Getting Off Track, To Get On Course

You’ve decided to enter for a race. You train hard to build your endurance and strength. You test yourself, and you feel ready for the competition/race that you entered. Prior to the race, after all of your training, you decide to take a course of action, and select your team that you feel is meant to help you achieve the goal of winning in that competition.

The team is doing great, accomplishing all tasks that are given. Days/weeks pass in the competition, and things become more and more challenging, more and more taxing on the team’s morale, (and the leader’s morale). The competition comes nearing the final days, and the team is not seeing hope in winning the race….is not seeing it possible to command “success,” towards the task that they all agreed to accomplish together….what does someone do when they see the team is losing hope? What does someone do when they see the team has lost faith in their leader??? When they see that the track towards their goal seems less and less achievable?

When you have a team. Every member of that team matters…no matter how small, or how big their role. If you have even one member of a, hundred man team, leave, and you cannot find an adequate replacement…then guess what…you are out of the race!!!

Please know that it doesn’t mean that you are a loser…it just means, that you have to learn from your mistakes, and better prepare for the next time that you decide to enter a race.

How does this have to do with getting off track to get on course???

When you lose a race, that means that you could not remain on track to complete the competition that you had entered. Yes, you lost the race/competition…but what occurs, is a beautiful lesson of what’s required of you in order to enter a competition, and win a race.

Preparation is everything, both for a team, and especially a leader. To be a leader means more than what anyone ever expects. Even current leaders of our time could take 5 mins to tell you how much they did not expect so much would be required of them to lead a successful team….this is in no way to excuse leaders for their decision making, but it is simply to share a sliver of the perspective from a leader.

A leader tries their best to remain on track to bring their team towards success.

Even if the team doesn’t win that competition, or that race…what makes a leader, and a team successful…is that they try, try again. If the team disbands, then the leader must re-group with a new team.

Even if the team cannot remain on track, winning the competition or the race. It is through these learning lessons that the team re-groups, or the leader thinks of a new method to get back on course.

Continue walking on the path that you live…even if you get off track, and people view you differently.

Never give up, and continue to stay strong with your beliefs, so that you can get back on course with your beliefs, your values, your life.

Maybe you have to decide to enter a new competition so that you can get back on course? You wont know until you believe in yourself, and try. Trying a new competition doesn’t mean that you give up…make sure that you stay focused to your core intention(s), as to why you entered the “race.”

I believe in you. Keep up the good work, even if people criticize you!

-III

 

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Being On A New Path In Life

In one of my previous blog passages I had written about making the decision to walk on a new path in life after you have “fallen” on your journey. I spoke of the new path being unknown, and even scary. Before I talk more about the difference between the two paths, I want to bring a little more clarity.

The path of life that you walk on is like a tree. No tree on mother earth grows straight up, for even the great redwood tree’s branches grow outward so as to collect light from the sun, and even bamboo curves over the years as it grows.

When you were on your old path in life, you may have received many blessings, such as increased wealth, opportunities, and responsibilities. But now maybe something has happened in your life to cause you to lose your increased wealth, & opportunities, and maybe even lost your relationship with someone in your life. Hopefully you have completed your grieving, and are starting to notice something different about your life.

Do you notice that the air you breathe may seem a little different? Maybe the opportunities that you’re receiving are a little different? Do you even notice that you may be at the start of a new relationship? Take a look at your surroundings, they’re not the same…even your mind doesn’t feel the same. You are on a new path in your life; you have started a new chapter in your book…maybe you have even started reading an entirely new book!

Do not question the world, “why am I on a new path? It’s scary!” Do not fear the unknown of the new things in life that are being revealed to you. Embrace them, as you deserve them! You deserve new opportunities, new responsibilities, new friends, even a new relationship with someone special! Everyone deserves to be loved and appreciated!!! A tree does not question why it must grow upwards towards something greater than itself. A tree just knows that it must grow upwards…towards the light 😉 We must grow “upwards & forwards,” towards the light, (towards the truth), towards love.

Some of you may still be enduring though…going through a very challenging time in your life, and feel like there is no end in sight. If it is something that is in your control, then you must change your ways before you become the doing of your own destruction. If it is something that is out of your control, please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you. I may not have the personal experience of what you are going through, but know that you are not alone. Find those people who have survived through the same trials and tribulations, and look to them for strength and guidance. If you do not have the strength or will to do the research on your own, just simply ask the person nearest to you. Seek, and you shall find. I have two blog passages that may be of some use as well, titled “Why Endure,” and “How Do You Stay Motivated.” Every little bit helps! 🙂

No matter what the path is that you are on in your journey, know that it is love that you should be seeking. All other things tangible will be provided.

*I have just created a vlog version of the passage. Please feel free to check it out!

-III

Where Have You Been?…The Process It Took To Get Out Of My Depression.

I always have a bit of sadness in my heart whenever I reach the end of a really good book. When I finish it, I reminisce of the climaxes of the book, the wonderful characters that I got to meet along the way, and most importantly, how the story of the book had affected my life and influenced a new perspective to look at life. Of course not all books are like that, but you know which books that I am referring to. These types of books symbolize life and the struggles that we go through.

I myself have currently reached the end of a particular chapter in my personal life, and I want to share with you about this chapter of my life, in hopes that it will inspire you, and motivate you in your personal life.

About five or six months ago I made it my life mission to make as many new friends as possible. I didn’t care where life would take me, didn’t care how little sleep that I got, nor did I care how much money would be spent. I was determined to meet as many good-hearted people as the world would allow me to. I wanted to meet these people so that they would know that there is one more good-hearted person in this world to add to their circle.

New York gives a double-edged impression. One impression is that it’s full of the energy of driven people, who are here to live a better life and make their dreams come true. The other impression is that you must step on people to get to “the top.” “The Top,” is imaginary…opportunities, and success in this city, (and this world), are endless, so to think that you need the mindset to manipulate, hurt, or destroy people to get somewhere in this life is to have the mindset of a fool.

Some of you may know that I have a beautiful young daughter who is safely loved in Korea with her mother. This was, (and still is), a very hard challenge for me, as I am missing out on my daughter, Lydia, growing up. Understand that I am sharing this with you for two important reasons. One reason is for a healing process for myself, as this is a part of my reality. The second, and most important reason is to share with people who are currently suffering and enduring, so that way they know that IT IS possible to move on, and YOU WILL move on.

I went through a serious depression for about five or six months, (honestly, it was as I was meeting everyone), but during that time frame, I learned many things about myself and about my life, (and about the lives of those beautiful people who I have met). I realized that I could not stay depressed, and I had to take steps to move on and continue with life. Without my faith in God, and the love and support from my family and friends, I would have never made it out of that depression successfully. *”Successfully,” means not giving up…It does not mean “not making mistakes.” (Be prepared to make many mistakes).

This traumatizing event made me realize how truly import a support circle really is. This is what made me decide to go out and make friends. So again this brings me back to where I made it my life mission to make as many new friends as possible. I didn’t care where life would take me, didn’t care how little sleep that I got, nor did I care how much money would be spent. I was determined to meet as many good-hearted people as the world would allow me to.

The people that I have met are truly amazing. And the people who I have known, our love for each other grew ever stronger. The amount of personality, gifts, and talents that they have are so awe-inspiring! Everyone who I knew and had met, the amount of love, loyalty, and compassion that, is in their hearts, motivates me everyday to be just as good of a friend, if not more! I knew that there were good-hearted people in New York… I just had to go out and find them.

In appreciation to all of my family and friends who have helped me get through my trials and tribulations, I have made a slide show, (My heartfelt apologies, but I don’t have photos of all of the friends that I have met along the way). To all of those that are reading this blog, remember, it is love that makes this world go round. It is love for yourself and love for others, is what will help you see through the hardships in life. Go outside your comfort zone and make friends, then welcome them into your family, it will forever change your perspective on life, and you will Never EVER regret it! 🙂

Remember: You are not alone in this world. I am here with you.

-III

*The song that is being played is titled “After Hanabi” (means fireworks in Japanese). This track is by my favorite Japanese hip-hop producer, who had recently passed away this year, Nujabes. RIP

Reborn

Have you ever just gone through something very stressful in your life, and finally feel like things are moving on? Doesn’t it feel like you have a new lease on life? Like you are reborn? Isn’t it so symbolic?

I’m Christian, so I would use the example of Jesus rising from the dead, but I also respect other cultures, so I would also use the example of a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

No matter your personal beliefs, it’s very reassuring to know that things improve, that life will get better, that if you focus at the light at the end of the tunnel instead of wallowing in the darkness of the path that you are traveling, that this too shall pass. Life will go on.

If you are currently on a dark path in life, know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you. I know that it’s a very challenging time in your life right now, and know that I am one more person who hopes for your survival to the light at the end of the tunnel. Share with those close to you in your life of the challenges that you are currently facing so that they can be there for moral & emotional support. Try to get a walking/running buddy or workout buddy, so that you can combat the stress chemicals in your body with a friend. Exercise does far more help than people realize…believe me, I’m a personal trainer!

Today is the day to celebrate the rebirth of Jesus Christ rising from the dead after 3 days of death. If you have other beliefs, let this be your personal day in hopes that you too will be reborn. If you are reborn, let this be your day to rejoice!

-III

How Do You Stay Motivated?

That’s a good question. I’d like to start things out with a short story. I remember during my first year living in New York, I was dating a girl who was so dumbfounded by my positivity, that one day she yelled at me saying that no one can always be so positive, and then called me fake! It was shocking to me how people willfully decide to live life choosing not to believe that good things can and will happen to them.

Let me clarify to you that in no way do I dismiss the realities of life. Life is rough, and the two things you’re guaranteed to do in life is die and pay taxes. There are real wars, darkness, and evil in this world. Don’t think for a second that the rich get it easy either. The realities of the world are like facets of a diamond. One facet may be rough, ugly, and unpolished, while another facet is glistening with clarity and brilliance. This is just how life is.

To paint a picture for you. Imagine that you are walking on the path of life that is fairly clear, and somewhat lit, and you just tripped. Immediately after you fall, a new path that is foggy, darker, and even has a type of heavy air to it appears. You stand up from your fall, hurt, disoriented, and confused. You now have the choice after your reality has affected you to either take your path that you are familiar with, or you take the path that looks intimidating, and unfamiliar.

Makes it seem like the dark path is not the one that you should be taking, doesn’t it? Well, you see it was not the dark path that caused you to fall, but it was actually the familiar path where you had tripped; it was the comfortable path that you had fallen. After you arise from your fall, you take a step towards the dark path, and the fog actually starts to rise, the path starts to become visible, and the heaviness of the air lessens.

Use this example for your current life situation(s).  There is no right or wrong path, however, when you apply faith and believe in yourself, and decide in your heart that you want to move forward, a new path reveals itself. It’s not an easier path, but it will be more rewarding so long as you remain faithful to yourself and what’s most important to you.

Respect and accept your emotions. When you’re sad, be sad. When you’re happy, be happy. If you need to cry, do it. Don’t hold in your emotions. Emotions were created to help maintain clarity of your life path. If you deny your emotions, or hold them in, you get distracted, and go off course in your life. This holds the same when you abuse your emotions. There does need to come a point of after grieving to accept reality, and move forward. Not accepting reality, and remaining sad about something that is out of your control is the manipulation of your emotions, to repeat the grieving processes over and over again. How does one stop manipulating their emotions? Take steps on a different path instead of the one that you are comfortable with. Change the scenery in your house. Actually get rid of the things that cause feelings of unhappiness. Take a vacation to a place that you have never been to before, that had crossed your mind. Get a new job. Take up a new hobby. Make new friends. The list honestly is endless, but the steps that need to be taken can only be made by you.

How do I stay motivated? Because I choose to let go of what’s out of my control.

Do you need help taking those steps forward?  Email me, and I can make a suggestion, or guide you to the proper people that can assist you. We can’t do it alone. Everyone needs a support circle.

-III

Dream

Dream-adj: An aspiration; goal; aim

I dream all the time…all the time!

Sometimes it gets so bad, (bad as in “good,” of course), that I have to tell my heart and mind to chill out so that I can get my work done. Dreaming is healthy though; dreaming is necessary for the livelihood of your existence. Dreaming is a part of living. I’ve had people tell me to stop dreaming and live in reality, but they’re the one’s who don’t realize that a part of reality are the dreams brought to life.

Don’t believe me? The light bulb, the automobile, and the computer were all at one point someone’s dream. Some of the best books and music known to man were at one time someone’s dream. Dreams that come true are the affirmations for believing, and hoping. Be aware of the reality though that some dreams do not come true, but let’s further look at the dreams that did; freedom of human rights, press, and worship. This is why people love New York/America. This is the city/country that gives people the opportunity to work hard to make their dreams come true. I promise that this is not a propaganda piece, but this is a piece to re-motivate your spirit. We are all part of the largest recession of our time, and it has caused so much stress and hardships in people’s lives. People have been losing faith and hope in this country. We the people are what make this country, not the politicians. They are merely stewards of the people. Take responsibility in the fact that you have the power to make change in this world.

It’s time to work towards your dreams. There is no time like the present. Understand this, you must work hard for your dreams; because no one will believe in them except you and the one’s that you love. When you work on bringing a dream to life, it becomes a passion. To read about my article on passion, click here. I could write for hours on how important dreams are, but just remember this, if you don’t work and put forth effort into your dreams, they will never come true.

“There are no limits, there are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man/woman must constantly exceed his level.” -Bruce Lee

-III

New York Health Expo & Trinity Lifestyle Fitness

Saturday, February 27, 2010, 1p-5p. The Roosevelt Hotel, 45th St & Mad. $5 to get in! Show your support, get questions answered about living a healthy lifestyle of the spirit, mind & body. Mingle and network with great people!!!

Click the link to view the Facebook Invite (*614 Confirmed guests!!!)

Click the link to view the Meetup.com Invite (*111 Confirmed Guests!!!)