THE 12TH GAY OF X-MAS 2K16 EDITION

On the eleventh Gay Day of Christmas, Secret Santa gave to me: the present moment as a gift. Often we want to be shown the big picture but it is not always in our best interest as we can easily become overwhelmed.

Sometimes, we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives are going to look like or what gifts and challenges are going to be presented to us in the coming months or years. We may want to know if the relationship we're in now will go the distance or if our goals will be realized. Perhaps we feel like we need help making a decision and we want to know which choice will work out best. 

We may consult psychics, tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. Usually, at most, we may catch glimpses. And even though we think we would like to know the whole story in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us.

Just think of your life as you've lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you have probably done more and faced more than you could have ever imagined. If someone had told you as a child of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with each one's inherent ups and downs, you would have become overwhelmed.

With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually happens. 

In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow. For example, it would have been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn't ultimately work out. Yet, it was through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. 

Looking back on your life, you would likely be hard pressed to say that anything in your past should not have happened. In fact, your most challenging experiences with their inevitable lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be fully committed and in the present moment. MERRY 2K17! ♥NAMASTE♥

THE 11TH GAY OF X-MAS 2K16 EDITION

On the eleventh Gay Day of Christmas, Secret Santa gave to me: Kindness.

When we approach everyone with kindness, we’re essentially approaching our own lives with grace and compassion.

A little bit of kindness can change someone’s entire life.

Being kind to others, and ourselves, takes just as much, if not less, energy as being negative and mean. Having a human interaction that is gentle, patient, and considerate says, “I see you. I recognize that you’re a flawed human being like myself, and I don’t think I’m better than you. Regardless of what I may have assumed.”

When we approach others fully aware that they too, are trying their hardest to just get by, we give that person a much needed break, and by doing so, we ultimately give ourselves a break as well.

Being kind can come in small random acts of kindness, or gigantic displays of humanity. However, we must remember that just because we approach everyone with kindness, doesn’t always mean it will be reciprocated.

Thus, I present to you your fourth challenge.

YOUR CHALLENGE:

For the next 26 days, I want you to do one random act of kindness for someone else.

If you’re really looking to dive deep into this 30 day challenge then I highly suggest doing something for total strangers.

Doing something for someone you don’t know, is the truest sense of a random act of kindness. You’ll most likely get nothing in return, and you’ll probably never see this person again.

Its an awesome feeling.

You might feel awkward and uncomfortable at first, but I promise the more you do this, the easier it becomes, and the more you’ll want to keep this challenge up.

Remember something that may seem insignificant like holding the door open for someone else, could change someone else’s mood, day, or even life.

EXAMPLES:

Holding the elevator for someone.

Letting someone have your seat on the subway, bus, or train.

Paying for the person’s coffee, who is behind you in life. (A personal favorite)

Helping an older person cross the street.

Helping someone else get a cab.

Giving a homeless person money.

Carrying something up the stairs for someone.

Tipping more than would be expected to a server.

The list truly can go on and on.

Again, remember there is no act too big, or too small, when it comes to being kind. So stop being afraid to share your heart with the world, and let it sing with how amazing you are.

I promise you’ll feel the affects, and the universe will bring this kindness back to you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.

Enjoy spreading the love!

THE 10TH GAY OF X-MAS 2K16 EDITION

On the tenth Gay Day of Christmas, Secret Santa gave to me: the gift of reflection.

Reflecting on our lives, and ultimately each day is highly important when trying to make sense of all the craziness swirling around in our minds. We often go over and over the same event trying to make sense of things, and today’s challenge is meant to help us figure shit out in a productive way.

We all have a lot going on in our lives: dating, working, trying to have a social life, exercising, maintain our family lives, paying our bills, and the list goes on. No wonder why we can’t turn off at the end of the day. Being an adult is hard work, and there’s a lot we are responsible for. 

However, we need to turn off our phones, disconnect from the distractions of social media, and connect to the most important person in our lives, ourselves!

THE 9TH GAY OF X-MAS 2K16 EDITION

On the ninth Gay Day of Christmas, Secret Santa gave to me: the ability to handle fear and excuses. How often do we not even try something because we’re afraid of failing? This needs to stop immediately! As someone who has completely shaken up his own life multiple times, and jumped not knowing where I might land, I can tell you that fear is a mental construction that is holding you back from living your wildest dreams.

We need to stop making fear based decisions.

Fear based decisions are ones that usually come with thoughts like:

·         What if it doesn’t work out?

·         What if I fail?

·         What if I don’t like what I end up doing?

·         It’s easier to stay at my job because I make good money. 

·         I’m comfortable.

·         The money is too good to leave.

·         I'm not completely unhappy.

·         It's like this in every city.

·         All guys/girls act this way.

The problem with all of these type of thoughts is that we’re probably trying to make excuses as to why we should stay unhappy.

Sounds ridiculous, right? 

The amazingly lucky thing is we have the opportunity at any time to start working toward changes that make us happy. It will start with small baby steps, and before we know it we’ll be taking far greater risks with a comfortable ease.

Congratulations on making the decision to find out what your potential really looks like.

Are you nervous? Good that means you care. 

Are you excited? Good that means you care. 

Are you ready to get started? Whether you answered yes or no, it’s time, so let’s get to it!

YOUR CHALLENGE:

Make a list of all the things you are unhappy with. It's a difficult task to be honest with yourself, but it has to happen.

Then make a list of all the excuses you use as to why your life isn’t as amazing as you believe it should truly be.

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Be critical, don't rush, and really dig deep.

When you write down everything you've been using to hold yourself back, you start to see how frequently you negate yourself from being happy. 

Then do something to challenge yourself to figure out how you can remove one of these excuses.

BONUS CHALLENGE

 Ask someone you love what they think may be an excuse you use often.

The people that we love the most tend to see things we overlook in ourselves, and we can all use a little help, so don’t be afraid or defensive of what they may have to say.

Examples: 

WORK - TIME

·         “I don’t have enough time in the day to do the job that pays my bills, and start looking for another job.”

·         Make a list of all the things you think you would enjoy doing.

·         Then research what that careers typical salary, responsibilities, and credentials are.

·         Finally commit 30 minutes to one hour everyday actively looking and applying to jobs that you would 

·         enjoy.

·         A big tip is to not let your pride get in the way, or be afraid of starting at the bottom.

LIVING SITUATION - MONEY

·         “I don’t have enough money to move.”

·         Look at the past year, and figure out how much you’ve been spending per month.

·         Then start making a monthly budget that restricts how you spend by saving at least $100 a month.

·         A big tip is change how you eat. Eating out is always more expensive and adds up extremely fast. 

·         Start cooking meals like lunch, and watch the money roll in.

Now get to it, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2017 is going to be your year, so buckle up and get ready to enjoy the ride.

THE 8TH GAY OF X-MAS 2K16 EDITION

On the eighth Gay Day of Christmas, Secret Santa gave to me: the gift of insight for the vision ahead. We made it to the end of one of the most tumultuous and surprising years on record! It’s a great moment to take stock of where we are and expand our vision into the future.

All of us who are on a path of growth are part of that higher purpose. It’s really the only way that we can create the future we all desire, one where we can all live in a peaceful, sustainable, and healthy manner.

Rather than focusing on the spiritual promise of a better afterlife, it’s really about making THIS life into “heaven on earth.” Which means we need to bring wisdom, love, and consciousness into how we do everything from business to politics to education.

Our spiritual practices are the rocket fuel that can carry us forward but we also have to also embody higher consciousness in how we design our lives and our society. 

But these are all really a prelude to much bigger impacts in the years to come. In fact, I see us accelerating our growth and touching lives in ever more meaningful ways with in-depth trainings and certifications, local hubs and centers, online media, films and more. 

It may feel frustrating to see evidence of us retreating from that future, but the broad trends are very much towards a more conscious world. This is the perfect year to reset our vision of our future - a time to activate a more beautiful vision of what is possible.

That’s all part of the Vision for the future. And what’s in yours? It’s vital that we each take responsibility for our piece, for it is in the activation and achievement of ALL of our Big Visions that we build that brighter world for all.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with you on the larger Shift of our world…Thank you for being part of helping to evolve our world!