

It took me a while, but I’m back in business baby. I’m ahead on my blog writing, which means I can now concentrate on the book. My life has been rejiggered to accommodate new friends and new projects, and all the puzzle pieces are starting to snap together.

On your journey you’re going to have instances of self-doubt. After all, crags and chasms are part of the terrain. The answer of course is to continually affirm yourself. Even a veteran mountain climber has to steady his feet now and again. You do too, else you fall into the abyss.

So you had to move and leave all your friends. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American family moves every 5 years. C’est la vie.

So you lost your job. According to the Labor Department, the average person holds 11 jobs throughout his life. C’est la vie.

So you got dumped by your girlfriend of 10 years. Do I even need to cite our country’s notorious divorce rate? C’est la vie.

Life goes on.

I don’t mean to be callous, but the truth is that we live during a time of unrivaled opportunity. I can write my blog from my smartphone, start an online business if I want, and look up how to do almost anything with the Google. You may have to compete with people from all over the world, but you also have access to a larger market and cheaper products. Focus on the positive and accept things as they are, not how you would like them to be. Winners always find a way.

When you are down, I know it’s hard to imagine life will ever get better, but remember what Einstein said, “No problem can be solved at the same level of consciousness that created it.” Whether your emotional muscles grow or your back breaks depends on how effective your process is for rising from the dead. Anyone I’ve ever considered to be a role model had such a process, a comeback ritual if you will.

I remember my older brother used to sit down at his piano whenever he was wrestling with demons. From his face, I could tell that making music made him feel calm and competent. Tony Robbins has a technique called emotional stacking that refocuses his mind on solutions, not problems. If that doesn’t work, he has been known to plunge into ice-cold water to shake off his mental bung. And my university friend Troy swore by TaeKwonDo as his way of literally kicking out his frustrations.

It’s not about pumping yourself up when you’re sick, broke, and broken. It’s about centering yourself so that you can look at your problems anew, from a vantage point of strength. Don’t worry about dodging and blocking. Just roll with the punches and when you get knocked down, use your comeback ritual to put yourself back in business.

If you liked this, be sure to check out:
Find the Courage to Fight