Posts in Motivation

Personal change must come from within–nobody can do it for you. The best trainer, coach or therapist in the world cannot make the personal changes you seek. They can only lead you to the trailhead. You must walk the path. One of the main prerequisites for true and lasting change is rigorous and constant self-evaluation. It is imperative that you shed light on the traits you possess and how they work for or against you.

Here’s a self-evaluation exercise that can get you started.  Read More

Not long ago my dad died. It was one of the most moving experiences I have had. Most of my life we had a tough, tenuous relationship. Even from a young age before I got into much trouble we were at odds. Things only became more strained through the worst patches of my life. Much of that time we didn’t have a relationship at all. Throughout my adolescence and into adulthood, I was out in the world giving myself and my family the roughest go of it. Things were not well between us. Eventually my lifestyle and behavior deteriorated to a point that required my family to dismiss me from their lives. It seemed a matter of time until I overdosed or someone killed me. Everything that could be done to help me was done. Nothing worked. There was nothing left except to let things run their course. Read More

1. Have a Vision

“Seeing yourself as you want to be is the key to personal growth.”
-Anonymous
 
Without a sense of vision, life is empty and meaningless. A well-developed person has a keen sense of who they want to become. Our hopes and dreams provide a sense of purpose and meaning to our existence. They are the driving forces behind every accomplishment. Without a sense of direction we lose our sense of self. I will never forget the day I regained purpose and vision for my life. Until that day I was lost and hopeless.

We must continually evaluate who we are now in contrast with the concept of our ideal self. Life is an ongoing process of closing the gap between your current self and your ideal self. It is necessary to frequently question the value of our existence. If we are not continually evaluating ourselves we become stagnant. Read More

The Epic of Manny Pacquiao:

A self-made man, Manny Paquiao currently holds 8 world titles in boxing. Those 8 titles are in 7 different divisions. He has won championships from 105lbs-148lbs, a feat no other boxer has ever accomplished, ever. Many analysts consider him the greatest fighter ever. He is ambidextrous. He hits as hard with his left as he does with his right. Manny fights without relent. We may never see a more severe or forceful fighter in the ring again. He is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. Yet, none of that is what makes his story so extraordinary. What makes Manny’s story so amazing is how it began. You see, Manny lifted himself out of abject poverty and homelessness to become, perhaps, the greatest fighter ever. Read More

I used to be a waste of space. Each day ran into the next, and they were all worthless and futile. As I look back on those days, it’s hard to believe that some of those things actually happened. From time to time, I am presented with a very real and vivid reminder that my former life was real. It all comes back to me when I need to obtain a travel permit from my probation officer. The trip through security at the courthouse brings it home.  Read More