Shine Your Light to Lead the Way For Others

You don't need to make big, drastic changes to transform you life.

Transformation happens with the little choices you make every moment of every day.

It may take a big change to initiate some movement and create some momentum; but it's the little changes and decisions you make every day that keep the momentum going long enough to see the results and create a new life for yourself.

Not a lot changes on Earth from day to day. You go outside and things are still pretty much where you left them the day before. The same is true for a week, month, and even a year. But if you span that out into decades, centuries, millenniums, and eons -- entire worlds can be created, destroyed, and recreated.

Change takes time, but it happens the instant you make a decision to change.

And the best part is that when you change yourself you're not only changing yourself, you're changing your entire history and your entire future. You're changing the piece of infinity that you're responsible for, and by doing so you're influencing all the other pieces because they're all connected.

By changing your universe you change the entire Universe.

Transformation is a process of removing the obstructions getting in the way of the light that is already shining from within.

All the obstructions create shadows that we often mistake for the real thing (Plato's Cave).

The best way to shine your light is to be the Light.

And remember that light cannot exist without the dark and dark has no meaning with the light.

All is well.

With Love,

NB

Managing the Pressure of Performance

From being a full-time athlete, coach, and business owner, I've had to learn the skill of operating under pressure.

Believe me, there's been plenty of times I've felt like I was going to explode. But through this process I've learned and developed a number of tools that allow me to continue to show up and do my best and maintain my focus and centeredness through the many challenging and chaotic times.

Firstly, remember that you always have a choice. So often we make ourselves believe that we "have to" do something when really we are always choosing to do something. Just as much as I'm choosing to work, I have the same opportunity to choose not to. I've found the difference is getting clear on what your overall outcome is and what provides a sense of meaning and purpose. Are you doing work because it's what you feel called to do or are you just working out of a sense of obligation or because it's what you feel like you should be doing?

Remember: a labor of love is sustainable. Personally, if I'm doing the work that feels aligned to my purpose and meaningful then it's easy for me to show up to that work regardless of how I may feel in the moment. This is one of the keys to not burning yourself out.

Secondly, cultivate and practice your capacity to maintain your center regardless of what may be going on around you. I like the analogy of the tornado: all the tasks and responsibilities are constantly swirling around you and you have the choice as to whether you get swept away in the whirlwind of chaos or if you remain in the cool, still, and quiet center. Operating from your center allows you to more objectively see what's going on around you and pick and choose what to work on and how you respond to what arises.

This is where your meditation practice is crucial. Meditation is your daily opportunity to practice and cultivate your centeredness so that you can carry it with you through the rest of your day.

Lastly, create the structure that allows for the flow. Creating the space and taking the time to schedule yourself and manage your activities provides a solid foundation so that you can trust that the important things will always get done as long as you're showing up to the structure you created for yourself.

Hint: prioritize activities surrounding your Four Doctors - Dr. Happy, Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Movement.

Above all else, remember that the only thing you can do and the only place you can be is right here and right now. So much of the pressure we create for ourselves is unnecessary because we're holding onto a done-and-gone past or we're projecting into a not-here-yet future. Do your best in this moment and then do your best in the next moment that arises. Trust that what is meant for you will be yours in the right time, space, and sequence.

If you'd like to take a deeper dive on this topic, go check out the recording of today's IG Live session here.

Happy Dreaming,

With Love,

Nathan

Getting More Done In Less Time

This week is a busier week for me; and while I've learned that "busy" isn't the badge of honor that I once believed it be (I find "freedom" to be a more effective metric), sometimes you just gotta lot of shit to get done in a relatively short period of time and so I want to share some practical tips for maximizing your productivity so that you can ultimately maximize your freedom.

There's a concept called NET Time that I learned from Tony Robbins. It means No Extra Time Time. Basically, what activities can be combined without sacrificing quality? Multi-tasking is a hoax, but there are things that can be combined to become one seamless activity. For instance, listening to books/podcasts while cooking, prepping, and driving is a great one.

And to completely counteract the first tip, my second one is to maintain single-minded focus on each individual task until it is completed. Distractions are the enemy of flow, and being in flow is when you get the best work done the fastest. Every time you shift your focus from the task at hand you're not only losing the time you're not spending on the task, you're also losing the time and quality of work it takes to get back into the flow state once it's broken. Set yourself up so you can dive completely into the task at hand and then shift to the next thing when you're done.

Thirdly, plan to plan. Know what the major tasks are for the day and week and know what time you are blocking out to complete them. Make sure you also plan a time to plan so you can stay ahead of your workload.

Fourthly, create peace points throughout the day and weekend. You can only work as hard as you rest. Create intentional breaks throughout the day to give yourself a chance to breath and reset before moving into the next task. And going along with the principle of NET Time, your meals are a great opportunity to disconnect and be completely present with yourself and the food you're choosing to nourish yourself with.

And going along with peace points, go to bed on time and get your sleep. A well-rested body-mind can get more done in 4 hours than a tired body-mind can get done in 8.

Fifthly, focus on high-leverage activities. What are the things you can do that require the least time and provide the most wide-reaching value. Hint: I'd say meditation is one of these activities. So much time is wasted on things that really don't move the needle. Pay attention.

Lastly, as soon as you can, delegate the tasks that someone else can do (and likely do it better than you with more fulfillment) so you can focus on the high-leverage activities that only you can do. One person's dread is another's greatest joy. And nothing great has ever been achieved alone. We all have our own unique genius that's begging to be expressed.

As you work with these different tips/tools, you'll come to find your own way of doing things and you'll find what times are best for you to do different types of work. Personally, I like to do a lot of my creative work in the morning when I'm fresh.

The biggest thing is that you stay consistent. As I've said in a previous working, you're better off spending 30 seconds on a task to maintain your momentum than to not do it all. Keep showing up.

I hope this helps.

With love,

Nathan