2018

The PAST

There are THREE THINGS you can do with your past.
1.       Reminisce on enjoyable times.
2.       Let go of painful memories.
3.       Learn from it. (Both success and mistakes)

Anything else, is a waste of time. Your past is what shapes you and it is also what destroys you. It is what made you into the person you are, and it is what is holding you back from becoming the person you want to be. It can be a blessing or a burden. The amazing thing… It is your choice as to what it becomes for you.

Thinking back on 2017, I had some of the most amazing memories of my life. Of course, just like any other year, there were hiccups and tragedies along the way. All I can do right now, is make sure that I learn from my mistakes and what I did successfully. Everyone talks about learning from mistakes…but what about learning from what you did GREAT. There is just as much value. If you can make a blueprint out of those successes, your chances of future success will increase.

As far as the mistakes and tragic experiences are concerned, what can I do about them. I can’t go back in time. The past is FIXED. It is PERMAMENENT. I can only let go of what pains me and I can learn from what I regret doing or a mistake that I made. If you hold onto pain from your past, it will eat you alive. It will cause more pain in the future and it will ALWAYS hold you back from moving forward.
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LEARN & LET GO. Don’t hold on. Don’t block it out. Think about it. Analyze everything. This is critical. This is what gives you peace. It is what helps you avoid future mistakes and may help narrowly escape a tragic situation.
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The PRESENT

Here are THREE tips for developing mindfulness in the present.
1.       Realize that NOW is NOW. The past and future have no part in it.
2.       Look around and marvel at the miracle of what we have.
3.       Do something NOW. Do something impulsive. We might not have tomorrow.

Having a child in 2017 was an unexplainable and magical experience. There isn’t anyway to articulate it. The feelings are beyond explanation. Every waking second with that little baby, forces you into the present moment. You lose sight of anything bothering you and lose track of time altogether. Nothing else matters except caring for that little one. It is FORCED mindfulness training : )

You flick a switch and lights turn on. You turn a knob and have fire. You turn a key and can speed down the road. Life is truly amazing. Start paying attention to it. Stop dwelling on the past and your shortcomings. Stop allowing the future to take you away from enjoying where you are right now.

Both of those things are very difficult to do. The past shapes you and the future motivates you. So, what can you do right now? BE ALIVE. Do something that boosts your energy. Got run. Do Jiu-Jitsu. Take a ride. Watch a movie. Read a book. BE ALIVE. Enjoy now. The past is over and tomorrow doesn’t exist yet. You need to prepare for tomorrow. But don’t allow it to stop you from living right now.
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The FUTURE

I wanted to stick with the theme of THREE items to help you with past, present, and future. But for this one I couldn’t. It was tough to nail three things down. I do know one thing… Your future is determined by two things. HARD WORK & LUCK. Samuel Goldwyn said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” I thought about that quote for a long time. I used to think that my work ethic determined everything. I definitely think it controls the majority. Maybe 80-20.

But really, my ability to work hard, analyze, and stay one step ahead, always puts me in a position to catch a much-needed break or to get something I want. Sometimes things fall into your lap. Usually, it is not a mistake. That big break hits you after you have been working tirelessly on a project or a job. Suddenly, the pieces fall into place and a small, ounce of luck, decides the outcome.

If you are hanging on to problems from your past…
If you are ONLY acting on impulse in the present…

You may be playing a risky game! Your life is a balance of past, present, and future. The work that goes into living, should be focused on ALL three of those elements of time. This balance will insure that YOU are balanced. It will insure your success and will help guide you to your own personal enlightenment.
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If you can’t learn and let go of your past, you can’t become what you want to become. You can’t live comfortably in the present and it will be a road block for the future. in 2018… try and find balance. Conquer yourself and transform into who you really want to be!
 
See you on the mats,
-          Eddie
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