M.O.G: Man of God...Tim Tebow did What??

M.O.G: Man of God 

What does that look like in our culture today? According to the media, movies and countless magazine covers, a man today is suppose to be unapologetically hard charging, money hungry, a wooer of the ladies, spends like its going out of fashion and  suppose to partake in addictive behaviors. Whether that is booze, drugs, or numerous types of sexual behaviors. In a culture where the lazy are glorified as just having fun, in a culture where sleeping with multiple partners because the slogan is "hate the game, not the player,"and in a culture where drinking and partying is fashionable. Where are you suppose to fit in if you don’t do these type of things or behaviors? Why is it if you do the  right thing, work hard, have a consistent relationship, become financially independent and tithe, that you are looked at as uptight or just plain WEIRD? Why is that? Life has many different obstacle and tests that were orchestrated for you and your path, but why is a "Man of God" looked down upon?

In our media today, the godly man is ridiculed for his faith without even getting a so called “chance.” Look at Tim Tebow in our media today, he is a football player that is unapologetic about his faith in Christ. He draws unwarranted criticism for a rookie second year player, mind you he is just starting his career in the NFL but he gets mocked or shunned by those in the media for being a "Man of God." Our media wants the Tim Tebow’s of the world to keep that type of “praying before a game” off the field and in the churches that are scattered across our great country, but why? Is it in the NFL rules that a player can not demonstrate his faith on the field, is it in the football “code of conduct” that he not be able to kneel on the field before God. Is it just not right to be the guy that prays at the end of game with his own team and players from opposing team in a pray circle for their thanks to God? More importantly, is he hurting anyone emotionally or physically by doing these things? Of course not, then why all the controversy?

I believe that the media likes to mock players with this kind of behavior because they believe that people should leave that kind of behavior for the churches and synagogues. In the book of Matthew 5:13 it says, “You are the salt of the earth,” and because of that a Christian individual is suppose to not separate from God things like career, relationships and activities. But to be the “salt” in all those areas and by doing that their will not be a clear line between the two areas, and more like a intertwining of all aspects of life. 

Let me explain it this way, picture a man that checks the coat of his salvation at the door before going to his place of work. The man spreads hurtful gossip around the office, takes frequent 15 minute breaks to the bathroom to play the next level on angry birds, then grabs paper, pencils and pens for his office at home because he thinks to himself, "they can afford it anyway, right?" From there the man heads home and grabs that coat of salvation on his way out to head home to his lovely family that he perceives to know him as a Godly individual. Is the man truly saved or is he just being a liar to himself and to his family? Ultimately, you can not be one individual in one place and a totally different at the other because it will confuse you and eventually you will slip up and will be caught.

So what does a “Man of God” look like and how can it be attained? It is really quite simple, an individual must be consistent in all areas of life, an individual must do the right thing even when no one is looking, an individual must seek the lord with an open heart and from there it will start the ball rolling on being a person your heavenly father would be proud of. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” Hebrews 12:1-2. You have a “race” engineered for you, and you can let it take you closer to God or the complete opposite. I understand that with a fixed gaze on our lord that strength is possible to attain because it can not be done alone, especially in our culture today.

We have more information then ever at our finger tips, more technology then ever before, more ways to connect to others for support but I would argue we are just as troubled then ever before. When you are the “salt” of your organization, family, friends and clubs you can let the holy spirit work through you, but if you decide to check that coat of salvation at the door, you rob yourself from truly having a connection with God.  “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants”  1 Samuel 2:8-9. Understand you are not in control and you are ahead of the majority of the population, and walking with the lord in every moment of your life, He will enable you to slowly become a “Man of God.” Nevertheless, as we have seen others take flack from our media and culture, if you draw this kind of attention, remember that means your on the right track and this type of Godly mindset will be rewarded. 


Be the "salt of the world" in every aspect of your life, and till later live with faith, hope and love because you are magnificent and God is with you always!

Strength through Action: "I want it and I want it NOW!!!"

Is the way you see yourself the same as God see’s you?

We all wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes, we all get frustrated at drivers in traffic sometimes, we all skip out on our responsibilities sometimes, we all do things that take us farther away from God sometimes. What is your "sometime" thing? Or better yet, how does that make you feel about yourself when you don’t do the things or act the ways we are suppose too? Not great right, what is that? It's what is in you and what is in me that enables our emotions to run ramped, and like a hurricane we stormfully plow through our lives. Emotions and attitudes are complicated, but one thing that is for certain they are merely temporary. “NO REALLY? Tell me something I don’t already know!,” said with a snotty brashness of a lovely teenage attitude. If this true, why is it we act out the majority of our days in this enhanced emotional state?

This is the same thing marketers us in commercials and adds for their “Latest and Greatest” model or product, because there last one was with a roll of the eyes, SO last year! Are you living at the affect of your emotions, or are they effecting the quality of your life? Whether your in debt, watching pornography, take a substance or just can’t seem to keep your mouth shut during a conversation. Most of the time these are just actions and behaviors you believe will give you a large emotional gain in pleasure, but in all actuality they are minuscule at best. Understanding this emotional whirlwind will be highly beneficial to you and your personal development, but the realization is just the beginning.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 itsays, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” If it is as common as it says, see why it is used against us to buy products and services. Always remember, every decision you make to do, say or buy is purely based off the emotions we think it will give us in return. But more often then not, days weeks or even as small as moments later the item, conversation or service didn’t do anything more then a small emotional gain. Then we are left searching for the next best thing. Nevertheless, as it says “God is faithful,” he is faithful in the fact that the temptations he puts in your path are something you can control and conquer with his help but if you think you can do it alone you are mistaken. For his strength gives you strength. He puts a temptation in your path, but at the same time he gives you an escape route. Will you see the two or just focus on the short term pleasure that the item/behavior will give you?

I know it is hard to take a step back in the moment of temptation, and say “would I want my parents to know I’m doing this” or “would I want to explain this to my children someday” or “would I want to stand in front of my friends and family and explain this…” It really is your decision, and the only thing I can guarantee is that is going to be hard and I mean REALLY HARD! In 1 John 2:16 it says, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” The flesh or emotions want you to have this one feeling, which remember is much smaller then you think it will be. Like a grown up playing a practical joke on an unsuspecting child, same too for your brain playing a trick on you. 

The "Gimmie that" mentality, and just like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, "I want it and I want it NOW!!!" I believe it is this way because if you are constantly distracted with chasing emotions that can never really be caught, then that is less time you can spend with your heavenly father, and that is the work of the evil one. There is always hope though because like it says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 and with a little practice and seeking your heavenly father you can too develop that strength through him.

Start small, by record actions and behaviors in a journal. All the things that are not what you believe is ultimately taking you closer to your major objectives in life, write it down and make some simple things you can do to change that behavior because like I mentioned before “he will also provide the way of escape.” Now if you want to ignore it you can, but eventually you will understand that when you develop strength in one area it has a way of spilling over into others. 

Welcome minor disappointments and setbacks, because I believe that is where you will learn the most and from their God will put it on your heart. Which will make it much more likely that you will follow through next time.

Remember, you are magnificent and you can change things in your life with Gods help. Live, Love and have Faith and you will have everything in this world that God wants for you. For it is his will, as it is in heaven, here on earth also.

Obsession good or bad? Well, that Depends...

Obsession good or bad? For is it bad to obsess about the right things in life or can too much of a good thing always lead to a detriment to your existence. More obvious then that is that obsession starts with one simple idea, and idea that leads to action, which leads to daily deposits, which leads to results, which leads to the overall attainment of that goal. Are you obsessed with something, or are you just alright at a few things or activates? Its not till you chose a skill, profession, talent and develop those skills that will put you ahead of the rest of our population. Lets face it, the majority of our population is content with the day to day grind, the proverbial hamster wheel of life, but the ones that go the farthest in this world are the individuals that constantly strive and thrive for their goals. 

For myself, I was put here to help others to be the best they can be and NO THIS IS NOT THE ARMY!! But understand that is just one small idea on my overall purpose in life, but it does not explain how I do it or what goals I need to make or obstacles I will need to conqueror. Just a small simple idea, like in the movie "Inception," where the idea of one individual placing a small idea in a persons mind through there dreams. There is no need to understand the concept of the movie, but what the take away from my experience was that this "tiny" thought or idea could change a destiny or future. 

Even the most sturdy tree started with a small almost insignificant occurrence of an acorn. WATCH-OUT FACTOID: The tallest tree in the world is the Sequoia redwood in the redwood forest of California, it has grown to the height of 379.1 feet. To put into perspective, a football field counting the end zones is 360 feet, now that’s a BIG FREAKING TREE!! Nevertheless, that ginormous tree started as a tiny little insignificant acorn on the ground and like an idea it grew a little everyday, and after a series of years and months and even decades, that tree grew to that large and most significant height. Did the tree take a break from growning, did it say, “I don’t really want to be that tall” or “I don’t want to stand out from the other trees, because they might be jealous and call me names” or “maybe I might take sunlight from the other trees and that’s just not right.” Of course not that is ridiculous, I know that is the point. 

Just like the idea you obsess about it takes time, treasure and practice to see the fruits of your hard labor. As I asked before, is obsession good or bad? Was not Thomas Edison obsessed with creating new useful inventions, was not Martin Luther King obsessed over a dream, was not Albert Einstein obsessed with laws of special relativity, was not Bill gates, was not Abraham Lincoln, was not, was not. I ask again, is being obsessed about the right concepts and ideas good or bad? I'm living under the delusion of wanting to live out a philosophy of the golden rule, “do on to others as you want them to do on to you,” or quest for purpose in the pursuit of helping others can only be beneficial in nature, RIGHT?!? I'm obsessed about writing daily, I am obsessed about incorporating fitness into my life, I am obsessed about inspiring others to make positive changes, I am obsessed about being a blessing onto others, and with that comes a delusion brought to me by my lord and saver. 

What are you obsessed about? Is it good or bad? Are the activities/rituals you do on a daily basis taking you closer too or farther from you major objectives in life? 

Lets do a small activity and we will wrap up todays post:

Answer the questions below as carefully and thoughtful as possible

1. What do you value most in life? (examples: happiness, peace of mind, helping, teaching, adventure, etc)

2. What is one thing you could do on a constant basis that would bring you those most valuable things in your life? (That would help benefit mankind and yourself.)

3. What is one action you can take today that gets you one step closer to that valued item/feeling/person/job/etc.?

4. What is a week, month, one year and 5-10 year goal you can make?

(Do one for each, this is for your benefit)

5. What are 3 things you can do to overcome obstacles and setbacks?

(Because there will be some along the way, guaranteed!)

Now play around with these questions and find your tiny obsession to nurture into fruition. 

Keep these goals in front of you daily, and I mean everywhere because we all have great memory’s but they are just awfully short. Every man started that journey with a small step, because believe me motivation comes from doing. So do it and be excited, this is your life and you deserve the best, do not let anyone tell you different. Your heavenly father put you here to do something significant and amazing, go after it and welcome setbacks with open arms. This is because when you overcome them on a consistent basis a little bit more confidence will be poured into your spirit, and motivation grows deeper.

 Be, Do, and then Have…and for goodness sakes have some fun! Till tomorrow, live with love, hope and faith because you are magnificent. 

Inspiration is Fleeting & Purpose is Everlasting!

Inspiration is fleeting, it comes and it goes but one thing that stays the same and constant…is its randomness. Its nothing you can predict, its nothing you can draw into occurrence, its nothing that you or anyone else can tell you, but like trying to grasp a liquid or trying to capture the wind is its ability to be managed or even comprehended. People that say, “I’ll wait till I’m inspired before I start that new project,” or “I’ll wait till I read that new book, then I’ll be inspired.”

Why do people settle for less then what it is they are capable of? I believe it is because to acknowledge a certain characteristic or demeanor then the individual would have to use it. That’s just too hard, sorry life is going to always be hard but anything worth doing is always hard. This is because if it was easy you would take it for granted. We all know what we say to ourselves, “I’m really not good at that…” or “I can’t do that…” or “that’s just the way I am and I can’t do anything about that…” What is your “THAT,” we all have one and it is how we manage that one “THAT,” which will make the overall difference in our lives.

Funny or just plain sad? I believe it is a bit of sad cooked up with a bit of ignorance, and please understand I’m not being critical of anyone but I do believe we were all put here to fulfill a certain purpose and abilities given to use by something greater then ourselves. This is because the way your heavenly father looks at you and the potential you have is astounding, we are all Gods most amazing creation. The beautiful birds in the sky, we’re more amazing! The wondrous fish swimming in the great barrier reef, we’re more amazing! The spectacular sunsets that landscape the snowy mountains and crystal blue oceans, we’re more amazing! Now if you were that amazing, do you really think you were put here in this time for no reason? I surely hope you don’t because no matter where you are, or what race or gender, you have a God given PURPOSE!

We all deep down want to believe in something greater then ourselves, because to even have the intellect to pose a complex question in ones own existence, one must understand that the question itself must come from an intellect far greater then our own alone. For the intellect that man has could not be our own alone because to even harness the astuteness to search for meaning of life is a sign of an intelligent designer. Man’s search for meaning is the thumb print of God on your soul, universal to all man kind is that search for a purpose. For even the atheist, begs to God for help in time of trouble. Do you really think an atheist that has an infant child in the intense care unit at a hospital, says “well that’s just life.” They beg, and plead for help. That is universal and just one sign of God not being able to be denied, because the old adage is true, there are no atheist in a fox hole during the heat of battle.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” Philippians 2:13. 

Search your heart and seek God because he will reveal your purpose in life if you don't already know it. It was not till I started listening to my heavenly father that I truly understood my own purpose, and is it the most glamorous purpose. Not always, but what it does do is fill me with more joy then I believed was possible. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 Seek for answers and their will be light shed on them, pray and have an open heart. 

Thumb Print Of God: Is GOD tugging on your Heart!?!

Throughout many of my experiences in life I have come to the understanding that I need and have a healthy perception on my religious beliefs. After reading the book, “Soul Print: The Path to Fulfillment” by Marc Gafni. I developed a clear understanding on how to enhance my spiritual self. Gafni illustrated a story of a boy flying a kite on a windy day, and the kite was so far that is could not be seen from the ground. A man then approaches the boy that is flying the kite and asks, “what are you doing?” The boy answers, “I’m flying a kite,” and the man asks, “how do you know?” and with wisdom the boy responds, “because of the tug.” This is a true statement when it comes to enhancing my spiritual self, because the most fundamental part of any religion is that of faith in something bigger then a mortal self. Nevertheless, with that understanding I believe that when I feel God “tugging” on my heart, I then need to recognize it and use it to further my spiritual walk with God. 

Within the reading the overall arching message is that of divine understand and comprehension of how God interacts with us on a spiritual level. Gafni is a self proclaimed “post denominational” Rabbi, but does not consider himself to be orthodox within the Jewish faith. Moreover, this has shaped his core beliefs and has undoubtedly shaped his intent within this writing. Gafni explains the “soul print is your spiritual signature. It is the contour and content of your soul, its character.” I believe this is important to understand because it demonstrates that each individual in the world bares his or her own unique thumbprint, and I believe Gafni understands this as a God given trait. In addition, the intent of Gafni can be recognized in him stating, “the ability to respond to the unique call of your soul print is essential to achieving joy and fulfillment in the world.” I understand this as fulfilling the intent of the author, because Gafni is extremely vocal on walking with God to enhance and enjoy life. Moreover, I believe that Gafni’s intent is that of spiritual awakening and living out an individuals skill set with God in his or her heart and mind, and that will lead to a life full of happiness and bliss. 

This concept of a spiritual “soul print” can be used in many aspects within my life. Within my work life I have always felt those how succeed the most within our culture enjoy what it is they do for a living, and with this concept in mind makes perfect sense. My creator put me on this planet to help as many people as possible overcome obstacle and conquer goals, and I believe I’m in a related field now doing that as a personal trainer. This reduces my stress level because most individuals throughout our society are chasing after monetary articles and objects. This is because most of the time individuals are suffering stressful work environments and dread working day to day. Myself though I enjoy helping people accomplish goals and that fills my life with happiness and fulfillment. In addition, with the concept of feeling the “tug” of the kite or the “tug” on my heart, I can see that by listening to what it is God it telling me will further enhance my spirituality and reduce much stress within my life. This is because I believe that “if God be for me, then who be against me” and that very concept makes me feel confident in my faith and in return reduces my stress.

Why Worry?? Fear and Anxiety Sold Separately!

Why worry? Can you extend your life one hour, one minute, or even one second by worrying? Well many individuals go through there day not conscious of the thoughts that are cycling through their mind, but it doesn't have to be that way. Your heavenly father wants you to trust and not worry about the next moments of the day or your life, not that you should not continue to be be responsible but when you have done the studying, made the calls, put money into your retirement, asked people out and cared for your children. When you have done all that and you have put the effort out, to then stop and take a moment, and trust in the lord that he will make your path as it is in his will for you.


 In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Understand that the lord knows what it is you need in this world, and believe me you need to ask for it. This is because to confess to God is an undertaking necessary to strength your connection to with Him, and the trust then grows your faith. With that said God does not fulfill all the things you want, if that was so we would all live like the Kardashians, but as you know he isn't quite a "genie in the bottle." But what he offers, is a faith that will enable you to rise higher and take those calculated risks that you never were fearful of before. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 Then his will is for you to have it he will deliver it to you, but another thing to recognize is that he wants you to be "with thanksgiving" and not the gobble gobble type of thanksgiving but with a grateful heart thank him for what it is he has given you already. Then the blessing will come in the future.


Consider this, a grateful heart is a happy heart, and a good way to increase your happiness in life is to thank your lord and saver for all it is you have. "I'm so grateful for my health, I'm so grateful for my family, I'm so grateful for a house and food, I'm so grateful for my job (even if you don't enjoy it), I'm so grateful for my personality and my honest heart." Now did i fall over and die when i said that, no but it does seem a little strange at first, but being different is the name of the game. Embrace that mentality and run your race! When you do this attitude of gratitude on a consistent basis, you will manifest these great feeling with little or no effort on our part. Picture in the your mind the things you are grateful for and the feel those feelings and you will have those pleasurable emotions. Keep it simple, because it is!


How many movies have you seen where the character takes for granted the family, job, life style, significant other and those things are temporarily taken away? Either the character  see's a future with out him, or a life he never lived and the consequences of that. They then see and feel the sense of lose and they then appreciate more abundantly then ever the things they have. Why wait till you have a disaster, or set back before you appreciate the people or things in your life, does it sound a little silly to say out loud "I'm so grateful for..." Maybe, but I hope you see the value in the emotions that are here at your finger tips. I wake up every morning and pray to my lord and thank Him for what I have and what is coming my way, because this not only gives me a feeling of hope for a brighter day, but gives me the pleasurable sensations of joy to do the necessary things in life that aren't always the funniest tasks to do. 


Do I always want to clean the house, NO! Do I always want to workout, NO! Do I always want to pay my bills, NO! Do I always want to work, and mind you I love what I do, but sometimes NO! As I have come to realize, I turned the "have too's" in life into the "get too's," and that makes life infinitely easier. Keep in mind, everything is a "get too" and you will make things easier and much more enjoyable. As said before "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 because you can only do so much in life in the moment. Trust and have faith in your God and enjoy the ride because like the great philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and take a look around once in a while you could miss it."  


Trust and pray, because your God has you in the palm of his hand and he will keep you on the straight path. Will you use it, well that is up to you?

Sweat is my sanity: be S.M.A.R.T and JUST DO IT!!!

Sweat is my sanity, many haven’t figured out that going for a run, hike or picking things up and swinging them back and forth can be therapeutic to the soul. Its not so much the activity, which can be fun it chosen correctly, but the physiological change that occurs when certain physical stress is placed on the body. The oh so sweet feel good chemicals dopamine and epinephrine that are released are infamous for runners experiencing that high at the end of a long run. Are you high on the wrong things in life, food, drugs, sex or are you participating in some type of physical exertion activity. 

TRICKY, TRICKY, TRICKY!!!

I know from my experience starting out with a fitness program, I would have to trick my lazy behind to workout. Yes, trick myself, how?? I knew if I could just get to the gym, I would be good to go but the hardest part was getting there. What is keeping you from getting in shape? The excuses are vast but the solutions are much easier then people what to think, what are your goals with your physical health? First, do you have any goals? If not, they should be Smart goals, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time oriented.

Specific: Pick a goal, any goal here! Make it clear (clearer then a newly windexed window, oooh thats clear) and defined, for example, I want to lose 25 pounds and not "I just want to get in shape." Nothing drives me more crazy then to hear that as a goal, CRAZY!! This is because if you do have “just get in shape you have no way to set you up for clear success. Me personally when I was younger I wanted to lose 65 pounds, sounds like a lot but believe me even the largest elephant is eaten one bite at a time and I didn’t want to look like one, so I knew the weight had to come off.

Measurable: This is reinforcing the specific part of the goal, and with my goal of wanting to lose 65 pounds I knew I would need to make mini goals along the way. FACTOID: The amount of health weight loss for individuals is a pound to a pound and a half a week. With this in mind, I would make a goal to lose 6 pounds a month, and if I were to lose more then that I would consider it a VICTORY!! One thing to keep in mind is that it is the small "wins" will gives you the boost needed to go and the things you need to do when you just not in the mood. Believe me, there will be plenty of days, myself included that don't want to do the small deposits toward my goal. REMEMBER THOUGH, MATURITY IS DELAYING GRATIFICATION IN THE MOMENT TO ATTAIN THE OBJECTIVE OR GOAL FOR FUTURE SATISFACTION. 

Attainable: Is your goal realistic, if I were to make a goal to lose all 65 pounds in 3 months would hamper me from doing so. This is because to lose 65 in 3 months would put me at losing about 6 pounds a week, which is do able but this isn’t Biggest Loser status were they workout for sometimes up to 10 hours a day. Nevertheless, to lose the 65 pounds in 8 months is more realistic with 2 pounds a week. It will be hard but definitely attainable, on the contrary don’t make the goal so easy that you don’t get excited about it. It is always more beneficial to make goals out of reach, but NEVER out of SIGHT. 

Realistic: Is this something that will motivate me, but won’t make me feel I can’t achieve it no matter how hard the effort I give. Small realistic goals will only push that snow ball farther down the hill to collect more snow and keep that inner motivation thriving. This is where the 2 pound a week goal will keep me on track.

Time: Make a time line for completion and write it down where you will see it everyday, and I mean EVERYDAY.  A reminder on the fridge, a calendar reminder in the office, a daily alarm on your phone as a reminder, I mean everywhere you go is a reminder. this will keep you on track and won't let you forget. I have always been the person to acknowledge I have a great memory, but it is just awful short, so the more reminders the better.

My Example:

Specific: lose 65 pounds

Measurable: losing 1-2 pounds a week for 8-9 months

Attainable: yes, challenging but not “out of sight”

Realistic: Yes, with hard work I can attain this

Time: 8-9 months completion date august 2012

That simple, and see how this can be used with nearly any goals you might have. Understandably, the person that is the most goal oriented in life will attain more then those that are not. Pick a target and go after it, IF YOU HAVE A TARGET AND MAKE GOALS TOWARD IT. YOU ARE AHEAD OF 90% OF OUR POPULATION. 

Be strange or different, because it will lead you to success! 

Ever feel the feeling of being responsible? Now “Aaron (my name), don’t ask me stupid questions, of course I have.” Not a stupid question, but I believe that we feel the most fulfilled in life when we feel most responsible and that is exactly what goals do. Always remember that, motivation comes from doing what it is we set out to do, and not the other way around. If you think your going to go to sleep to night and tomorrow wake up with motivation, you are sadly mistaken my friend. Start now, and just like the Nike commercial said “JUST DO IT.” Not tomorrow or next week, or next month, do it today and feel motivation tomorrow. That simple! 

Addictive Behavior: Joy and Happiness...WATCH OUT!!!

A life worth living is a life worth living with an upbeat and positive, because the person that is constantly dragging people down will only embody those feeling and perpetuate that harmful behavior within themselves. What do I mean? Look at your inner characteristic of your mind like an empty balloon, now that balloon can be filled with different substances, whether heaven liquid or light gas. 

The liquid filled balloon is much heaver and very fragile. This is much like the person that negatively spews comments or aggressively acts out. Think about it like this, a negative person rarely gets what it is they are seeking, for if the negative individual thinks he or she will attain happiness by riddling others or themselves with harmful thoughts or behaviors, they are sadly mistaken. Remember the notion that you will receive whatever it is you send out into the world, encourage to be encouraged, complement to be complemented, love to be loved and so on and so forth. That simple, but with the negative filled balloon in mind, picture it in your mind. It appears fragile and delicate, and much like a negative individual. This is because the person harnessing all these toxic emotions is usually easily angered or quick to strikeout with even the slightest occurrence. Do you know someone like this, maybe intimately? 

Now with the balloon in mind again, picture filling that balloon with the positive, clean and honest quality’s represented as air. That balloon floats by bouncing from here to there not hurting or causing any aggressive change to the environment. See how the balloon filled with those lightness qualities of the positive air can be dropped from almost any height and will survive, but what would happen with the heavy liquid and negatively filled balloon do if dropped from even the slightest height? Would definitely want to take a step back to insure you don't get your Goofy slippers wet!!

The contrast of the two different types of balloons illustrates the demeanors and is easily notice when speaking a positive or negative attitude in life, but why is it so hard sometimes to see it in the mirror. I believe this is because many of our daily emotions are from constant conditioning, and this means you have had years of practice and just like anything else you have every mastered. You are darn and let me say DARN good at.  Literally no one that reads this is going to opt for a negative mind state, so what can we do about it. First, before I discuss anymore this hole section is written for me because I believe that you too can learn from my experience with these emotionally harmful behaviors and actions. I grew up overweight and I didn’t like who I was as a person, didn’t like the way I looked, didn’t like the way I thought, and I went from place to place fearing my overall life with ample amounts of anxiety. So believe me when I say, I know what it is like to manifest these feelings on a regular basis and I once too was a master of it. One thing I did learn was that success leaves clues and I knew how I wanted to feel, do and act like, so I set out to model behaviors of others with GREAT SUCCESS. So what demeanor are you going to opt for? 

Note: These concepts are those other great teachers like, Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Napoleon Hill and many others, so understand that these are time tested concepts put together and made easy for people 5 to 105 years old.

Lets get started:

First, over the course of a couple days write down any negative, fearful, anxiety, envious, or angry comments you make to others or yourself.

Second, once that is done. Look over the list of items, and read each one aloud and ask. Is this how I really feel and is this thought, feeling or action taking me closer too or farther from my major goals in life?

Third, for the reoccurring thoughts, feelings or actions. Write down by each one how you can change them and how you can break the pattern, because like most things you can relearn and recondition yourself with just a little discipline. 

Forth, disrupt this behavior with a reminder of some sort. For me personally, I use a prayer ("I can do all things through Christ, who strengths me") or do something silly to spark laughter (look in the mirror and make a monkey face). This is because I know that my lord with give me strength and with a sense of humor I can take a step back and reevaluate my actions, and from there make wiser decisions then or in the future. Have fun and be crazy!

Fifth and final, make small goals and track progress. An easy was to boost those positive emotions, complement others, encourage someone, make someone laugh because this will help your brain to release chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which is responsible for making you feel happy. Make it a goal to encourage one person a day that is important to you and track how those actions make you feel. Another could be to buy a gift, open a door, lend a helpful hand, or just listen with the intent of helping them and not focusing on you. Be creative and be a good finder in life because it will lead you down a road of happiness!

Whatever it is, track it and make some fun and easy daily goals and you will become addicted to how it makes you feel, SO WATCH OUT!! You might just get your joy back for life and when you do become more happy and fulfilled, tell them how to do the same thing because like that man named Jesus said, “for the greatest among you must become the servant of all.” That servant demeanor will fill you with joy and enable you to live with a positive attitude.

Till tomorrow, live with faith, hope and love because you are magnificent and God put you here to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Believe and you can achieve!!

STRESSED OUT: Do Yoga and Christians go together???

The room is dark with slightly dimmed lights and all I can hear are the sounds of deep full breathing reverberate through out the room, the instructor’s calm and relaxing voice captures the essence of the mood. A drop of perspiration runs down my face to the pool of sweat below, my muscles palpitate and shake as I hold a traditional yoga pose called warrior. The instructor’s soft voice leads the class with a breathing exercise, saying to “breathe in for a four count envisioning the environment breathing into you, hold that breathe for a count of seven and calmly exhale for a count of eight count.” This cycle repeats for several minutes as the instructor reiterates to focus on our breathing, and to let our worries of the day melt away. There are many time tested ways to relieve stress and limit the toll it takes on your body.

During the time that you are stressed or going through a emotionally cumbersome situation the body responds in a predictable way that is not uncommon to everyone. Hold on, do me a favor and find your pulse, either on your neck or wrist. Got it? Now if you have a pulse, you will have stress, sorry that is just the way it is. I baited you for the question because I believe it is important that if you have a feeling or emotion or situation, that you are not alone in that factor of stress. Your not alone in this world, a common way to deal with stress is to withdraw from people we care about and that only leads to more harmful emotions most of the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because usually the counsel of others is therapeutic. I understand that not everyone has wise counsel to seek advise or have for a listening ear, but I do know that plenty of services and churches have plenty of people put here on this plant to help others. Now if you decide to seek this out, that is completely up to you but without a doubt spend some time in prayer. It is a common fact that those people that seek the counsel of God first, tend to lower the amounts anxiety felt and lower the chemical responder of stress called adrenalin. This gives you the shaky and anxiety feeling associated with being “STRESSED OUT.” 

Something else to keep in mind is that the human body acts in consistent ways when it comes to stress. I am only talking about yoga as just one way to reduce stress in a mechanical way, but believe me I was also very, and I mean very skeptical to this philosophy of practice. Not only might I lose my man card, but I didn’t think it was…pause as I clear my throat. Made for someone that was Christian, but I quickly found out that my faith would stay very intact. I tried this as a stress relieving tactic, and I do understand that this is not for everyone. What yoga does is train the body to move and breathe in a harmonious way, and to understand the importance of this concept an individual must recognize that when put into stressful or depressing situations the body reacts in a certain ways by means of conditioning.

Let me demonstrate my point. First, picture yourself at a time in your life when you felt overwhelming stressed or depressed. Whether about daily stressful life, a distressing relationship or having a set of troubling concise circumstances you encountered. Now in your minds eye see yourself, how do you look? Are you slouched or are you standing tall. Most likely slouched, is your breathing shallow or is it deep and full. Most likely shallow, why is that true? This is because you have conditioned yourself to respond in certain ways to stress or depressing events in life, and where does this correspond with yoga? Yoga trains the body to elongate posture, and breathe more fully to relieve stress and tension brought about by stressful daily rituals. I believe that this method can be an effective way for many people to break routine of stress in day-to-day activates, and by breaking that cycle an individual can better cope with troubling circumstances of life.

The human body is very effective at being conditioned to do certain behaviors and patterns, but it takes practice and discipline to attain the right ones. This is because if your not careful the wrong ones will be installed and you will act out those certain rituals, so be determined to actively install the right patterns for the life you want to lead.

How do you relax? Do you go for a walk? Do you read a book? Or maybe you sit in the bathtub with some bubbles in the water, put on some Yanni and light some incense and drift into you thoughts…ok too much! Well whatever it is, there are many techniques on how to relax because if we don’t control our own stress we will live at the effect of it. If you understand that you are ahead of game, because most people don’t consciously live out certain behaviors. Make one change today that will positively impact your life tomorrow, you really can do it. Till tomorrow, make those daily deposits and you will live a life people are envious of because you are just the way God made you…Magnificent! 

It makes all the difference in the world!

I was told the other day I’m philosophical, that is truly hilarious…really hilarious!! Because I do not do the things I do or say the things I say to sound philosophical, but to live out an idea. That idea is I really want to make those I come into contact with better, can I do it for everyone. Of course not, but it reminds me of a story of a grandfather and his grandson walking along a long sandy beach, and on the beach was hundreds if not thousands of sand dollars. The grandfather was picking up one sand dollar here and another there, and throwing them back into the ocean. The grandson turns to the grandfather and asks, “why are you throwing the sand dollars back into the ocean grandpa?” And he responded, “well you see the sand dollars are living organisms and if left on the beach they will dry out and die.” And the grandson said in return, “there are thousands of them, what can picking up one or two and throwing them back in possibly do? Well grandpa, how can it make even the slightest difference at all.” The grandfather then picked up another one and threw it in the ocean, and said “to this one, it makes all the difference in the world.” Same thing goes for our relationships with others, for you cannot help and impact everyone; but you can help and impact an important select few. For those few, I’m going to impact them the best I can because that is just living out my true purpose in life and to them it makes all the difference in the world.

Orchestrated life, increasing your JOY daily!

Its very funny to think that you were put here for someone else’s entertainment, to think that you were born, developed knowledge, worked to create lasting relationships, gave of your: self, time, love, money, etc. God knows what you are going to do before you do it, so that means that your life is already mapped out for others to laugh, cry, have faith in. We do have free will to make decisions, but God is so all knowing that he knows what you are going to do. So think that interaction you had with your loved one today was mapped out before you had it this morning, the girl that smiled at you at the gym and made you feel good about yourself, the encouraging comment your friend said to you that filled you with joy…all mapped out!


Do you think that you have lived up to the greatest version of yourself today, and not yesterday, but right here in this moment. Have you? The joy that comes from helping others is more overwhelming then you know, it is like an emotional gas tank that you are filling every time you do something nice for someone else. Think about it, why do people like the holidays so much? Even though many gripe and complain about having to spend copious amounts of time for others, and how expensive it all is. We all love to see the person that you bought it for, smile and say thank you for it. It then doesn’t really matter about price anymore, but more that little deed you did for them and the affect it had on your emotional health and wellbeing. I know many of use might not think in these terms, but the more you feel those pleasurable sensations, the more we will proceed to continue them. 


How bout this thought, do you believe in your heart that people are lucky to have you in their life? If not, why not? Are you self indulged, are you greedy, are you selfish. What is it? I know it is usually something you can see in the mirror, but if you feel that you are not positively impacting others live then you might feel unfulfilled. What was the last nice thing you did for someone else and how many times in the last week? Doesn’t have to be anything big, but something you did for someone else with out wanting anything in return. A complement, bought coffee for a stranger or friend, just because? If it is once or twice, you are missing out of opportunity’s to bring extra fulfillment to your life with little or no cost to you. But the joy comes from doing for others, the things that they could do for themselves but you choose to do for them just because. Did you know that I don’t have too call or text my friend to say, “thanks for being a positive influence in my life, and I appreciate everything you do for me.” No, I don’t but I also don’t have to put on deodorant in the morning either, but I hope your not opposed to that either. I do it for them because I care about this person, and it fills me with clean and positive emotions that will fill mine and their emotional gas tank. That’s why I do it. 


An upbeat positive individual is someone that will have friends everywhere they go, be a friend to have friend, be an encouraging significant other to have a encouraging significant other, be caring to be cared for, be inspirtational to be inspired. So on and so forth, I’m often asked, wont people take advantage of you and your niceity’s? Some will, and you have to understand that, and take those people for what they are for in life. One must consciously realize that you are not so much doing it for them all the time, but doing it for yourself. Most people are attracted to others that are what quality’s they either have or want to have in life. 


How can you to increase some of the joy that comes from helping others? This is just common sense, but most people miss something’s that are as plain as the nose on there faces. Give when giving is hard, complement just to complement and embody the emotions that you want others you come in contact to have. Thats it, that simple! Make it a daily goal to do one nice thing for another person, a gift, encouragement, a hug, a smile, a inspiring text message. Whatever it is, do it now and be creative, because like the golden rule states "do for others, what you want others to do for you." 


Happiness is simple, so keep it that way! Live, Love, Inspire because you are magnificent God made you that way, so start believing it and start reaping those rewards! 

Man is not fit to be a master...

“Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves, but I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be master.” C.s. Lewis 

I believe that man can only navigate so far in life without some sort of divine influence, because true fulfillment comes to those that can look outside themselves and realize they are not in full control of themselves. For man’s heart can only be influenced by some moral laws and principles not there own, and the quicker one realizes that the faster one grows more abundantly in life. Call me unwittingly unenlightened, but I am living today more abundant than ever and it is because of something greater then myself. I know I don’t have everything I desire in life at the moment, but I know if I stay on this path I will reap a harvest more plentiful then I could ever image. 

Many promises fulfilled and I’m happier then ever!