Forgiveness is an act of release. When we forgive ourselves and the hurtful actions of others, we free ourselves from the heavy burden of resentment.

This is probably one of the most difficult Warrior Rules to really implement and understand. So first, let’s set the record straight.

When you forgive someone that doesn’t mean you condone their mistreatment of you, or whatever transpired to cause the rift in the relationship. Far from it. Forgiveness means coming to a place where you are tired of being angry. Resentful. Hurt. Those emotions are a heavy burden to carry, and the longer you haul them around, the heavier they become.

Holding a grudge is like lugging a hundred pound weight on your back. Believe me, I would know because I’ve been the Queen of Grudges. I’ve held grudges so long, I don’t even remember what in the hell happened that was so bad that I’ve now carried it around with me for years. And with each year I refuse to let it go: guess what?

It gets heavier.

Humans are incredible creatures. The amazing moments fly by so fast, because we become lost in the euphoria of that trip overseas, or that mystical retreat in the mountains. Other than some snapshots taken, our brain has a funny way of shuffling those magic moments into the back storage, only to be summoned when a certain song, smell, or conversation retriggers it.

But bad memories?

You know the ones that need forgiving? Those bad boys stick right up front. They are top of the heap. It seems like everything we encounter in a day reminds us of that issue, challenge, fight, falling out.

The wrong that was dumped on us.

I’ve found over the years, there are some keys to making your way towards forgiveness. And I say making your towards it, because this isn’t something that happens spontanously.

It’s a journey. So cliche, and yet so true.

Here are the keys to forgive so you can set yourself free.

Key #1: Forgive yourself

I mean really forgive yourself, for all the things you wish you hadn’t done (sorry, unless you have a time machine, there’s no changing the past) and for all the things you wish you had. Now that one, you do have control over, so if there are things you want to do, DO THEM.

Stop expending so much energy beating up on yourself about it and take some kind of small action towards those things you want most. The most essential part of this first key, is to remember you’re human. Which means you were born to make mistakes. That’s how we hopefully learn and do better. Nobody is perfect, so stop walking around with a chip on your shoulder that you aren’t.

Key #2: Forgive Life Circumstances

It’s easy to look around and see the ridiculously diverse (and sometimes seemingly unfair) life circumstances we all deal with. Some folks are so rich they can’t spend it all in ten lifetimes, while others must work three jobs to barely make ends meet. Some people who take piss-poor care of their bodies seem to be invincible, while others who do everything right end up with debilitating diseases and handicaps. If we get too caught up in the comparison game, many of us begin to adopt a belief that Life is the Enemy and it’s out to get us. I want to flip that script and say, life is your coach, and we all came down with a different set of obstacles in order to properly train us for our invidivual marathon. Life is your friend, even when it feels like it’s beating you, forgive it and find a way to rise above your circumstances.

Key # 3: Forgive Others

Before you master Key 1 & Key 2, there is little to no chance of mastering this one. I am currently doing my very best to since I have Key 1 & Key 2 firmly in my grasp.

I don’t like it when someone hurts me. Betrays me. Tricks or undermines me. Nobody does. And I’m definitely not keen on keeping those types of people in my life, because past behavior tells me they will repeat those same hurtful actions. For many years, I thought forgiving someone meant, forgetting their transgressions and giving them the opportunity to show me they’d changed.

My perception of forgiveness has matured so much since those days.

I learned the hard way that isn’t how it works. Unless the offender has worked Key 1 & Key 2 they will unfortuantely most likely repeat history and thus the process begins all over again.

Forgivness is an an act of self love.

It is looking at the one who has hurt you, understanding they are caught in their own life drama which makes them act and do things that they aren’t really in control of. The fact those things have a determental effect on others isn’t something they are capable of seeing. So we can have compassion and forgive someone – to free ourselves – of their toxic hold on us.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean we forget or allow repeat offenders back into our inner sanctum. It’s simply a gift to ourselves of letting go of our resentment, anger and pain and a choice to stop blaming ourselves for WHY this relationship or situation didn’t work out.

To forgive is not to forget, it is a means to liberation.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

KEY #1: Forgive Yourself

Make a list of all the things you’ve done and said that you regret and haunt you. If this involves other people, you might write a letter to them, make a phone call, or simply set aside some quiet time, light a candle and voice these things outloud, bless them for what you learned and simply say: I FORGIVE MYSELF.

Key #2: Forgive Life

Start paying attention to your internal dialogue. Start LOOKING for things in life to be thankful for, to see the good in, and see how those things have a positive impact on your life. Pull your focus off things that make you envious, angry or resentful of life circumstances. An example of this is when you go to pay your bills, instead of complaining and becoming angry at the price of things, instead say THANK YOU for having the means to support your lifestyle and keep yourself comfortable.

KEY #3 Forgive Others

Make a list of those who have done you wrong. Especially the ones that really are a burden and continue to weigh you down. Focus on one person at a time. Recall the good memories and things they did right. Recall the reasons you parted ways and forgive them for disappointing you, and remind yourself this was their shortcoming not yours. Repeat outloud I FORGIVE YOU. Do not move onto the next person or situation until you FEEL the forgiveness. You will feel lighter, and the release of that toxic block when it happens. Once you have released a person or situation, move onto the next and lighten the burden you’ve been carrying.

It isn’t your job to figure out why things happen the way they do. It’s learning to navigate each experience while looking for the deeper meaning hidden beneath the surface.

Often times, we get so hung up on figuring out why things happen the way that they do, we miss the point. There is purpose in every event, every encounter, every moment of our lives.

However, if we are so focused on surface appearances, we miss what lies beneath. We don’t see the clear messages being sent. The lessons being offered. The nuggests of wisdom buried beneath the rubble of external circumstances.

When you have experiences, whether they feel good or they feel bad, they are reflections of you. They are pieces that you may not have otherwise seen. If you refuse to acknowledge those things, and learn from them, they will continue to resurface time and again.

The same dysfunctional relationships will show up. Issues with money. Addictions, sickness, and all manner of unpleasant manifestations. It’s when we’re brave enough to see our reflection and learn from it, that true progress can be made.

Many years ago, I came to a point in my life, that nothing felt like it was working. And I realized the only common denominator was me.

I decided to write a list of all the things I didn’t like.

It astonished me how long the list was by the time I was done.

After re-readng my list, I accepted (whether consciously or not) I created all of it. I took ownership, and by doing so, released my anger towards others who I felt had done me wrong. I let go of events that traumatized me. I accepted that each experience, whether I understood why it happened at the time, was serving as a reflection.

So I could see what needed to be changed.

I made it my mission, to address each thing on that list, and it took me three years to cross each one off. Now I have a new list, and some of those things on that old one have resurfaced.

However, instead of wasting my time wondering WHY, I put my focus on what the message is beneath the surface. What am I still missing? What am I doing or thinking or feeling that continues to create things I don’t want in my life.

I promise you, when you stop asking why and start looking for the greater purpose for the events unfolding, you’ll begin to understand the joy that comes from consciously designing a life you truly enjoy living.

>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE<<<<

There is no better time, than before the New Year to create your own list. I suggest starting with the smallest thing in your life you don’t like or wish you could change to the biggest.

Once you have that list, read it, and accept you created all of it and forgive yourself, others and any events which have caused you pain.

Then commit, to finding solutions and applying them.

Cross each thing off that list as you overcome it 🙂

Decide what you want, and then accept it will be delivered in perfect time so you can receive it.

We’re all really good at claiming things we want.

I want a new house, a new car, a soulmate, a new job, more money – on and on the list goes of desires. And once we acquire the things we ask for, guess what?

There’s a new list of things we’d like to have or experience.

I’m not from the mindset that wanting things is a bad thing, or that we need to get to a place where we don’t have a desire for material possessions. We came into this physical experience from the non-physical to enjoy this playground, and the foundation part of working in cooperation with your environment is mastering the Law of Attraction.

If this term is new to you, in brief summary, it is the law that states: like attracts like. This means that what you think, and therefore feel, sends out an electromagnetic signal into the field around you, and attracts to it things, people, experiences that match it.

That’s why if you get out of bed in a bad mood, then you’ll continuously run into things that day that will reflect that vibration. Whether it’s hitting every red light on your way into work, which makes you late – to intersecting with rude people, and all other manner of unpleasant experiences. On the contrary, when you wake up, and set a positive intentional tone for the day whether through meditation, dance, exercise, or affirmations your day will flow in a way that delights you. And even if you do intersect with unpleasant things, you are less prone to react and therefore be affected by them.

I can not stress the importance enough to mastering the Law of Attraction. When the movie The Secret first came out, I watched it as did millions of others, and I just knew this is how the world really operated. It resonated to such a degree, that through my own study and daily practice, ten years later I can honestly say there’s nothing more important than learning how to ask for what you want, and then get yourself into receptive mode.

You can ask all day, every day for the things you want, but if you are constantly focused on what you don’t have, and what’s missing, that’s all you will receive. From birth, we are programmed to think this way, so don’t feel bad about it. It takes focus and determination to clean up your thoughts, so you can use them and your emotional guidance system to attract the components you want to live a fulfilling life.

One of the keys, I’ve discovered, is clearly stating what you want, and then allow your higher self to organize the path to getting it. The only thing you need to do, is accept that by design you will receive it as long as you keep the doorway open for it to arrive.

How do you do that? Just feel good.

Feel good as much of your day as possible. Focus on thinking about, speaking about things that you appreciate, and actions will be presented one at time that easily lead you to your desired destinations.

Recently, I was asked to co-host Monday’s on the LOA Today podcast which gives you a Daily Dose of Happiness and explores this topic and more every Monday – Friday / 4 – 5 pm live stream on YouTube.

Please check it out https://www.loatoday.net/

There’s also the LOA Today App on Android and iPhone available.

Recommended for more on the Law of Attraction: https://www.abraham-hicks.com/

>>>>>>> WARRIOR CHALLENGE <<<<<<<

Begin experimenting with the Law of Attraction.

You can do this in a variety of ways, you can create a Vision Board which is finding images of things that you want and posting them on a large poster board. Sit for five minutes every morning and look at the images, and allow yourself to FEEL as if you already have the things posted.

You can also write a Manifestation Wish List.

I recommend beginning with smaller things, because it will be easier for you to believe you can receive it. Once that thing shows up, you can move onto something larger. Have fun with this. There is nothing more empowering than discovering just how much control you have over the reality you experience!

Everything is in a constant state of change; do not cling out of fear, but instead learn to trust and let go

Humans are creatures of habit.

Even if something we are doing isn’t working, and we aren’t happy- we will continue doing it out of the comfort of the repetition and what we perceive as the Known.

We will work jobs that we hate. We will stay in relationships (romantic/platonic) that lack passion and connection. We will repeat toxic behaviors for instant gratification even when we know the result of it will take a heavy toll.

Why do we do this?

Because C H A N G E terrifies us. It is what we label as the Unknown, and our ego – which is simply our identity, a construct created through our physical mind. The physical mind doesn’t like new variables being interjected into it’s already pre-programmed set of equations.

It likes things it understands (or thinks it does) and for there to be a predictability present so it can feel safe. That is why when something happens, some big change takes place – whether it’s perceived as a positive or negative transition, it unsettles us so much.

Now more than ever, we are living in a time when we MUST let go of our fear of change, and welcome it with open arms. By doing so, we are saying to ourselves: I am a warrior, and no matter how terrifying that battlefield looks, I will come out the victor. We are saying to the intelligent field, the benevolent cosmic system we are intrinsically linked to and apart of, I trust you to lead me to higher ground.

We may not like what we see in the valley, but if we understand it’s temporary – this view is going to change as long as we keep walking, life changes become more adventurous. And then, at some point in the near future, we arrive somewhere new. Because of life’s continuous movement, and our trust to hike with it, we reach the peak of the mountain, overlooking that valley. From this perspective, we have full view at how far we’ve traveled on the trail of the unknown, and it increases our self-confidence, and awareness at our own power.

If you find yourself trying to force others to climb at the same rate as you, or to see your path to this mountain peak as the superior one, the right one, you may want to check yourself. You are only slowing your own progress to this peak, and risk falling off the ledge or becoming lost because you are so preoccupied re-enforcing your ego/identity rather than following the subtle guidance of your ultimate trail guide – the Higher Mind.

Go easy on yourself through changes, and learn to go easy on others. Remember we all are here having our individual experiences, and the less we judge ourselves and each other during transitions, the easier it will be to let go, get caught up in the flow, so you can reach that peak as swiftly as possible.

>>>>>> WARRIOR CHALLENGE <<<<<<<<

Write down current changes that are happening in your life.

Reflect on how these changes are making you feel, and wherever you feel extreme discomfort, anxiety, anger, depression, resentment, hostility pay special attention.

Shift your perspective to that mountain top view.

What are you being shown from this challenge?

What good do you see it doing for you now and what possible good could come from it later?

Respect the elders who laid your past ground. Love the children who are the innovators of your future.

In Western culture, one of the biggest differences from other parts of the world, is a disconnect from our elders and children. Due to our focus on being successful, so we can survive within this capitalist structure (which by default promotes financial freedom so we aren’t caught in the survival trap) we have become accustomed to being isolated from our community and families.

One thing this pandemic has taught us all, is that human beings do not thrive in isolation – we need one another, it is in our genetic programming to connect to the field of intelligence, ourselves and extend that outward.

In our current culture, our elders are often shuffled aside, not listened to. Our financial system doesn’t have much on reserve so many are forced to live in very poor conditions. Families who must survive within this dynamic do not have the means, nor the time to provide full-time care because they must work in order to keep their own lifeboat from sinking.

Our elders are a great source of wisdom, and should be treated as such. Not disregarded because they are no longer able to actively pull the weight of our current culture. They laid the foundation, and it is up to each of us to carry forward what is useful in cultivating a better world.

Children are many times treated like little soldiers. They are trained from birth that if you do as we say, meaning you are “good” you get a reward. If you don’t do as we say, meaning you are “bad” you will be punished. This kind of programming has two effects. It creates a mentality that we must be accepted by others as good or we will not be rewarded. So we people please, to the point of our own unhappiness and destruction. On the flip side, if a child is constantly being punished, they will learn that this is how to get attention and focus and will begin doing things just to fulfill that need.

Listen to your children, respect them as the bringers of new thoughts, ideas, energy. Allow yourself to remember what it was like to have an open heart and imagination. Let them explore, encourage them to be individuals and self-navigate by setting safe boundaries that they can explore within in. As your child shows growth, you can continuously move those boundaries out further.

I can assure you, you will have a much stronger connection with them as they mature if you don’t try forcing them to be who you want them to be based on your own fears, beliefs and limitations.

As we connect more deeply to our roots, through our elders and help to nurture the new life of our children, we cultivate a healthier garden that will replace the weeds and barren landscape that pervades our current culture.

>>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE<<<<<<

Make it a point to connect with an elder, one within your family, at work, during this pandemic options are limited for safety but find a way to connect and listen

Spend time with our child (children) in a new way. Instead of care taking, find some space to simply observe them and watch them explore. Tune in and harness that playful child-like energy so it can remind you, that this is where you began, and should reach to be as much as possible.

Curate your beliefs meticulously, it is upon them you construct your entire reality.

From the moment of birth, we are downloading information.

Our physical brain is like an empty hard drive, which is processing everything we see, hear, taste, touch – all of this is happening before we are conscious of it.

Therefore, our parents and extended family are the first sources of information beyond what our physical senses pick up on. As we continue to mature, the next big influences are teachers, our peer group, our religious affiliations, our ethnicity, our sexual orientation – our identity begins to form based on all of the beliefs that passed down to us.

And then new beliefs are formed within that pool of information.

Part of awakening – or conscious evolution – is learning to observe the mind chatter, because it is within that incessant stream of internal dialogue we get a peek at what we believe.

Until we are able to do this, we can’t change beliefs that aren’t serving our personal growth in a positive manner.

Our beliefs about the world, are what generate our emotional reaction to what we see. Therefore our thoughts which generate our emotions are the building blocks of the world we will experience.

The hardest part when we begin taking ownership for our part in creation of the reality we live in, is learning how to change reacting to what it is we’ve created. There is a time delay, an echo so to speak, so even when you begin cleaning up your beliefs, you will still experience things outside yourself that don’t match it.

Try to remember that the longer you’ve held a belief, the deeper it’s embedded in your personal programming, the longer it will take to delete it off your hard drive.

Instead of getting frustrated with this process, it’s best to remind yourself that every time you see and challenge a belief, and replace it with a new one, over time it will form a new neural network in your brain that will eventually take over.

So you can’t just change a belief because you want to.

You must replace it with a new one, and give it your focus for a long enough time that the connection is stronger than the old one. Once an old belief hasn’t been accessed regularly, it weakens and eventually the neural pathway in the brain deteriorates.

If allowed to deteriorate completely, that belief is disconnected.

No matter how deep the belief, remember if it isn’t working to create the life you truly want to experience, it is worth the effort to curate a new one that does.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

What beliefs do you currently have that are stopping you from creating the reality you want to experience?

Start with the easiest belief you have that you can tackle and replace it with a new one. Every time you catch yourself acting or thinking in a way that is born from that old belief, repeat the new one to yourself.

You will know once you’ve changed a belief when the new one becomes second nature – you won’t even have to think about it.

When that happens, move onto the next one. If you actively hunt for and replace limiting beliefs you have the ability to transform any and all aspects of your current reality that don’t reflect where you want to be standing.

Respect your body; it’s the one thing you have that cannot be replaced if you break it.

The body is the vehicle for our spirit.

Just like you wouldn’t expect your car to run without maintenance and gas, you shouldn’t assume your body is going to function and transport you from Point A to Point B day to day without giving it some tender loving care.

It needs to be fueled with nutritious foods, regular exercise, rest and recovery. Beyond the physical foundational aspects, there’s an even greater need that our body has that isn’t addressed nearly as much as it should be.

Our body should be in sync in a positive manner with our mind.

So until we’ve mastered our thoughts, as previously discussed, our mind feeds our body a never-ending stream of self-defeating food.

It bullies our body sending signals of stress, rejection, displeasure. These emotional poisons get stored and result in disease, and all manner of physical breakdowns.

As someone who suffers from chronic pain due to a lower back – sciatic issue, I’ve definitely discovered a direct link to how I’m thinking, and feeling. I do my best to address my pain management in a variety of ways, and can say, that when my mind monster gets the best of me, it undoes all the other effort I put in other areas.

When we overuse food, drugs/alcohol, medications it is a sign that we’re out of alignment in our thinking. We’re overcompensating, and trying to reach for something to make us feel better.

When you see this happening, it’s important to remember while these things can help aid us in temporary relief, they should be used in cooperation with the foundational aspects of body care, while also addressing the mental state which contributes to how our body functions.

So, take a step back and ask yourself:

What am I saying to my body? Am I berating it? Or being kind?

I like to see my body as it’s own consciousness, and although I occupy it, it is a partner with my spirit, it is not who I am and therefore should be spoken to with the same level of love I give to my family, friends, and child.

Once you get the hang of this, build in some type of reward system that gives something back to your body in a way that promotes wellness. Book a massage. Take a Qi Gong or Yoga class. Read a book in the park. Go for a swim or a hike. Find ways to reward yourself for treating your body with the love and respect it deserves.

Want some incredible proof of the effect your emotions have on your body? Check out the work of Dr. Masaru Emoto. Since our body is made of 60% water, he did this experiment using water and a microscope to capture the effects our thoughts, and therefore emotions, have on our bodies.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

Establish a list of things you can do each day in your routine to address the health of your body in these following categories. Everyone’s list will look very different. Keep it simple and follow through and see how it effects how you feel in your daily routine.

• DIET
• EXERCISE
• MIND
• REWARDS

The world doesn’t owe you; you owe the world. Find something to contribute to make it a better place to live.

Nothing leads to more dissatisfaction than self-entitlement.

This idea that we are owed something because we showed up here. That isn’t how it works. Where is the challenge in being handed everything, but giving nothing back?

Have you ever met a person who doesn’t have much, and yet gives endlessly to others? I know many of them and am honored to have crossed their paths. On the flip side, do you know people who have been given so much, have had what seems like the best of luck and easiest life, and they hoard their good fortune? I have met many of those types too, and once I notice it, I can’t help but withdraw from them.

Who do you think experiences more true happiness?

Givers or Takers?

Who do you think at the end of their life will feel their work here is done, and they can exit peacefully – because remember you can’t take things with you when you go.

If you find yourself consistently judging others, in endless arguments, nitpicking life to death at all the atrocities and injustices in the world, it may be time to take a hard look at yourself. The more we find wrong with our world, the more wrong we will see. Complaining about it means you expect others to fix what you don’t like.

Warriors don’t ask other’s to carry their baggage. They carry it, until the weight of it becomes so cumbersome, they have no other choice but to begin setting down what no longer holds value.

If you find yourself in this place, it’s because you are too focused externally – if you see a problem, instead of talking, arguing, fussing over it, find a way to contribute in a positive way with your own unique skill set and talents.

This type of giving is the only true medicine for the spirit that looks out into a world and sees there are so many needs going unmet.

Not to sound cliche, but BE the change you want to see in the world – if all of us did this, we would transform this current paradigm of fear, hatred, anger and hostility into a much more beautiful place to live.

To end this, I’d like to highlight one Giver that I crossed paths with many years ago, who continues to define what it means to GIVE endlessly in her pursuit of making this world a better place. Her name is Giselle Malluche, she is founder of the non-profit Change to Humanity and her mission is to help the homeless not just find homes, but to help them cultivate a connection to their communities and take those who have been displaced off the streets permanently.

You can visit her website https://www.changetohumanity.org/

And please LIKE and share her Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/ChangeToHumanity/

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

Find a way to give to your community, a friend, a non-profit in a way that feels good to you. Take that energy you have of something you do not like, and figure out a way to transform it into doing something that is a small step in being the solution.

Keep your heart open. Hiding behind a shield weakens the spirit.

From childhood to adulthood we are taught that having an open heart makes you vulnerable to the cruelties life brings. So, it’s safer to keep it shielded from the arrows shot at it.

But no matter how you shield yourself, you will experience pain, suffering, and life challenges. The shield actually weakens your ability to sense danger if its near. On the flip side, it will promote distrust in fellow comrades.

We are meant to feel emotion.

The entire spectrum. So if we deny this out of fear that it will defeat us we condemn ourselves to sitting on the sidelines of the Great Mystery Game. We watch but refuse to participate because injury may come.

You are stronger than you think, and infact the more you trust your ability to handle whatever arrives on the battlefield, you will face it, and defeat it.

Each victory expands your power.

And as that power grows, the more confident you will be to take risks, challenge yourself in new ways, pursue the life you want – This moves you from being an inactive witness to the Great Mystery Game into the middle of it.

Once you learn to drop your shield, your liberated and can move confidently with an open heart.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

Identify if you have a shield.

Have compassion for why its there. But be brave, set it down and have faith that no battle can defeat the power of an open heart.

The less time you waste on comparing yourself to others, the faster you will get to the places you are wanting to go.

With the creation of social media it has never been easier to find yourself comparing where you are to where you see others.

Who has the best relationship? Vacation spots? Who is the most physically fit? Has the best and most fulfilling life?

It’s important to remember, that most of us use social media to present our best selves – I’ve even heard this referred to as being fake. On the contrary, I don’t see it that way at all.

By all means show me your art! Your beauty! Your insights! The things you are most proud of and your challenges. The real issue lies in each of our ability to celebrate the success of others, and have compassion for their challenges, while staying focused on our own.

We can’t get caught up in this never-ending comparison game.

This type of insecurity is embedded in us from birth. We are taught not to simply learn and grow, but to Be the Best. To be Number One. Which by default means you must compete with your fellow warrior to win the race.

But the fact is, life isn’t a race- doesn’t it pass us by fast enough without adding extra momentum by trying to forge ahead at a rate so fast we don’t even give ourselves time to enjoy the view.

Stop comparing yourself. Stop looking at those on their path and allowing where they stand to somehow diminish where you are.

It leads to a life of dissatisfaction.

And that will keep you walking in circles, and encountering detour after detour as you sabotage your path.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

Take time to celebrate other people’s success. Feel it as if it were your own. Promote their art, music, comment on a photo, share in their joy.

Once you’ve done this, pick one thing that really caught your attention, whether it was a recipe, a photo, a piece of art and let it inspire something within you.

Silence your complaints, they are your burdens and should be carried alone.

Complaining is something we all do.

It’s our mind monster nitpicking every detail in our lives to reinforce that we are victims to circumstance and the world is simply an unfair place, doling out challenges that illustrate the injustice of it all.

When we find ourselves complaining, the first step is to acknowledge, you have a right to do so. You are observing something outside of you that isn’t in alignment.

Where most of us go wrong, is we fail to take the next step in evaluating what we’ve done, said, believed to cause the thing we are complaining about.

We blame external circumstances for our unhappiness and through doing this give all of our power over to those things we can’t control.

The more we complain, the more addicted to it we become. And the more hooked we are, determines the level at which we will infiltrate other’s lives with our complaints.

We do this to gain sympathy, compassion, and establish some sense of control in what feels like a chaotic system which seems to have it out for us.

We ask those listening to give us something that we are not giving ourselves. It is unfair to ask others to carry your burdens. We each have our own, so when we ask others, to tote our baggage, not only do we not gain the strength to carry our own, there’s no motivation to learn how to lighten our load.

There is a huge difference between complaining and speaking about a life circumstance you need help with.

The difference is simple to differentiate.

If you go to someone with a true challenge, you will first not ask them to solve it for you – you listen to whatever insight they may give and then use it to resolve the issue.

If you are a chronic complainer who is simply looking to feel justified in feeling bad, you will ask for guidance and then disregard it. You aren’t really looking for solutions, you simply want a soundboard for your problems because in that moment it provides temporary relief.

Inherently, complaining does not make us bad people. We are simply operating unconsciously and without realizing it, asking others to take on work that isn’t there own.

How do you shift from toxic complaining to healthy discussion of life challenges?

It begins with filtering what you feel compelled to share. And when you do decide to share, you make sure you’ve already gotten a healthy enough perspective that you can discuss it without burdening another.

Complaining is simply a red flag to us that our own perspective needs readjustment. The more aware of it you become, the more you can pick and chose your battles within yourself.

Once you do that, you can then transform complaining to others into connection and collaboration to help your own evolution.

Become conscious of your words, and how you use them throughout your day – and I promise you, the impact it will have on your inner dialogue and those you have externally will be life-changing.

>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE <<<

For one week, at the end of each day, write your complaints down as opposed to vocalizing them. And then the following morning, look them over. Cross out the petty ones. And for the ones that are of importance, write a perspective or action you can take to transform your grievance into a gift.

Be humble and unforeseen forces will aid every step you take.

There is a lot to be said about keeping yourself humble.

And to set the record straight, this doesn’t mean you can’t accept a compliment, or appreciate all the unique things you bring to the table. I find people who can’t accept a compliment are usually either

A) A melgomaniac in disguise

or

B) Wallflowers with no self esteem

Being humble is the perfect balance between these two extremes. You own your power, you know who you are, what you want in life, and are actively acquiring the skills needed for said things. The difference is in your attitude.

You don’t allow your pursuits to create arrogance.

Arrogance is thinking you are somehow better than other people because of your talents, vision, life path. How can you tell when you are slipping out of the humble attitude which attracts the underlying forces of the Universe to aid you?

You begin judging other people.

You compare yourself to others, usually finding fault, and allowing their lack of whatever attribute to make you feel better about yourself. You feel superior to others and if left unchecked, this attitude will permeate every area of your life and infect it.

How can we inspire our inner genius without allowing our ego to take us over? It’s all about perspective. Being thankful for the gifts you have, while also observant of the areas you have much work to do. It’s being honest with yourself and letting go of that competitive belief that others must fail in order for us to succeed.

When you learn to be

H U M B L E while embracing your strengths

All manner of seen and unseen forces will conspire to propel you forward on your mission. And the impact you will have on others will multiply. Take stock of where you stand day to day, and see how this rule can help you create a rich life that is satisfying.

>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE <<<

Make a list of anyone you are judging- and then – ask yourself why?

What is it about this person or situation that has me so riled up.

And then accept, you woud not be seeing this flaw unless it wasn’t trying to reveal you carry something that is causing this reflection, or you wouldn’t be seeing it, and you definitely wouldn’t allow it to bother you.

Honor your enemies, they are your greatest teachers.

Part of mastering the mind, is understanding that EVERYTHING showing up in our external world is showing us something

It is a

R E F L E C T I O N

This concept is a challenging one to understand, and takes diligence to master. We are trained to react when something outside of us happens we don’t like. And the usual reaction is to deflect and place the blame on this external circumstance for why things aren’t going our way.

We are quick to point fingers and blame.

Whether it’s a life condition or a person who’s triggered us, remember to honor that this is happening to reveal something we aren’t seeing.

It can mirror back limiting beliefs we carry, wounds from our past, negative behavior / thoughts patterns.

The more we can do this with humble acceptance, the more we can look within to uncover the reason for this reflection showing up.

Whenever you find yourself being faced with an external enemy (person/circumstance/event) honor it. It is your greatest teacher. And then find the courage to look within so you can learn from it. The only enemy that exists is the one within your mind which convinces you that you are being victimized. You are being shown beliefs that are attracting things you do not want.

::WARRIOR CHALLENGE::

Next time you find yourself confronted with a perceived enemy (a situation that makes you feel you are under attack) Write it down.

Once you’ve put it to the page, give yourself some space to reflect on how this situation is mirroring something you need to let go of, look at.

And then come up with a new perspective about why this happened for your greater good.

Don’t be fooled by shortcuts, commit to the long haul.

We can’t achieve anything of true value without having this ability firmly in place. Learning to have clear intention, and applying the necessary daily actions to accomplish them is the underlying framework needed for continuous progress and evolution.

When we learn how to pull back and get an objective perspective on our life as a whole we can see what’s working and what isn’t. We can navigate towards what it is that we say we want, and away from massive detours or dead ends that keep us in a never-ending loop.

It takes

S e l f – D i s c i p l i n e

to achieve what our hearts desire.

This means instead of looking for the shortcuts, we commit to follow the steps along the path’s we’ve selected.

We practice. We research. We learn. We apply.

We understand that the most important aspect of getting to the places we want to go, is keeping our mind focused in that direction.

And if we get knocked off track, we always stand back up and redirect.

No matter the endeavor, we will see it come into our reality as long as we commit to doing whatever it takes to reach that mile marker. One thing I always remind myself of when I feel like I’m walking in circles, is that if every destination I dreamed of was so easy to find – it wouldn’t be half as exciting when I reached it.

>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE<<<

Write a list of things you’d really like to have happen or aquire.

Start with the smallest of things, all the way to the biggest.

Accept that each of these intentions is 100% in your grasp, but you must first believe that in order for them to manifest in your reality.

Write down the logical steps it’s going to take to see these intentions come to fruition, and then commit to following through with no attachment to how long it’s going to take to get there.

Just know you will arrive if you stay the course.

When you master your mind, you learn to master your life

Mastering the mind, requires self-discipline.

Your mind is a chemical computer, which from the time of birth has been downloaded with the belief systems passed on from the collective down to the immediate family.

Many of these beliefs are distorted truths, which act like a virus, corrupting your natural power. The process of cleaning and removing these belief systems happens in stages, and requires a willingness to first become aware of your thoughts.

Once you recognize these thoughts, you can begin removing those that do not align with the life you are wanting to create.

The goal is making peace with the mind so you can use it for the creative tool it is meant to be.

This process can feel overwhelming at first.

Instead of trying to monitor every thought which is impossible to do, just stay aware of how you feel. Emotion is generated by something you are thinking – so the moment you begin feeling bad, ask yourself what was I just thinking about to cause this reaction.

Once you become alert, you can begin challenging your thoughts, and rewrite a new script. It takes diligence and practice, but it becomes easier and more fluid with time.

Mastering your mind is the first key to navigating your path in the most efficient and effective way.

In order to master the mind, not only do we have to conquer the never-ending stream of thoughts running on loop every day – but we must defeat the Big Bad Enemy on the block.

P R O C R A S T I N A T I O N.

::CRINGE::

You know, the nasty bully who comes along during one of your newest, most brilliant projects and decides it just isn’t worth putting your attention on. It lures you with all kind of things that are suddenly more important.

The dishes need to be done. The emails checked. The mound of laundry that’s cleaned (but not hung up or folded) getting more wrinkled by the day. That next show to binge on Netflix.

So how do we defeat procrastination?

Like everything else, it begins with a commitment to yourself. Most of us are rigid on keeping our commitments to others, but when it comes to putting ourselves on the list we usually fall short.

Stop doing that.

>>>WARRIOR CHALLENGE<<<

No matter what your project is make a clear decision you are going to follow through. Pick a specific time of day to complete it. A small amount of time over the long haul goes a very long way. Set smll steps for yourself and then reward yourself when you reach them.

When you honor your interests, and map out the trail that is going to get you successfully to your destination point, you will be surprised and delighted at how quickly you can reach those mile markers.

Books I highly recommend:

The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle