The Power of Future Sight

I was speaking with a client a couple days ago. We were in the midst of talking about some of her goals as we had just finished up removing the mental and emotional obstructions to those goals.

I'm in mid tangent (as I sometimes find myself in) when she stops me and asked me arguably the best question I have heard all week:

"Why are people sometimes more committed to talking themselves out of solutions to their problems/challenges than they are committed to finding answers and acting on them?"

Good question, right?

It came up because she is someone who we have spoken about working together a couple times over this year and there was always "something," that kept her from beginning.

"I can't speak for everyone," I told her, "but what I see with most people is that people get so absorbed in their stories about why things are the way they are and how they can't be any different that they are unwilling to allow themselves the gift of future sight."

"What do you mean by future sight?" she asked.

"Future sight is when a person is so committed to making their future brighter: more successful, happy, & fulfilling, than their now, that they are willing to look beyond their problems and create a vision of how life can be."

Unfortunately, Future Sight is not taught in most schools nor is it practiced in most households.

What we get is something drastically different... a "things are as they are," type of an education as to how life will unfold.

Many of us grow up believing things are the way they are and that if we are not naturally smart, confident, courageous, positive, happy, etc... then we can never be those things. Instead, we have to settle for living life with what we have vs creating what we want.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

Walt Disney once said, "If you can dream it you can do it."

Future Sight is your dream. If you limit your dreams you limit what you can experience now and in the future.

If you allow yourself to expand your dreams then the possibility for your future expands too.

You are a born dreamer.

Something to help you get started:

Grab a pen and a piece of paper.

Set a timer on your phone or watch for 5 minutes.

For the next 5 minutes (you can't stop) write down everything you want for your future completely independent of your perceived limitations in the present.

Ex: If you want to be a millionaire, but are in debt right now, write down "Be a millionaire." The exercise is not meant to focus on now, it is meant to allow you to take a gander at a yet to be determined future and give you a glimpse into what's possible.

Once your five minutes are up, pick 3 - 5 of the things that you want to focus on immediately. These can be short-term goals, things you think are more doable, or the ones that emotionally resonate with you the most.

Write them on a separate piece of paper then ask yourself: "Who, What, Where, When, Why,"

"Who do I know that can help me with this?"

Ex: friends, family member, mentor, someone you know or do not know online, a coach, a teacher, etc...

"What do I need to do to begin to accomplish this?"

Ex: Time, an accountability buddy, resources, etc...

"Where do I need to focus my time and energy right now to achieve this?"

Ex: Focus needs to be on finding someone to mentor me through the process.

"When will I accomplish this by?"

Ex: March 29th, 2018

"Why is this important to me?"

Ex: Because I want to be an example to my children about how amazing life can be when you decide that you deserve an amazing life.

Lastly, decide on what your first step forward will be and then the next one after that and take action, Immediately, on that first step.

Ex: Contact the local adult ed program and sign up for the finance class.

You do not need to pay a Miss Cleo type person to see into the future for you were born with the gift of Future Sight.

You can begin to use it right now and make your future as bright as you wish.

It is your destiny!

Any questions at all, please leave them in the comments below.

If you want to share your answers to the above, please do so.

I believe in you.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com

http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

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Eliminating Your Stinking Thinking

Hi!

Our mindset matters!

You have likely heard some of the expressions:

"What you think about you bring about."

"Energy flows where attention goes."

"Thoughts become things."

And so on...

All of them are true!

The way we experience our external "reality" begins with our internal mindset.

One of the biggest obstacles we face in mastering our mindset is when we get caught up in the "Stinking Thinking" mentality.

You may know how that goes... negative thought enters in, which triggers another negative thought, then eventually emotions, then finally actions or inactions (I call this the Stinking Thinking Avalanche which I discuss in detail in the training below).

To help you out with this, I hosted a free training on defeating the Stinking Thinking.

You can access the training below (note you can fast forward to about the 7 minute mark as that's when the actual training begins).

I host these free Weekly Wisdom training's typically on Thursdays around 3pm PST on my Facebook page.

You would like to sign up to get email reminders as well as some bonus content related to the Weekly Wisdom training's you can do that by click here.



What was your biggest take away from this training? Please let me know in the comments below.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Three Big Reasons Why We Choose Pain

Hey there!

Hope this blog finds you smiling at life right now.  If you aren't smiling, I hope this blog can be a tool to help you re-discover your smile.

Every week on my Facebook page I host a "Weekly Wisdom," talk where I teach a few tools/concepts/strategies to help you live your happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilling life possible.

In these talks I try to pick topics that I feel will serve and help you make profound changes and advancements in your life.

The video below is on "Three of the Big Reasons Why We Choose Pain."

Not to worry, I explain what I mean by pain early on - and if that statement "Why We Choose Pain," got you a little riled up, please watch this talk with an open mind - you will get much more out of it that way. :)

Any questions at all - please leave them in the comments below.

If this talk resonates with you and you would like some help on your journey forward, you can use this link.



Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

What this picture means

Hello.

I'd like to tell you a story and see if I can help you, just as someone once helped me.

Before we get to story time, I wanted to give you some context first. This picture was taken just a couple weeks ago:

I took it at one of my favorite Sunrise viewing spots in Santa Barbara, California. 

I had just finished up a morning walk where most of the time was spent in deep thought of how I could be more effective at empowering you with the tools you need to build the life you want. 

I wake up, do my warm up exercises to help make my back happy, take a walk, and recite numerous things I am grateful for while noticing the beauty of the world around me. Then I begin asking myself questions: "how can I more effectively reach them." "What is the difference that will make the difference for them?" "How can I empower them with more certainty so they will listen to their heart instead of talking themselves out of something with their fear voice?"

I love this morning routine - I always feel happy, grateful, and inspired after.

There was something a little different about this particular morning walk which is why I am writing you today.

As I was enjoying the sunrise, I found myself reflecting back to a turning point in my life that happened nearly 15 years ago.

I was shy, self conscious, insecure, staring at myself in the mirror having just finished my then morning routine of telling myself: "how awful I was," "what a loser I was," "how worthless I was," "I didn't have anything worth contributing," etc...  There were moments during those days where I hated virtually every fiber of who I was.

To make matters worse, I had just received a letter from UCSB (my college I was attending) saying if I didn't get my grades up I would be kicked out of school.  Not only that I was on probation from the dorms for alcohol abuse (about to be kicked out of there too).

On that fateful day there was a spark that I had never noticed, (or maybe had never listened to before), that told me I could be more.

I had no idea how, but I knew one thing with absolute certainty, I did not want to keep living feeling the way I had any longer.

 For the first time I felt inspired to want to be happy, feel confident, and to matter. It was an important time in my life, a turning point.

Maybe you've had one of those? Or maybe you're in a transition right now, or ready for one.

My transition began with: figuring out what makes me happy, discovering how I could create self confidence, caring more deeply for those around me, and giving back to those who would listen.

People noticed and asked what had changed. I would tell them about what I was learning from all the books I was reading and training's I was attending.

My heart would break when I would meet people who were allowing fear to be in the driver's seat of their life.  I wish I could count on one hand (unfortunately the actual number is much larger) how many beautiful, potential filled people I have met, who were settling for less than their desired life because their minds were plagued with fear, self doubt, and uncertainty.

I believed if these people only had the right tools then they too would be able to eliminate their fears, get rid of the bad B.S. (belief systems), ditch stress, worry, and anxiety so that they could build a life filled with financial abundance, happiness, joy, and freedom to live life the way they want to live it.

I knew I wanted to make my life about making a difference in the lives of others by empowering them with the essential tools and techniques for building an extraordinary life. 

I never imagined I'd have the freedom to do some of the things I get to do. I call one of the most beautiful places in the world my home.  I get to set my own schedule, travel when I want to, test out new ideas, and have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others.

And I never imagined that yours' and mine paths would cross (I am very thankful you read my blogs). :) 

I never foresaw Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or blogs. I just wanted to inspire others as I had been inspired. I wanted to help others achieve the life they truly desired instead of settling for the life they were living.

I'm sharing this with you because I know you see all my posts, videos, and courses I offer. 

But behind it all, there's this excited big kid who still feels lucky to have had a second chance at life to do life the way I was meant to vs the way fear was dictating to me. Today, as I share this with you, , I remain in awe of the tremendous freedoms and impact I have been blessed with.

Lastly, this blog wouldn't be complete if I didn't check in on you to make sure you are living the life you desire? 

If not, maybe you never realized that you could? 

It's not unrealistic. No one knew me when I began, so it's not like I was special or had some secret advantages like money or a huge network of friends (I grew up fairly poor and my shyness/insecurity/lack of self confidence put a big stop on friendship forming).

I think my only advantages I had were:

1.) I knew I wanted more.

and

2.) I knew that if someone else could accomplish what I wanted, then the potential was there for me too.

If you want to have some of the mental and emotional breakthroughs like I did, so that you can live the life you know you were born for, then, you probably need to do what I did. 

Here's the abbreviated list:

    - I read approximately 200 books on mindset, emotional mastery, psychology, business, biology, successful people, and human behavior.

    - I participated in several 1000 hours worth of various trainings... both online and live (in person).

    - I hired several different mentors/coaches

    - I tried, I failed, I tried other stuff out, failed, learned, grew, tried, made progress, etc...

    - Most importantly I got my thoughts and emotions to sink up so that I could get what I wanted to get out of the above.

    - I believed I could.

If you and I never connect beyond this email, I wanted you to at least have some rough guidelines of what I did, and continue to do.

If you would like to accelerate your results and cut out a lot of the frustration and uncertainty then I have an eight week coaching program that is designed to help you do exactly that.

If you are struggling to master your mindset and feel like you do not have the emotional control you want, I would love to speak with you!

Let's set up a complimentary strategy session and discuss exactly how this eight week coaching program will help you breakthrough the wall(s) of limiting thoughts and master your emotions so that you can build the high quality of life you were meant to live.

To set this up simply click here, fill out the short form, and pick a time that works best for you to meet.

I sincerely hope you take me up on this eight week program as I would love to have some more friends to join me in the next sunrise selfie. 

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Click here to fill out the form
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The Last Wishes of Alexander the Great

A great short story - well worth the read.

"The last wishes of Alexander the Great:
On his death bed, Alexander summoned his generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery, and
3. His hands should be let loose, hanging outside the coffin for all to see.
One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain.
Here is what Alexander the Great had to say:
1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that, in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal
2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is TIME.
TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back.
Our time is our life."

Powerful questions to ask yourself:

Are you living the life you want to live? If no, what needs to change?


How will you spend Your time today? What are three things you can do that will add happiness, joy, and fulfillment to your day?

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

5 Common Misunderstandings that Will Ruin Any Relationship

Hi Everyone,

Recently I was asked to guest blog and the topic I was asked to write about is: "5 Common Misunderstandings That Will Ruin Any Relationship."

I wanted to make sure you had the chance to read it as well.  I have included it below along with a few links to helpful resources.

Please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

Relationships are the source of some of our most blissful, fulfilling, and pleasurable experiences when they are working; but when they are not, they can be the root of some of our deepest pain.

When our relationships are going well, we walk with a lightness in our steps, sunshine follows us everywhere, and the birds are always singing. When our relationships are not going well, we drag ourselves through the day with a dark cloud following us everywhere and the birds are nowhere to be found.

To minimize the pain and maximize the pleasure of your relationship, here are 5 common misunderstandings that will ruin any relationship:


* It is your partner's job to fix you.

As you go through life you learn how to fear, doubt, and form limiting beliefs about yourself and the world at large. This "stuff" of yours likely has negative consequences on your mental, emotional, and physical states - perhaps making you feel broken in some ways. It is not your partner’s job to fix you. The tools of love, while powerful, are not necessarily the tools that can ease fear, dispel doubt, and repair limiting beliefs. If you have “stuff” affecting your quality of life and your relationship, seek the help of a counselor, a coach, or a therapist. If you rely on your partner then you are adding a burden that the relationship was not meant to bare.

(Check out my program "Your Life Toolbox" to get an assortment of tools designed to help you live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.)


* Your relationship has space for your "baggage”.

Airlines limit your carry-on items to two and the more checked baggage you have, the higher the fee they charge you. There is a reason baggage is limited: There’s only enough room for two and in your relationship, that is You and Your partner. When you embark on new adventures go forth with only what you need and leave the rest behind. If you bring into your new relationship all of your past relationships and the mental and emotional turmoil they entail, you undoubtedly set yourself up for a challenging road ahead. Want your relationship to succeed? Then adhere to the wise words of "leave your baggage at the door."

(I have an awesome course on Self Love that can really help you with this.  Check it out by clicking here.)


* Assuming you are loved unconditionally.

I get it - I too was raised on the Disney inspired notion of happily ever after and the unconditional love that comes with it. But, after the handsome prince rescues the damsel in distress, they kiss, and ride off into the sunset have you ever stopped to wonder- what then? That's when the real relationship happens and the work to make it a lasting and fulfilling one begins. The biggest mistake I see couples make is assuming that their partner loves them unconditionally and that no matter what they say or do their partner will continue to love them. Unconditional, meaning without conditions, and yet you, me and everyone else has conditions that need to be met for our relationship to last and our love to flourish. If you really are in your relationship for the long haul, drop the fantasy and dig in to getting to know and understand your partner and what their conditions are. Once you understand those, you can make it your relationship mission to ensure those conditions are always met.


* Believing that how you show/express love is how your partner wants to be shown love.

In Gary Chapman's must-read relationship book "The Five Love Languages", Chapman discusses in depth the five distinct ways we show, demonstrate, or communicate love to our partners. The challenge couples face: how you show love and want to be shown love, may be completely different than how your partner show's love and wants to be shown love - in essence, you are speaking different love languages. Imagine going to China and trying to speak Greek... you may not get as far as you would like. Do yourself a favor and read the book "The Five Love Languages." Better yet, make it a mandatory reading for the relationship, and have a discussion about it before you go to bed each night.


* Relying on sex to solve the problems.

A friend of mine would often joke that whenever his relationships were in a rough spot he would just spend a little more time in the "Boom Boom Room" and everything would be OK. To date, he still hasn't found the long term relationship he wants. Sex has an important role in the relationship, but when that role starts to involve sweeping the problems of the relationship under the rug with the rest of the dirt, it is only a matter of time before the relationship and sex life turns sour. The rug can only hide so much so if you want a relationship that lasts, you have to make it a habit to clean under the rug - often. The cool thing is that the more you clean, the less there is to clean. I suggest setting a time, once a week, for a regular relationship check-up. During this time, you and your partner can talk about what is going great in the relationship and what you can improve upon. Making regular communication like this a priority will not only keep the space under the rug clean, it will also ensure that the sizzle stays in your sex life.

I hope you found value in this.  Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

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I Cried When I Sold my Car

A couple weeks ago I bought a new car and as a part of that process traded in my old car.

The last few years I have had ongoing back problems which has limited a lot of the things I enjoy doing physically. 

For the last year I have been pulling the magnifying glass out and looking at day to day behaviors in an attempt to asses where I can reduce certain movements and the toll they take.

One of the more taxing movements was getting in and out of my car.

Realizing this I began the process, about six months ago, to look for a new car.

I say "began the process," because I was not overly motivated to look.  I still liked my car enough and it still had plenty of miles left in it, but as time went on it became more evident of what I was giving up by not moving forward.

Have you ever felt like that?  Felt like you were giving something up by not moving forward?  Felt like your unwillingness to change was keeping you from something more?

I did my research and when it finally came time to make a decision I began to feel sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to my "Little Car," (a name I have affectionately called it for the last eight years).

When I signed the papers for my new car, I walked outside to look through my "Little Car" to make sure I had got all my possessions and say goodbye.  As I did this I began to cry.  In that moment I was flooded with this deep feeling of gratitude I had for my Little Car.

I looked at it and saw so many memories in the 109,000 miles we had traveled together. 

My Little Car was home to 1000's of laughs and tears. It was the vehicle that took me to so many amazing sunrise's and sunset's.  It always got me safely from point A, B, C - Z and back again.  It was what carried me to my Mom's house, in silence, after learning my Dad had died.  It was where countless heart to heart's happened. My Little Car had so much good news shared within it's interior as well as housed a number of heartbreaks too.

All this and more came rushing back to me as I said goodbye to my Little Car - a Gratitude for it I had never felt before.

When I finally drove away from it, my heart was so filled with love and appreciation for it that I found myself thinking: "I want to feel this level of gratitude all the time."

Gratitude adds a deeper level of meaning in life and when you live your life from a place of gratitude you will find that there just isn't a lot of room for the "other stuff."

I am grateful for all the amazing moments experienced in my Little Car.  I am extra grateful for the final amazing moment we shared together and the valuable life lesson that was contained within it: the importance of living each day from a place of love and gratitude.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge 

Honoring Those You Have Lost

If you live you will lose - as they say two things you can be certain about are death and taxes.

Loss can be one of the most devastating and life altering events you will ever go through. It can rock you to your core and the aftermath of it could derail your life, permanently, if you do not deliberately take steps to get back on track and move forward after your loss.

The challenge of course is "how." How do you do that after you have lost someone you love so deeply.

How?


In the last few years I have lost three very important people in my life: one of my best friends to suicide, my Dad unexpectedly two weeks after being declared cancer free (you can read those stories here) and my best friend to a car crash.

Each of these deaths came with additional life struggles... relationships ending, struggling to "fit in," unmotivated, uninspired, etc...

Through all this, I kept coming back to the question of "how?" How do you move forward after loss?  How do you move forward to not merely exist, but to truly live?  How do you move forward to live a happy and fulfilling life?

Having gone through the challenge of loss myself, as well as with numerous clients from all over the world what I have found to be most effective in doing the above is deciding on a path that honors your loved one and traveling it.

When we allow ourselves to begin to live a life to honor those we have lost, it can give our lives a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.  Two vital ingredients to a fulfilling life.

Recently I shared a video of an event I have hosted for the last three years... it is part of an ongoing mission to live my life in a way that honors my best friend.  Every year, on his birthday, people take a photo of a sunrise and/or sunset and share it on social media.  I take several of the photos and put them together in a video which you can see below.

If you are reading this and you are at a time in your life where you find yourself struggling with loss, I encourage you to look within and ask yourself, "how can I begin to live my life to honor who I have lost?"

Your answer may present the meaning and purpose you seek.

Carpe Diem and with Love,

Jesse

P.S. I also lovingly invite you to check out my "Healing from Loss" program You can learn all about it by clicking here.

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Lessons Learned from 9 Years of Entrepreneurship

Hi!

Recently I hit a milestone professionally and I as I was reflecting back on it, I thought there were a few insight worth sharing.

September 3rd marked my ninth year of becoming an entrepreneur and making the decision to work for myself. Nine years, I cannot believe that!  I still vividly remember the day I walked out of my job as an employee for the last time. It was feeling that was both scary and liberating at the same time.

I remember waking up the next day and one of my first thoughts was: "Now what?"

In the nine years since my career has been filled with ups, downs, lefts, and rights.  I have traveled the world and have spent many a long days/nights/weeks/months in my bedroom or office trying to push things forward.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, but I promise you this, if you heart is filled with a message to share with the world, and you are willing to be bold and ride the waves of uncertainty, there is nothing better, in my opinion, than calling your own shots, setting your own schedule, being your own boss, and walking your own path through life.


Lessons learned

Do it because you are passionate about it:

Life is way to short to do it for any other reason. No matter how long my days are or how much frustration may enter into them (yes I get frustrated and even pissed off at times) there is nothing else I would rather do.  Ask yourself this: at the end of your life would you rather sit on a mountain of money, but feel empty inside, or would you rather sit on a couple coins, but be filled with happiness, joy, and a ton of amazing memories? Pursue your passion and life will deliver.

It ain't easy:

As the saying goes, "If it were everyone would do it."  Lots of long days that meld into long nights. You often learn that just because you think you have a great idea doesn't mean everyone else does.  Restless nights, take out, paperwork scattered everywhere, odd hours, saying "no" to going out and hanging with friends, and instead saying yes to waking up early (7 days a week).  But heck, the time will pass anyways, right, so why not invest that time in the pursuit of what you truly want.

Make sure you have a strong stomach and are prepared for the swings:

I silly-ly (when you walk your own path you get to make up your own words) thought that I was going to be running the "Field of Dreams" of Personal Training (when I first started out) and Life Coaching Services.  "If I built it they would come," welllllll it doesn't always happen exactly like that.  At first you are often playing for an empty ball park, and while it may not be the most desirable outcome at the time, you know what, something magical happens when your customers do start showing up.  You learn to appreciate them that much more.  Not every season will be a winning season, the loses make you much more appreciative of the wins.

Put yourself out there:

One thing is for sure, nothing will happen if you do not share your gift with the world.  I long ago had the idea in my mind that I wanted to become a speaker and use my voice to share my message with the world.  The problem: I never had really spoken publicly or on video.  When my first website was set up (the original http://www.jessebrisendine.com ) I decided no better way to kick off my quest to become a speaker than to slap a video on my website for the whole world to see. I have now dug this video up (see below) to share with you.  We all start somewhere...

Believe in yourself:

In anything you do there will likely be skeptics and critics.  Something I learned early on is to always ask myself: "Does this person (the person who is doubting me) have everything in their life they want in this particular area?" 99.999999% of the time the answer was NO.  Often people will cast shade on what you are pursuing because you have the courage to pursue something they want, but are too scared to go after.  There will be doubters and naysayers along any path worth traveling.  Listen to them, you will never get to where you want to go.  Listen to your internal compass and it will lead you to your destination.

Learn to embrace people telling you "No."

We all are in "sales." Some of us may not directly negotiate a price, ask for a fee, or shake hands over a deal, but we are all "selling" ourselves all the time. I'm on the side where I offer services and for people to utilize those services they pay a fee to me.  In those exchanges (a customer has the opportunity to invest money in a service I provide) I have been told No far more than I have been told Yes. I won't lie, the initial No's hurt, but if you allow them to, they get exciting really fast because every "No," brings you one step closer to a "Yes." Keep pushing forward in-spite of the "No's," the "Yes's" need you!

Celebrate the little wins:

Often when we begin something new we want to hit a home run right out of the gate and given the choice between a home run and a single, who wouldn't choose the home run?  The home run is what brings the crowd to their feet, it is what makes the highlight reel on Sportscenter.  Life isn't always a home run, sometimes it is just stepping up the plate and giving your best effort. You won't always be at a 100%, but you can always give 100% of whatever you got that day.  When you step up to the plate don't swing for the fences every time, step up with the intention to give your best.  When you do that, celebrate the effort, take a breath, and evaluate how you can improve.

Life is to short not to go after what you want:

See above about Passion.  We have all heard it before and it is worth hearing again "Life is to short to be miserable."  If the work you do does not fulfill you, if the relationship you are in leaves feeling empty, if you go to bed a night dreading the alarm clock in the morning, something needs to change.  Your life is precious, you would not be here if that wasn't the case.  Treat your life like the treasure it is and you will find a world of wonder waiting for you.  Make the changes you know you need to make, life is to short not to.

Have a plan, but most importantly be prepared to work hard:

When I began working for myself I had a vague (at best) plan.  The plan consisted of crunching a few numbers and me showing up.  What I have learned is the best laid plans will often encounter challenges and no well laid plan will ever be a substitute for a relentless work ethic. Plans help with efficiency and give you guidance as to how to best focus your efforts, but at the end of the day nothing gets things done like an unbreakable work ethic.  When things get dirty, be prepared to roll up your sleeves and dive in.

Even as I type, I have more memories, ideas, and thoughts I could share with you, but I think I will save those for later and instead leave you with this:

Time will continue to pass, life will move forward, things will always change, 7+billion people are responsible for living their lives, and you are responsible for living yours.  If you do not like how things are going right now, be courageous enough to change it.  An amazing life is not given, it is created.

Carpe Diem and thank you for being a part of my first nine years,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S.

If you need help on your journey, and you would like me to be your guide to help you get what your heart desires, you can contact me here.  Note, this is only for those of you who are committed to living your greatest life. If you are content to settle and keep things as they are, please do not click on this link.

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Your Time is a Gift

I have been thinking a great deal about "time" the last few weeks.  I find it amazing that so many of us, myself included, repeatedly squander this most precious of resources.

It is one of the great ironies of our existence - when we are alive we always seem to be in a hurry; always wanting the time to pass.  We future pace ourselves so we can get to the next item on our agenda, the next vacation, the next day off from work, the next big event, and so on.

Yet when we are at the end of our lives we inevitably wish we had more time.  Why?

If only we could adopt that end of life perspective now, in the present, so that we can truly treasure each moment for the gift that it is.

How much would that perspective shift change our lives?

I once gave a speech for a Toastmasters competition.  My speech was on time.  The below is a recording of one of my practice sessions.  I share this video with you in hopes that the message contained within connects with you and inspires you to make the most of your time.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com

http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S.

If after watching this video you find yourself with wanting to make better use of your time and eliminate some of the things that are holding you back in life, you and I must talk!

  Click here to schedule a time to meet with me.

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Value Comes from Within

What is the value of a car, a purse, a home, a vacation, a pencil?  Did you answer with a dollar amount?

How about your happiness, what is the value of that? Can you answer that with a  dollar amount?

How do  we quantify things like happiness when they do not necessarily have the tangibleness of something like a car?

This presents the challenge that so many people face: placing a higher value on things vs their own happiness and fulfillment.

We all know someone who bought the car they could not afford because they said it would "make them happy."  And we all see that same person experiencing more stress from the car (payments, maintenance, worrying about it getting any scratches on it, etc...), rather than the happiness they thought it would bring.   

Where does value come from and how do we go about determining something's value?

In the below video I talk all about this and how you have the power to decide what is truly valuable to you.

 

 

 What do you place a high value on?  Does value factor into your day to day decision making process when it comes to things like happiness, joy and fulfillment in life?

You only have one life to live and it is your opportunity to make the most of it.  If you are wanting to place a hire value on yourself - your quality of life than you have before, I can help. Click here to schedule a time for us to chat about creating a greater level of value in your life.

 

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com

http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge 

What is Your Value?

We place a value on everything in life.  We use two primary commodities to assign value to things: Time and Money.

Those are, for most of us, the simplest, most tangible ways to place value on something.

If I were to ask you a few questions I am willing to bet you can answer them fairly quickly:

How much would you spend on a new car?  A designer pair of jeans?  A shirt?  A new pair of shoes?

You have a picture in your head of each of those and a dollar amount that you have already determined they are worth.

What if I changed the question just a little bit.  Instead of asking you about tangible things like a car, what if I changed and asked you about things that are not quite so tangible.

How much would you spend on your health?  Your happiness?  The relationships with your friends and family?  Waking up feeling excited vs waking up feeling angry about having to wake up?

These questions are a little tougher to answer, right?  

Why is it that it is so easy for us to put a value on material things and so challenging for us to put a value on the things that really should matter most?

I the below video I talk about this and why it is so important for you to place a high value on yourself.

What are your key takeaways from today's blog?  What is your value?  I would l love to hear your thoughts.  Please leave a comment below.

#CarpeDiem,

Jesse

P.S. 

I believe You are Worth a Tremendous Amount!  I Believe You Deserve to Live a Life Free From Fear, Pain, Stress, and Anxiety.  I Believe You are NOT Meant to Spend Your Days Stuck and Unable to Move Forward. I Believe that You are Fully Deserving of All the Happiness, Joy, and Fulfillment that Life Has to Offer.

If you believe this too, and would like some help on your journey, click the following link, fill out the short application, and we can set up a time to talk and figure out exactly how I can help you: http://www.jessebrisendine.com/life-coaching/application.php

http://www.jessebrisendine.com

http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Breaking Through Walls

Hey there!

Hope this blog finds you doing well and living a life you are thrilled to be living. :)

If you have goals, if you have dreams, one of the inevitability's in life is that you will likely, at some point, run into a wall or obstacle on your way to achieving Your dreams.

The walls we run into, or more specifically, the walls we create, can be nothing less than dream destroyers if we allow them to be.

Personally, I have seen far to many amazing people sacrifice to many days, weeks, months, and years of their lives to these walls.

Life does not have to be that way, nor is life meant to be lived "stuck" on the side of the wall you do not want to be on.

To help you fix this, I recently hosted a "Facebook Live" event called Breaking Through Walls. 

Several hundred people from all over the world attended the live event, and the feedback I have been getting from them has been fantastic.

I shared with them a simple five step system for breaking through the "Walls" of life, and I want to make sure you have access to this information too.

To watch, all you need to do is click the link below (You will have to be logged into facebook).

I hope you find value in this training.

Here's a quick overview of the five steps:

1. Identify
2. Find a Weakness
3. Gather Your Resources for Before and After the Breakthrough
4. Take Action
5. Form your Team/Community 

Click here to watch the video



Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Carpe Diem,


Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

What Makes You Happy?

"I wish I was happier...," "If only I was happier, then____ (fill in the blank)"

Do either of the above sound familiar?  Have you ever heard friends, family, co-workers, or yourself say either of these phrases or something similar?

I know I sure have!

Happiness is something we all want yet it seems to be so elusive for so many.

The ironic part of happiness is that it is available anywhere, at anytime, and is unlimited in the amount of it you can have.

How is that so?

Well, put simply, happiness isn't a thing, it is a state of mind.  Things can stimulate our brain to produce "happy chemical's,"  things like images of puppies playing, little kids trying to walk, old people in love; are some universal images that conjure up the happy thoughts inside of us all.

We have the ability to be happy all the time.  We really do!  We just have to make it a point to train our mind to focus on and look for thoughts, things, ideas that make us feel happy vs. the opposite.

What makes you happy?

In the video below I discuss happiness and how to create it.

I hope it helps you bring more happiness into your life.

Carpe Diem,

 

Jesse

 

http://www.jessebrisendine.com

http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Growing Patience and Making Decisions

Hi,

Without fail, two areas I consistently see people struggle in are: Decision Making and Exercising Patience.

At first I was hesitant to record a video addressing decision making and patience at the same time because sometimes excuses about being "patient" are used to justify indecision.

The reality is indecision is almost never due to being patient and collecting more info, indecision is most often born from a fear to act.

A lack of patience can be costly - think of how much time you lose to stress and anxiety... getting worked up over things you cannot control, like traffic, simply because you do not have the patience to negotiate the situation.

If you exercised patience, perhaps your experience would be a little different.

I hope you find value in this short video.  In it I share some strategies I use for exercising a greater level of patience and making decisions.

Looking forward to reading your comment.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Perspective: Life Lessons Learned in a Hospital Waiting Room

Hi Everyone,

I appologize for my absence from blogging, I have been spending a lot of time getting my business organized so I can deliver more and better content to you all.  I hope everyone has been enjoying Katie's awesome blogs she has been putting up.

Has anyone tried her Cauliflower dish yet?

I had an experience the other day that I really wanted to share with you all as I think it serves as a powerful reminder that we all have so much to be grateful for.

On Tuesday I was at the doctors office having a consultation for an ongoing problem I have been having.  I was feeling pretty bummed out.  I have been dealing with this issue since September of last year.  I have followed all recommendations, tried a variety of different treatments, changed my diet, visualized it healing, willed it away, and yet... it lingers.

This lingering problem leaves me in a fair amount of pain and discomfort throughout the day.  Furthermore the medication for it is horrible.  I take it and I instantly get a headache and feel like I am going to pass out.  The headaches last for several hours and often times reach a migraine level of intensity.

What is worse than the pain is the way it has been affecting my lifestyle.  Travel has been very hard as has been doing many of the outdoors and social things I really enjoy doing (hence the reason you all have not been seeing as many pictures from me as usual).  I have been avoiding surgery because I have read one to many horror stories on the internet of worst case scenarios that happen during the operation.  Usually I don't buy into this kind of stuff, but I still experience daily complications/pain from the hernia surgery I had almost two years ago.  Plus, the simple fact, that I just don't want to have surgery! Sooo needless to say I get a little to paranoid about these things.

That's my story.  Through this all I feel like I have kept a pretty great attitude about it.  My friends and I have had quite a few good laughs about it.  More importantly, while it has affected some of the things I enjoy doing, it has given me more time to focus on other things I really enjoy doing.

I think this is so crucial when we encounter obstacles in life.  Don't focus on what you are having to give up.  If you do, it will consume you.  Instead focus on what opportunities you will now have more time for.  Put your love, your energy, your passion into those things, they will help you get through the tough spots.

Anyways, back to my consultation on Tuesday.  So I am sitting there in the waiting room, trying to reassure myself that I really have tried everything, and that surgery is the best decision moving forward.  While I am sitting there I am also having a little pity party that was attended by such phrases as, "this sucks," "I am to young for this crap," "not another surgery," "I don't understand I am so healthy," blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc...

Right as I am at the apex of my feeling like a victim, a doctor walks out with a man who had been sitting quietly in the chair next to me 20 minutes earlier.  The doctor starts talking to the man's wife saying something about how one piece wouldn't fit inside of another or something like that.

Then I heard a noise.

Then another noise.

There was this beep, then a garbled computer sounding noise.

I looked up and immediately felt shammed by my little pity party.  Here was this man, probably in his early 50's who had a trachea box in his throat.  He could not talk, he could only communicate by pushing a button that would then make a noise that alerted people to let them know that he understood.

I can talk, I can sing (kind of), I can communicate, I can use my words to express myself.  More than that, after my operation, barring an internet horror story occurrence, I should be feeling better within a few weeks.  This guy, who knows how long, if ever?

I was reminded of the words my Dad had told me and that I have shared with all of you before: "We never have to look to far to see someone who has it worse than us."

It is true, we never do.  I, you, we all, have so much to be grateful for.  If we all would spend more time focusing on that instead of the not so wonderful stuff, I am convinced the world would be a happier, healthier place.

I went into my appointment with the doctor with an improved attitude.  Surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday in the early am.  It is the next step for me, more importantly, I believe it is the right step.  :)

Spend some time today reminding yourself of all the great things in your life.  Take a few moments to focus on all the wonderful opportunities in front of you.  :)

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

What makes you happy

An Idea and a Book



Jesse writes a lot about why finding what makes you happy is a cornerstone of building a good life. When you’re happy with yourself or certain aspects of your life, decision making becomes easier, you have more fun, you are more social, and more eager to take on new challenges (these ideas comes from observation and personal experience). But, are some things we THINK will lead to happiness, e.g., more money, having more fun, a body like hers... really the way to make it happen?


I recently met with a well traveled friend who told me about her experience trekking in Nepal. Nepal was awesome and eye-opening she said. Eye-opening because of how poor the country is, but also because the Nepalese people she met were all SO happy and kind, even though they have nothing. This stuck, and I did a quick inventory of my life in the present. I’m sitting in a sunny cafe, eating my $15 meal with friends, feeling great post-workout. What was I just complaining about an hour ago?


More to the point, I think some of us might be measuring our happiness against ideas, activities, and people that only offer a fleeting sense of the real thing. My Dad gave me great book by Dennis Prager called Happiness is a Serious Problem that explains just this. I’m not gung-ho on self-help books (I find most too repetitive and preachy), but this one is definitely worth a look. Prager talks about how happiness is a process we are obligated to work at. The “problem” is how we go about finding happiness in unhealthy and ineffective ways. He breaks down life into categories like work, fun, relationships, and family, and explains exactly what behaviors cause dissatisfaction in those areas and how we can change them. Being aware of and evaluating when these behaviors occur and why they do can help achieve happiness that will last.

If you’ve got the curiosity to pick up this book, I’ll make it easy for ya:

http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Is-Serious-Problem-Nature/dp/0060987359/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363233686&sr=8-1&keywords=happiness+is+a+serious+problem


Has anyone read this, and what did you think?


All my best,

Katie

The Talk Test

As I am writing this, it is a little less than 24 hours away until I open up the Fat Eradicating Challenge for you all to participate in!

I am so excited for you to try out this program.  Who is eligible you might ask?  Anyone who is tired of having the "spare tire" hang over their pants.  Anyone who feels self conscious in a bathing suit.  Anyone who wants to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol.  Anyone who wants to live a healthier happier life.  Anyone who wants to have more energy to play with their kids.  Essentially anyone who wants to and is committed to Eradicating their body fat is eligible for this program.

I have tested this program out with numerous clients and it works!  The details will come out in my newsletter tomorrow.  Make sure you don't miss out, click here to sign up to my newsletter.

One of the most common questions I hear in my Fitness life is, "Jesse, when I do cardio how fast/how hard am I supposed to train at?  What is the best heart rate for me to be at?"

My first answer is always, "well, it depends on your goals."

After that my second answer is always the following recommendation, "I personally believe the "Talk Test" is the best way to gauge workout intensity for the average person who wants to be healthy and reduce body fat." 

What is the "Talk Test?' 

The talk test is a simple test that requires no equipment to perform and is always accurate. 

You begin by doing your cardio training of choice: running, walking, exercise bike, etc...  and from there, you start talking.

If you can carry on an uninterrupted conversation where it does not sound like you are even breathing hard, then guess what - YOU need to up the intensity.

If on the other hand you are working so hard that you cannot utter a couple of coherent words, then you might want to consider slowing down just a tad, as this intensity is going to be very hard to sustain over a cardio session of 20 - 30 minutes

The sweet spot is when you are huffing and puffing, but can still get a few words out without feeling like you will pass out by talking.  You should be able to say hi, hello, and comment on the weather through heavy breathing.  If however you have enough wind to talk politics, you have slowed down to much and need to pick up the pace.

For a little more info about the talk test, check out this article from the CDC:  Talk Test Article

There you have it.  With your voice as your guide, you are on your way to maximizing your time at the gym and achieving the results you want and deserve!

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Action, Action, ACTION

Taking action is the key to success!


There I said it!  Lesson over; I have taught you all you need to know!

In case you do want to know more, read on:

First, a few updates.

We had an awesome Ustream chat this morning.  If you missed it, watch the replay here: 

https://www.facebook.com/1Year1000Challenge/app_196506863720166

http://www.ustream.tv/broadcaster/new/8482161

As I mentioned on today's chat I am doing a lot of  "re-organizing" to do my best to deliver on my 10x value pledge I made to you all.  Part of that "re-organizing" is going to be presenting exclusive offers that will be available only to members of my newsletter.  Do not miss out, get all the info here: Newsletter Sign Up 

On that note, I will be holding my first seminar on the first weekend in March.  Space will be extremely limited so keep your eyes and ears open for when the opportunity to sign up becomes available.

The topic will be on Relationships.  How to attract and create the relationship of you dreams, and how to reconnect and reignite the passion in your current relationship.

Lastly, Spring is just a few months away.  To help you get in shape not just for spring, but for the rest of you life, I am putting together a contest for you all.  I will buy the winner of this contest a pair of designer jeans, of their choosing, valued at up to $300!!!  Yes, I am that dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness goals :)

As you all know, I have been testing and refining a new exercise/nutrition method that is getting my personal training clients AMAZING results!  I have been working hard at making the program full proof.  I am proud to say, I got it down and am ready to share it with you.  I am going to unveil this program as part of the Designer Jeans contest.  Keep your eyes open.  Members of my newsletter will have the first opportunity to sign up for this awesome contest.  One more time, here is the link to sign up for my newsletter:  Newsletter

Ok, so the secret to success, success in anything in your life from financial to relationships is taking action.

You can read all the books, You can watch all the videos, You can listen to all the motivational speeches, You can study every "guru's" teachings, but none of it will help you create the life you want to live, unless you put the knowledge you learn into action!

Taking action is absolutely essential to achieving whatever it is you want in life. 

Action, Action, Action!!  

Ask yourself, what is one thing you can do right now, what is one action you can take that will put you a step closer towards achieving one of your goals?

Now whatever it is, get to work on doing it.  You and Your life are worth it.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Be Present to Live a Fulfilling Life

How is 2013 going so far?  Is it the year you want it to be, or is it starting off a little slower than you had hoped?

More importantly, have you made time for you, made time for what is most important to you?  Have you made time for friends, family, your health, your PASSIONS?!?!

Every day I seem to find more reminders in the world of just how short and how precious life is.  I think we would all be in agreement that it will be hard to find someone who disagrees with this.

Yet everyday I hear stories of "life just passing by," essentially people not taking time to get present with what is most important to them, what matters most.

Why?


I want 2013 to be the most successful year for you ever!  When I say successful, I mean more than just career/financial success.  I want you to be successful in living.  I want you to have fulfilling relationships, superior health, control of your time, more Free time; and I want you to be fully present to enjoy it all.

One of the things I have begun doing in 2013 is holding a weekly poker game with a group of guys.  I used to play regularly several years ago and I loved it.  I loved it because it gave me a time to connect with other people and created an opportunity to bond and strengthen relationships.

What is something you could start doing to bond, to connect, to strengthen relationships with friends and family?

I promise you that the more present you are in your interactions with people, the higher quality relationships you will have.

Watch the short video below on the importance of being present. 

If you have already seen it before, watch it again, being present, living a fulfilling life is worth it.

What is something you could do today that will help you become more present in your life?  Please share below.  We will all learn more and live better lives by working together.  :)

Enjoy the pics,

Carpe Diem,

Jesse