Having spent literally days thinking about what I wanted to do, I think this is the best decision at the time.

First, why the hiatus?

I’ve decided to take a break from A Boundless World for a few reasons.

1. I recently became the main writer behind the popular personal development blog PluginID.

2. Because both blogs are fairly simliar in content I knew that writing for both would be an inefficient use of my time. I’d much rather have my efforts 100 percent devoted to one blog  rather than two.

3. My message has always been to inspire as many people as I can, and while this blog has grown in size significantly over the past year and half, it just doesn’t compare to the traffic that PluginID is receiving. Writing for PluginID just makes sense for me as well as my readers for many reasons.

What is the future of A Boundless World?

As of right now, I’m not entirely sure. I currently plan to devote 100 percent of my time and energy to PluginID for the next year at least. Beyond that I plan to reevaluate when the time comes. I am confident however, that A Boundless World is not dead. I equate it to a year long hibernation maybe more.

I have some rather ambitious life-time goals that I hope to accomplish over the next few years, such as traveling the world and making a living online, and  I feel as if this medium might fit well with those endeavors. I’ll be sure to keep you updated with my plans over at PluginID.

Did you sell yourself to the devil?

Short answer.. no.

Long answer: Giving up A Boundless World to write for another blog was obviously a decision that I didn’t take lightly. A Boundless World was and still is a big part of my writing career. I can’t tell you how blessed I am to have written for the hundreds of people who have chosen to read my blog.

Writing for PluginID allows for my message to be shared with a far larger audience than it is now and was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.

What about ‘us’ your readers?

I’m not disappearing off the face of the earth. I fully intend to be as active (even more so than I was here) while running PluginID. That’s part of the reason I decided to take a break here, is because I wanted to give one blog my full attention. If you want to get in contact with me I will be available.

My writing style will not change over at PluginID. I still intend to write on whats my mind even if I know people might have a different view. I’m excited for my time with PluginID because I know it will accelerate my growth at a rate in which I have yet to experience, and I know I’ll be able to help more people than I can at the current moment.

How the hell were you able to take over PluginID?

Luck. Hard work. Luck. In all seriousness, I was just at the right place at the right time, passion also played a large role.

Thank You:

I don’t want to sound corny when I say this, but I just want to say thank you for the support you guys (and girls) have given me over the past year and a half. Running this blog and interacting with you all has literally changed my life.

Because of this blog I’ve been able share my passion for writing with thousands of people. Because of this blog I’ve been able to co-author an e-book with one of the biggest bloggers on the net. Because of this blog I’ve been able to connect with many of you at a deeper level and for that I am greatly appreciative.

I sincerely hope that my writing has helped you with your own personal growth journey.

Thank you. I hope you will join me in my journey over at PluginID.

Post from: A Boundless World

The Hiatus of A Boundless World

Related posts:

1. 1 Year Anniversary of A Boundless World Today marks a very special day for me as it...
2. Interview With Glen Allsop of PluginID Today I’m pleased to share with you an interview...
3. It’s On: A Race To 1,000 Subscribers If you’ve been following my twitter feed, you may have...

1. 1 Year Anniversary of A Boundless World Today marks a very special day for me as it...
2. Interview With Glen Allsop of PluginID Today I’m pleased to share with you an interview...
3. It’s On: A Race To 1,000 Subscribers If you’ve been following my twitter feed, you may have...

I apologize for the delay in posting the review. I originally had planned do a recap after each day (it was a three day conference), however after finding out the hotel charges 15 dollars a day for internet, I decided against it. This worked out well because the conference was packed with information so waiting has given me a week or so to completely digest the experience.

Why did I attend?

I’ve received a few email’s asking why I decided to attend. I’ve been a big fan of Steve’s blog for a while now, reading him on and off for the past 2 years. I found his website soon after the death of my friend and it gave me plenty to contemplate while helping me cope with my loss. I also resonated with his idea of oneness and how we are really all one. His article The Meaning of Life really got me thinking. Because I’ve liked much of what he writes about I decided I’d make the trip to Vegas to hear his principles in person. I had originally planned to attend the first CGW but I unfortunately would then miss a bunch of class. Lucky for me, the second workshop was scheduled just a few days before I had to go back to school, so I figured it was meant to be.

Before The Conference:

The conference began on Friday morning but I flew into Vegas Thursday night. My cousin who lives in San Francisco decided to come to Vegas to hang out with me for the weekend which turned out to be a lot of fun. Although she didn’t go to the conference, we explored some Vegas shows together at night ( I loved the Lion King). When I arrived Thursday night I spent some time just walking up and down the strip taking in the scenes of Vegas. I also stopped in on the meet up at a local cafe which I found to be very cool. The energy of everyone was extremely upbeat. It was also nice to meet several of the attendee’s who I had already spoken to via Twitter of Facebook.

Day 1

Going in to Day 1 I was somewhat nervous. Out of the 100 or so attende’s I was one of the youngest ( There was also another attendee who was also 18 but for the most part everyone was in their late 20’s or early 30’s.) It was definitely interesting to see the wide range of people who attended. To name a few groups, there were raw foodists, entrepreneurs, and people interested in physic development. There was also plenty of diversity in terms of spiritual beliefs of the group which I found to be refreshing and thought provoking.

During Day 1 Steve gave an in-depth overview of the 7 principles in his book. For anyone who has ever read the books these principles should be fairly familiar. For those have not yet read the book I’ll give a brief summary of the principles.

Love: Love extends further than just being an emotion. Having love in your life means being able to connect and communicate effectively as well as being open to making new and lasting relationships. Those who lack love surround themselves with people who bring them down  rather than help them be the person they know they are meant to be. If you are in alignment with love your social circle is a source of energy rather than a place

Truth: Truth is being willing to admit and accept your current situation as is.  Are you happy with your job? Your relationship? Truth means accepting your reality even if you’re not happy with it. The idea behind truth is you can’t move on unless you’re willing to accept what is. Turning your back on truth means inviting false hood and denial. You have to be able to recognize where you really are before you can get to where you want to be.

Power: Do you have the ability to create the reality you desire? Power means being able to consciously and deliberately create the world around you. Are you living the life you want? Or do you allow your relationships  and circumstances dicate how you live? Power involves courage and taking action to bring you closer to your goals.

As shown in the photo, the three principles also go on to create other sub principles.  They are courage, authority, and oneness.

Courage: Courage is created from combining the principles of Love and Power. Simply put, courage is taking risks. Courage is about facing your fears head on rather than running from them.

Authority: Authority is created from combining Power and Truth. Authority is the perfect combination of action and knowledge. Too much action with out knowledge will only lead you in circles, whereas too much knowledge without action is only setting yourself up for routine failure.

Oneness: Oneness is the result of both Truth and Love. The idea of oneness states that we are only part of an entire whole. Oneness means contributing to humanity rather than simply living from a  moocher mindset. The idea of oneness states that the more you help others the more help you receive in return.

All 6 of the principles add up to create the 7th principle Intelligence. Are you living an intelligent life? Assuming your daily life is congruent with truth, love, and power it’s safe to say you’re living an intelligent life.

Overall I found Day 1 to be very helpful. While I didn’t learn anything new per se it was nice hearing Steve talk about his principles in person. I also found the various exercises we did throughout the day to be very valuable, especially the exercises that required us to step out of our comfort zone ( dancing on stage during break for example.)

Day 2 and Day 3

While day 1 was an overview of the principles Day’s 2 and 3 took a more in depth look at the principles and how they apply to our everyday lives. On day 2 we talked about career and finances as well as habits and during day 3 we covered relationships, skill building, and health. Going into each of these areas in depth was extremely helpful for it gave one a more complete picture of how the principles relate to our lives. During each section Steve gave us time to contemplate where we currently stood in each area and allowed for us to write down ways for us to improve. Doing this greatly enhanced my clarity in terms of where I was and where I wanted to be.

Throughout the workshop Steve used the analogy of Planet A and Planet B. Planet A is where you are right now, and planet B is where you want to be. In order to reach planet B you must first accept that you are actually on Planet A, doing so requires Truth. Also to get from Planet A to Planet B you must surrond yourself with people who will help love and nurture you thus the principle of Love. When you surrond yourself with people who inspire you it allows for you to give more back to humanity. Being stuck on your planet A isn’t going to do anyone any good. Getting from Planet A to Planet B also requires power. Can you take action to where you will reach where you want to go? Will you show courage and take risks? I found the Planet A and Planet B analogy to be very beneficial in terms of getting clear on where I want to be.

Social Connections

By far the greatest aspect of the conference was the networking I was able to do. The energy of the group was just amazing. I grew  a tremendous amount by just going around the room and introducing myself. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated at first,  but as the workshop went on I found myself more and more comfortable. The group was incredibly accepting and supportive as was shown when individuals shared their hearts on the stage. I was amazed at the amount of hugs given out.

Out of the 100 or so attendee’s I expect to stay in good contact with at least a quarter of the group. I throughly enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing their own story. During the conference I also had several people come up to me to tell me that they read my blog, which just amazed me. While I love receiving emails from my readers it was neat to just connect with a few of my readers in person. I even had one person compliment me on the work I did on Reality Switch (an e-book I coauthored with Glen Allsop.) I’d like to say that was the highlight of my trip.

Having the opportunity to meet so many remarkable people reminded me  how  amazing relationships can be. Far too often we under estimate how important our relationships really are. I even recived several hugs from KB and Crystal Silver.

Transformations

Unlike some of the other attendees, I didn’t have any major breakthroughs during the conference, however the workshop did give me a little kick in the rear to get going. Heading into the workshop I had a reasonable idea of where I wanted to go with my life so my attending simply reaffirmed what I already knew.There are a few things that I know I need to work on especially in the area of relationships and health but nothing substantial.  Being around so many amazing people definitely raised my energy levels so for that I’m extremely grateful.  It’s still far to early for me to say any of any long term impact of attending the conference but I’m definitely  glad I went. The workshop did make me realize how important it is to surrond yourself with people who are going to help you reach your goals and give more back to humanity.

Las Vegas

This was my first time in Vegas and I can definitely see myself going back, but probably not until I turn 21. I’m a big fan of blackjack so I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to play (being that I’m 18.) Although I was able to sneak in a few dollars on the slots.

While there I stayed at the MGM Grand one of the few hotels that allows 18 year olds to check in. They hotel was on the opposite side of the Flamingo so each morning I had a bit of a walk which I didn’t mind one bit. I really enjoyed the walks up and down strip as I spent most of the time people watching.

While in Vegas I also went to see the Lion King with my cousin which was an absolutely AMAZING show. If you ever make it out to Vegas I highly recommend seeing it. The food in Vegas was a bit step but everything else was top notch.

My stay in Vegas was a good one (Coming home from the airport not so much.)

Overview: Should You Attend?

For 500 dollars (as well as airfare and hotel) the trip to Vegas can be a bit costly, however I found the experience to be well worth the price. The opportunity to meet so many amazing people as well as meet Steve in person is just too good to pass up. The conference was surprisingly non controversial unlike many of Steve’s blog posts. Not once did I feel as if I was being pressured into a certain belief system.  If you got anything out of his book I’m almost certain you would benefit from attending to the workshop. If you have any more specific questions feel free to throw me an email.

Final Verdict: It can’t get much better than spending an entire weekend with loads of people who love personal growth.

Post from: A Boundless World

Conscious Growth Workshop and Las Vegas Review

Related posts:

1. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...
2. Blog Action Day: 3 Questions To Develop Your Climate Awareness I realize I’m cutting it awfully close with this post,...
3. Travel Update I’ve received quite a few emails asking where I have...
4. Footprints Living in Shanghai has offered many wonderful benefits especially...

1. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...
2. Blog Action Day: 3 Questions To Develop Your Climate Awareness I realize I’m cutting it awfully close with this post,...
3. Travel Update I’ve received quite a few emails asking where I have...
4. Footprints Living in Shanghai has offered many wonderful benefits especially...

I originally intended to do some major blogging work while traveling, but as you’ll find out in my upcoming post on expectations, things don’t always go according to plan. I fully expect to be on a regular schedule no later than January 19th as that is what I begin university again.

As far as my traveling is concerned, my two big trips are done with. I was Shanghai in from December 17th to the 30th and Brazil from the 31st of December until January 10th. With my international travels are complete, I’ll be heading to Las Vegas to complete the tri fecta of trips and attend the Concious Growth Workshop this weekend. I’m really excited to connect with other growth oriented individuals.

I’ll be breaking my travels down into further detail over the next few weeks as the past month has provided me with an abundance of growth opportunities. One month ago seems like ages to me, and if that’s any indication for what the future has in store I’m in for an exciting 2010.

NOTE: One thing I quickly learned is that buying a digital camera might be a good idea. For the past month I mostly mooched off my friends camera’s while traveling, so as soon as I get those pictures I’ll be sure to post them. I’d love to hear any recommendations for a solid digital camera.

I hope you have had a wonderful start to the new year and I look forward to whats in store!

Post from: A Boundless World

Travel Update

Related posts:

1. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...
2. The Fresh Start Illusion Do you ever find yourself wishing for a fresh start?...
3. Trip to Beijing and Xi’an Just wanted to give a  quick update on what I’ve...
4. 5 Powerful Lessons I Learned From A Facebook Fast Some time ago I decided to go cold turkey and...

1. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...
2. The Fresh Start Illusion Do you ever find yourself wishing for a fresh start?...
3. Trip to Beijing and Xi’an Just wanted to give a  quick update on what I’ve...
4. 5 Powerful Lessons I Learned From A Facebook Fast Some time ago I decided to go cold turkey and...

For the last month or so I’ve been throwing a hugggeee party. No, not one of those excessively extravagant college parties filled with ridiculous amounts of alcohol, but rather a party with one guest, myself.

This party, being perfectly honest, has well, left me miserable. Like many of you, I of course, never intend to host a party, but sometimes things just pile up. Ah… the power of pity parties.

Maybe you find yourself fed up with working a job you dislike. Or perhaps you just broke up with the person who you thought was your soul mate. Maybe you’re not living up to your own personal expectations. The truth is, with influential guests such as “negativity” and “I feel sorry for myself” making regular appearances, it’s often easy to be lured into the infamous party we all is know is never good. Do you remember when you threw your last pity party?

Although, I consider myself a very optimistic person, I too have my moments of self doubt. For the past month or so, I’ve struggled with the changing status of relationships that have helped mold me into the person I am today. I’ve wrestled with my new identity as an adult, and I’ve spent a great amount of time in the rewarding yet certainly draining reflection process.

New surroundings, new freedoms, and new relationships can be a bit overwhelming. Especially when it’s so easy to cling to the foundations of the past. Having recently thrown a “nice” sympathy bash for myself, I know what it’s like to feel like nothings going right. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re all alone. I say this not to be dramatic but only to show I’m human. And although we sometimes enjoy wallowing in our own self pity, fighting the doubts within ourselves is never easy.

The majority of us spend far to much time throwing pity parties for ourselves rather than seeing the beauty in life. Pity parties? Here’s how to crash them.

Raise Your Party Standards

Why would you ever waste your time attending a party where you don’t feel needed or loved? Realize that when you throw yourself a pity party you’re blocking abundance. Believe and know that you deserve better and that is what will be given in return. I realize this isn’t always easy, but as with all things, practice helps.

Don’t throw a single moment away at a party that isn’t helping you grow. Don’t be deluded into thinking negativity and self doubt are your friends. They aren’t. They’re simply parasites hoping to extract all the energy they possibly can. The longer you hang around them the weaker you become. Drinking from the punch bowl spiked with sadness is never any fun.

As you raise your party standards you will soon notice that you don’t have time to wallow in your own self pity. Raising your standards doesn’t mean there won’t be times of sadness or self doubt, but it will enable you to move past inevitable road blocks with as little friction as possible. The venue of a pity party is in your mind, therefore in an instant the party can be crashed.

The more time you spend consciously looking to see the beauty in life the less time you will spend looking for ways to stay miserable. Raise your party standards and your self doubts will soon grow weak.

Check Your Emotions At The Door

Regardless of where you are, negativity and self doubt are going to show up. Negativity? Kick his ass out. “Woe is me”? You’re above that. Don’t become intoxicated by shots pessimism, flush them out by remembering that you are loved. As I’ve said before, this isn’t always easy, but do your best to express your courage within.

Checking your emotions at the door doesn’t mean to shove them in the coat closet and forget about them. Doing so will only leave you freezing on the walk home. You must accept your emotions whether they be good or bad. Your emotions only contain as much power as you lend.

Checking your emotions doesn’t require that you give power to them. Emotions are just that, emotions. Sour feelings only turn disastrous when you let them guide you. When you become aware of your emotions you keep yourself in the drivers seat.

The last few weeks have been a very emotional time for me for a variety of reasons. Yet instead of rejecting the feelings I’ve felt, I’ve done my best at accepting them for what they are. While this process is often difficult it accelerates the period of self doubt.

Don’t expect to be perfect. Your emotions will sometimes get the best of you. Remember this is part of the process. When you first begin driving you don’t expect to be amazing, the same should go for when you’re learning to deal with your emotions. Many of us are never taught the proper way to deal with our emotions and instead lock them away until the pressure builds and creates a gigantic blast of negative smog.

Start today by checking your emotions at the door.

Decide You Want To Leave

If you find yourself stuck throwing yourself a pity party realize you are 100 percent responsible for continuing to stay. Where did the pity party originate?  Was it your family? Your friends? Of course not. You, and only you can decide whether to throw a pity party. If you throw one, and the guests (many of them rude) arrive, you have no to look to but yourself.

While feeling miserable is easy, crashing a party requires effort.  To overcome the low points in your life you must make the decision to fully commit to rise above. Deciding to leave your pity party is a necessity.

When you throw yourself a pity party you’re often under the illusion that it will make things better, but in reality it only perpetuates the real problem. All bandages, no matter how strong, break.

Over the years, I’ve thrown many pity parties, in which self doubt often stared as the DJ. However it wasn’t until I realized I had the power to crash my own party that I became more aware of the affect my thinking had on my life.

Pity parties don’t attract change, they simply fortify the demons that you’re afraid of. When you focus on what you don’t have you block the sun which leaves you no light to see that in which you do. Why wait until you’re  drunk off misery before leaving a party in which you had no intention of going to? The earlier you decide to leave the better.

Better Parties Await

It’s safe to say you’ve been a host of a few pity parties throughout your life, maybe you’re throwing one right now, or perhaps you may  even consider yourself a party regular. Regardless of your current situation, there’s always room to improve.

You can throw yourself as many pity parties as you want but it’s never going to make your life any better. Eventually, (usually after lots of needless suffering) you will realize that contentment, and that happiness, all are only a few thoughts away.

Instead of throwing a pity party for yourself, take a moment and to make an honest assessment of your current situation. Is it really that bad? Often times we sabotage ourselves in hopes of gaining sympathy from our family and friends. Yet when we do this we simply block abundance from coming into our lives. One moment of clarity can save an endless amount of misery.

If you’re sad be sad. If you’re upset be upset. But don’t waste your time throwing a party when it’s not truly needed.

Pity party’s are no fun. Crashing them however, now that’s a different story. Throw yourself the party you know you deserve. Better parties await.

Post from: A Boundless World

Party Crashing 101: How To Crash A Pity Party

Related posts:

1. Expressing The Real You Part 2 This is Part 2 of the Expressing The Real You...
2. Your Only Competition: You Far too often we get caught up in the endless...
3. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
4. In a slump? You might want to read this In a slump eh? Of course you are. Otherwise, you...

1. Expressing The Real You Part 2 This is Part 2 of the Expressing The Real You...
2. Your Only Competition: You Far too often we get caught up in the endless...
3. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
4. In a slump? You might want to read this In a slump eh? Of course you are. Otherwise, you...

Hello readers, I have a confession to make.

I have been meaning to write this long overdue post for my good blogging friend Bud for a very unreasonable amount of time now. In fact, when I started thinking about writing it I was actually on the other side of the world, which will give you a painful indication of just how long it has taken me to get my act together.

I had been putting off writing the post again and again due to the fact that everything I came up with just didn’t seem good enough. I was getting desperate.

Then I Was Saved By Spiderman

My guest post was looking in a bad way, that was until I came across this photo from a recent hockey tour weekend and inspirations struck.

British Hockey tour weekends, like the one pictured above, tend to include one field, around 40 hockey teams, enough alcohol to kill a small herd of elephants and ironically very little hockey playing. This and costumes – don’t ask me why, it is just an English thing.

Now this particular team, in an incredible, possibly sober feat of prior planning had the genius and the commitment to go all out in the costume department and I think the results speak for themselves. If you have never seen a hockey pitch full of spidermen drunkenly attempting to put a small white ball into the back of an only slightly larger target then you, my friend, are missing out.

Even though they were, no doubt, slightly under the influence at the time, this here group of sporting heroes have fallen upon a core component to success:

“If you are going to do something, then do it properly or don’t bother.”

WHY Excellence Is Critical? Like Easy Origami, The Answer Is Two Fold.

1. The demand for excellence has increased.

With the introduction internet the world has become smaller and the access to excellence much more obtainable. This means a half arsed effort on your part is just not going to cut it anymore. To stand out in this new world arena you have to make an impact more then ever before to let your voice be heard. Excellence needs to be instilled in your very life so that whatever you do, you strive to do it to the very best of your ability or just don’t bother.

The world today has no place for half arsed efforts. It requires excellence.

2. Your personal happiness rides on it.

With whatever you do, how does it make you feel when you do something well and then conversely whats the feeling when you do something poorly? Whether it is a client project, a personal project or simple tidying the house and organizing your computer you should have pride in everything you do. Take the time to do a job well and instill this excellence in your life. If you are anything like me you have so many projects and ideas being worked on that it can be hard to find the time to excel. Therefore simplify, focus on the important things.

It is better to do 3 things exceptional well then 15 things very poorly

So Class, To Conclude

The Spider Boys made an impact at the weekend and will be remembered for quite some time because they took the time to go the extra mile – and also because of the sheer amount of alcohol they managed to collectively drink.

If you want to succeed, and more importantly, if you want to be happy, then make sure that everything you do, create and start is done to the very best of your ability.

You will not regret it, but you might if you don’t.

Jonny writes for  love of Helping People, Inspiring People and Katie Holmes. He honed his unique writing style through his refusal to read for fear the words would attack him and borrowed his life philosophies from the local stray terrier but plans to give aspects of them back.

Post from: A Boundless World

WHY Excellence Is Critical? Like Easy Origami, The Answer Is Two Fold.

Related posts:

1. Interview with Ivan of Ivancampuzano.com Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an...
2. The Hiatus of A Boundless World As of right now the A Boundless World blog is...
3. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...
4. How to Create a Healthy and Productive Routine Editors Note: This is a guest post by my good...

1. Interview with Ivan of Ivancampuzano.com Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an...
2. The Hiatus of A Boundless World As of right now the A Boundless World blog is...
3. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...
4. How to Create a Healthy and Productive Routine Editors Note: This is a guest post by my good...

A few people have asked me what I intend to do over the holidays. Being a college student, I get a very generous month off for vacation, something I’m looking very forward to. The next thirty days or so will be jam packed with traveling. First, I’ll be heading to Shanghai China, next to Brazil, then Las Vegas, and finally back home to Columbia Missouri. Whew!

Despite my busy schedule for the next month, I fully intend to keep up to par with A Boundless World. So if you feel I’m slacking, feel free to throw me and email and  kick my butt into gear In all seriousness, expect to see more life changing articles in the upcoming weeks as well as a few surprises along the way. You’ll just have to stay tuned.

First Stop Shanghai

On Friday, I’ll be boarding a plane to Shanghai, China. As I’ve mentioned before, my family still lives in Shanghai and this will be the first time I’ve seen my entire family all at once since I started college in August. I’ve been looking forward to returning home for a very long time.

Both my mom and dad have been in town since I’ve started school, but I have yet to see my brother and sister. Having been away from them for a good four months has really made me appreciate them more and I intend to take advantage of every moment I can to spend some quality time with them.

I’m also looking forward to seeing a few of my friends who will also be returning home to Shanghai for the holidays. Having gone to an international school for high school many of my friends dispersed to cities all over the world. I’m looking forward to catching up with some of my high school friends.

Brazil

After being in Shanghai for about 10 days, I’ll be taking a flight to Brazil celebrate New Years ( Can you say beach anyone? ) While there, I’ll be staying with a very good friend of mine who’s from Brazil. While it would be accurate to say she is my ex-girlfriend I prefer to drop the labels within the confines of our relationship. To this day we remain very close friends and I’m excited to spend a good week with her. She has taught me a lot about life and I am very appreciative of her.

This will also be my first time in Brazil so I’m looking forward to seeing the country and embracing the culture. I plan to explore the city and take many long walks throughout the countryside. While I know parts of Brazil can be dangerous, I’ll be taking measures to remain safe.

I fully anticipate my trip to Brazil to be rewarding in many ways, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my friend. I plan to take many pictures which I will be sure to post.

Conscious Growth Workshop

My last stop for my holiday travels will be in Las Vegas. To which you might ask “ You’re only 18 why are you going to Las Vegas?”

The truth is, I won’t be going to Vegas to party or gamble, but rather to attend Steve Pavlina’s Conscious Growth Workshop. For the past few years I’ve been inspired by Steve and so I wanted to take full advantage of his workshop. I also plan on going to a few shows at night with my cousin who is meeting me in Vegas.

Not only am I excited to be meeting Steve and partaking in his course, I’m also looking forward to networking with many conscious-growth-oriented individuals. With the workshop being nearly a month away, I’ve already connected with a few of the attendees. I truly believe the workshop will help push me over the edge and make 2010 one of my most memorable years yet.

Holiday Travels

Although I’ll be very busy for the next month,  I know the next 30 days will provide me many growth opportunities. I feel very blessed for being able to do all the travel I’m doing as well as spend time with the family and friends that I love.

Remember to share your love and kindness to all those who need it during this holiday season.

What are you doing for the holidays? Please share in the comments below.

Post from: A Boundless World

My Holiday Plans

Related posts:

1. Travel Update I’ve received quite a few emails asking where I have...
2. Conscious Growth Workshop and Las Vegas Review I apologize for the delay in posting the review....
3. Trip to Beijing and Xi’an Just wanted to give a  quick update on what I’ve...
4. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...

1. Travel Update I’ve received quite a few emails asking where I have...
2. Conscious Growth Workshop and Las Vegas Review I apologize for the delay in posting the review....
3. Trip to Beijing and Xi’an Just wanted to give a  quick update on what I’ve...
4. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...

© Grant Hindsley 2009

Far too often we get caught up in the endless cycle of competition. If we’re not ahead , many times we become stale and depressed.  Our obsession with comparing ourselves to others, has left us feeling dejected and alone.  If someone else succeeds, we secretly wish it was us rather than them. I know I’ve felt this way plenty of times. But why?

Comparing yourself to others is a worthless cause. While competition can provide for some solid motivation every now and then, the truth is your only competition is you.

It’s taken me a while to realize this, and in some regards I’m still learning, but you must focus on only the things you can control. Over the past few years I’ve worked on  taming my  ego and have seen tremendous results as in the process. Instead of wasting my time comparing myself to others , I’ve learned to focus on only what I can change, me. That’s not to say I don’t keep up with other personal development blogs or care whats going on in the world. But rather I’ve simply dropped my obsession with knowing what others are doing. To provide value you must focus on creating not comparing.

Set High Standards

If you want to succeed in anything, it is essential that  you  set high standards for yourself. These standards must be defined by you, not your family, not your friends but you. Only you know what you’re capable of. Be brave and be bold. Failure is your friend.

Having high expectations for yourself conditions you to succeed. Does that mean you will always come out on top? Of course not. But having high standards at leasts positions you so you have a chance. For much of my life, my standards for myself were fairly low. I was content with being just OK. Over the years however I realized that deep down I wasn’t OK with just existing. I wanted to stand out. I wanted to contribute in massive ways.

Don’t let excuses keep you from living. You’re bigger than excuses anyway. When you come up short accept the reality and work hard to improve.While it’s perfectly OK to be ordinary realize that you have the power to change your current reality. If you’re not happy with where you are, you can make the choice to grow. If you’re happy with where you are consider yourself lucky and embrace it.

Kill Self Sabotage

Self sabotage is a notorious dream killer. It limits our mind and keeps us grounded when all our soul wants to do is fly. Do what you must to kill self sabotage. Become aware of your thinking. Is it mostly positive? Or is your mind cluttered with dismissive chatter? When you become aware of your thoughts you gain control.

I know when I was growing up self sabotage was my number one adversary. Day in and day out we would have epic battles, many of which I lost. After many inner battles however I discovered my self sabotage was as powerful as I made it. Stop giving your dark side authority.

While you may find it difficult at first, you have the the ability to control your thoughts. Stand up to self sabotage, it’s not as tough as it seems.

Embrace Competition

Don’t be afraid of competition but rather embrace it. This doesn’t mean to compare yourself to others but rather use others success as motivation. If you feel you can do a better job at something, go for it. Of course you won’t always succeed. Just remember failure is future success in disguise.

Don’t beat yourself up if you come up short. Taking a step, even if you fumble, is worth more than having never moved at all. When I see other personal development bloggers succeed I get excited, because I know I can do the same. While I admit I have an occasional serving of jealousy, this is usually when I’m stunned by self sabotage and not in the right state of mind.

Whatever it is you want to do, you have the resources to do so. In the age of technology there is absolutely no excuse as to why you can’t succeed. Use others for motivation but never waste a moment comparing yourself to someone else. The only thing you can completely control is you.

Permission To Take Control

I used to think that in order to be successful I had to be like everyone else. But as we all know that won’t get you anywhere. While it’s perfectly acceptable to model someone, it is essential for you to be authentic and true.

Give yourself permission to take control. Realize that you are 100 percent responsible for your current reality.

Stop wasting your precious time worrying about whats going on around you and instead put all your energy and focus towards creating a better you. Create instead of complaining. Build instead of destroy.

Dare to experiment. Dare to explore.

Your only competition is you.

Post from: A Boundless World

Your Only Competition: You

Related posts:

1. Benefits of a Mastermind I’ve been meaning to write this post for quite some...
2. Party Crashing 101: How To Crash A Pity Party I have a confession. For the last month or so...
3. 6 Things To Do When Your Motivation Tank Hits Empty Motivation. Sometimes you have it, and sometimes you don’t. Inspiration...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...

1. Benefits of a Mastermind I’ve been meaning to write this post for quite some...
2. Party Crashing 101: How To Crash A Pity Party I have a confession. For the last month or so...
3. 6 Things To Do When Your Motivation Tank Hits Empty Motivation. Sometimes you have it, and sometimes you don’t. Inspiration...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...

Columbia MO © Grant Hindsley 2009

Having just about wrapped up my first semester at college, I can honestly say these last few months have been a blur. I’ve made many new friends, had a taste of freedom, and have learned the consequences of procrastination. I’ve adapted to the college dorm food, stayed up to late far to many nights, and have spent countless hours in heated (though usually civil) debates.

College is my new home, and I couldn’t find it  any more cozy. I’d like to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned thus far.

Time Management is Essential

What amazes me about time is that we each have the exact same amount. There are always 24 hours each day. What we choose to do with our time differs greatly. Some spend most of their day socializing. Others spend the bulk of their time “pretending ” to do work. Some spend their day thinking, while others spend time doing. Learning to effectively balance work, family, and friends is of great importance.

Despite it’s significance, many are terrible at managing their time. Instead of taking action that yields long terms results many fill their days with lifeless activities that won’t matter the next day. I know I’ve struggled with this a great deal. Yet regardless of my struggles, I’ve seen significant improvement in being able to effectively mangage my time.

Managing your time isn’t always easy. There is always an abundance of distractions to keep you off track, but learning to use your time wisely pays off down the road. One of the secrets to effectively mangage time is to focus in whatever you do. When you work, work. When you play, play. Don’t waste a moment going back and fourth between activities, but instead dive in and fully immerse yourself into what ever it is you’re doing. Granted, this isn’t always the easiest thing to do but it will profoundly help you in taking control of your day.

Your Social Life Is What You Make It

Socially, I’ve always been able to make friends fairly easily. This isn’t because I’m super smart, or super good looking. It’s because I have the mindset of connection.

Having moved from across the world from Texas to Shanghai I’ve been fortunate enough to  have some experience making friends in a totally alien environment. What I’ve learned is this: Your social life (along with any other part of your life) is what you make it.

If feel like you don’t have many friends it’s up to you to go make some. If you want to have more social interaction  in your life it’s up to you to make that happen. Don’t expect people to just know who you are. Go show them, be kind. Embrace people for who they are.

Because my college has nearly 40,000 people  it hasn’t been too difficult for me to connect with people with similar interests and goals, however this can apply to wherever you are. Because I’ve carried the social mindset I’ve been able to make numerous authentic relationships in a matter of months.

Despite a sincere desire to make friends, one of the greatest fears people face when creating their social life is fear of rejection.

What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in? What if I’m not good enough? If you fall into that trap of thinking your social life will always suffer.

Don’t waste your time wrestling with that inner dialogue. Be bold. Connect with others. Don’t worry if you get rejected, not everyone is going to like you anyways. Focus on what you can control. Your social life is in your hands.

Family and Friends are Important

Back when I was living with my parents (along with my brother and sister), I didn’t really appreciate them as much as I should have.  They became so ingrained in my everyday life that I just expected them to be there. Having been on my own for several months now I realize how much I took them for granted, this goes for my friends as well. Luckily it’s fairly easy to stay in touch via sites such as Facebook and Twitter, however I definitely miss the interaction with my family and friends.

Having been away from both my family and friends for a few months now, I appreciate much the time in which I get to spend with them. I’ve gained a better understanding of the importance of family and remaining close to those who love you.

No matter where you are in life it’s always important to remember where you came from.

Freedom Is Bliss (Sort of)

One of the greatest perks of being at college (or growing up for that matter) is the amount of freedom you have. No one tells you what you can or can’t do (assuming you’re not breaking the law.) If you don’t want to go to class you don’t have to. If you want to spend your day partaking in harmful activities that is your right. If you want to just go through the motions you have the ability to do so. But with freedom comes consequences both good and bad, and when you make a decision you must accept the result.

Your reality is a result of what you choose to do or not do. Everyday you have a choice.  Believe it or not, you are in  complete control of your actions and thoughts. When you accept the power that comes with freedom you empower yourself to create a better world.

At first the freedom of being at college was a bit overwhelming but I quickly came to grips with it. In a matter of months I matured significantly. Although I still have a ways to go, having a taste of  freedom has accelerated my growth tremendously.

College May Not Be Right For Me

This may come as a surprise, as I’ve mostly talked about the positives of my college experience thus far, but the truth is I’ve  seriously contemplated taking a year off. Why?  All our lives we’re  told that college is the next step from high school and that you must do it or you can’t succeed. But lately I’ve been challenging that belief. While there are many aspects of college I find valuable, there are also some I struggle with. It bothers me that a piece of paper can dicate whether or not you “succeed” in life. Traditional schooling is not the only way to succeed.

Now I realize that going to college  and getting a diploma is very important if you intend to make your way into the corporate world, but for my purposes I don’t intend to. The entrepreneur path is my calling. Questioning the traditional path has left me to receive a lot of criticism yet I feel it is important that I be honest with myself rather than hide what I really feel.

While I openly admit, being 18 I’m somewhat naive and have a lot to learn, but I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Over the past few years my entrepreneur mind has really taken a hold of me and made me realize the endless possibilites. While I’m in no position to walk away at the moment, I have to admit that the college system may not be right for me, and I’m definitely open to exploring other paths down the road.

At the time of this writing,  I plan on finishing the year and then reevaluate from there.

You Must Make Alone Time

Throughout my life, I’ve usually been good at making time for myself. Whether that be time to read, write, or just meditate. However, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to do at college. I still make time for myself just not as much.

A great deal of individuals are constantly busy never allowing themselves time to just be breathe.  Being alone allows you to rejuvenate yourself and take a break from the constantly moving world. Making time for yourself is essential.

Some things I enjoy to do while alone:

Meditiate:  This is probably one of my favorite things to do while alone. I haven’t meditated as much as I would have liked but I’ve been trying to  practice meditation a lot more as of late. It not only relaxes me but allows me to gain focus as well.

Journal:  In some ways this blog is my journal. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an insight while writing a post. I also like to spend time just writing down my thoughts, particularly emotions, so that I can come back and read my journal entries at a later time. This has been invaluable to my growth not only as a person but a writer to.

Think: Do you ever take time to just think? I spend much of my day contemplating questions that are on my mind. Sometimes I ponder the sillest of questions while others I reflect on life’s most serious questions.

Exercise: I’m a big fan of body weight exercises but I also like to walk or run. I find having time to be alone and just exercise a wonderful way to relax and be healthy at the same time.

Initiative Wins The Race

One of the many things I’ve learned is that in order to succeed in this world (however you may define success) you must take initiative. Things don’t just fall into place. I notice a lot of people under the impression that if you just sit back thinking positive thoughts life will magically become remarkable. This isn’t true.

If you want to change any area in your life you have to take action. As Glen Allsop says “Life gives back what you put in.” By taking action you create the opportunities you seek. Don’t just sit back waiting for your reality to change. Take action.

Take baby steps. Showing initiative doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It means creating your own luck. Do something everyday that will bring you the success that you desire.

It’s perfectly OK to make mistakes

College is a time of learning and a time of making mistakes, and  in my case a lot of them. I’ve said things I shouldn’t have. I’ve done things that I know aren’t congruent with my values and I have had my days of where I just want to punch the world. It’s perfectly OK to make mistakes.

Don’t beat yourself up from coming up short. Don’t feel like you have to justify every decision you make. If you make a gaffe smile and move on. If you feel the need to apologize, apologize but don’t let fear of rejection keep you from failing again.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life (many multiple times) but I know they have been invaluable to my growth. Learn from each situation but don’t get caught up in the past. forgive yourself, life is meant to be enjoyed.

These past few months have been full of growth and opportunity  and what to see what the future holds.

Post from: A Boundless World

7 Lessons I’ve Learned From My First Semester In College

Related posts:

1. 5 Powerful Lessons I Learned From A Facebook Fast Some time ago I decided to go cold turkey and...
2. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
3. 7 Life Lessons I Learned From Playing Pool I’ve been playing pool for a few years now...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...

1. 5 Powerful Lessons I Learned From A Facebook Fast Some time ago I decided to go cold turkey and...
2. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
3. 7 Life Lessons I Learned From Playing Pool I’ve been playing pool for a few years now...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...

Courtesy Andrew Mason

I like to think I’m a fairly optimistic  person.  I do my best to appreciate all the wonderful things in life. But there are some things that make me angry as hell, even if it’s just for a little while.

Contrary to popular belief, being angry isn’t always bad. It’s a natural emotion that everyone feels, and many times becoming aware of your anger can lead to pursuing your passion. In fact if you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about ask yourself:

“What makes me angry?”

I’m not talking about the kind of anger that makes you do stupid shit, the anger that hurts other people and cultures. I’m not talking about the anger that lowers the consciousness of humanity.  I’m talking about the anger that inspires you to get up and create a better world.

Anger when channeled correctly is a powerful  source of motivation. Properly used, anger breeds passion and passion spawns action. And it is action that transforms the world.

Think about all the people who have created  significant change in their life times. They first got angry about something then used all their resources modify the current situation.

I’ve been thinking about what motivates me lately and and I’ve found anger to be a reoccurring theme.

Here are just a few things that make get me fired up.

People doing things they hate. Poverty. Ignorance. Complexity. Drama. Negativity.

As you can see I have my work cut out for me. Whatever irritates you becomes your responsibility to fix. It’s not enough to just notice what makes you angry. Instead do whatever it takes to create an opposite affect. Complaining about what bothers you does nothing but make the situation worse. Action, not whining is what makes the world move.

What makes you angry? Are you using your anger to create change? Get angry. Get pissed. Change the world.

Post from: A Boundless World

Get Angry Get Pissed And Change The World

Related posts:

1. Embracing Change Change. Does that word scare you? If you’re like most,...
2. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
3. The Hiatus of A Boundless World As of right now the A Boundless World blog is...
4. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...

1. Embracing Change Change. Does that word scare you? If you’re like most,...
2. Exploring Freedom It’s been a good 5 months now since I left...
3. The Hiatus of A Boundless World As of right now the A Boundless World blog is...
4. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...

Exploring Freedom Courtesy of Ben Heine

It’s been a good 5 months now since I left my home in Shanghai, China to attend university in Missouri. Being away from home and living on my own has taught me a lot in regard to personal freedom.

Because my current college courses are scattered around campus I spend a fair amount of time walking from class to class. More often than not, I spend this time in deep reflection. When I’m walking I can’t help but feel immensely grateful for the freedom I posses.

Today I’d like to share with you my insights on freedom and our actions.

What Is Freedom?

I’ve spent a great deal of time lately thinking about freedom and personal responsibility, and how our choices affect our reality. Now when I say freedom I’m not talking about freedom of speech, but rather our ability to create the life that you desire.

If you were to ask a person if they were “free” I’m betting they would likely respond with an commanding yes. But the truth is, many give their freedom and power away without even knowing so.

Far to many people live life under the impression that they are powerless, which in turn makes one a slave to the conditioning of the world. When you believe you have no power in creating your reality you remain stuck in a passionless and misery filled state. I’ve been in that situation many times before, and it’s definitely no fun. Even now, when I’m feeling down, I occasionally have moments in which I feel powerless, but it doesn’t take long before I snap out of that disempowering state of mind.

For definitional purposes, freedom is the ability to control the way you view the world. Freedom is having the power to view reality from a variety of empowering lenses, rather than succumbing to the negativity that can be found in everyday life. Freedom is having the courage to take full responsibility for your thoughts and actions even if you’re not where you want to be. Freedom is bliss.

Quit Giving Your Power Away

Too often we become slaves of society rather than being the creative individuals that we are. Too often we give our power and freedom away to people and events outside of our control, whether that be family, friends, or even your career. What we frequently forget however, is that by doing so we unknowingly block the path of happiness and success.

Growing up, I would often give my power away to others. I sat back and waited for everything to just fall into my lap. I would have people wait on me instead of taking initiative myself. I’d have people do things for me instead of learning for later reference. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is fairly common in today’s world. It wasn’t until I realized how much of life I had been missing that I began expressing my freedom in beneficial ways, such as running this blog.

The world in which you live in, is the direct result of your thoughts and actions. That might be a bit overwhelming to grasp, but the truth isn’t always easy to understand. Your reality is created from your thoughts and your beliefs, all that exists comes from within. When you attach yourself to the conditioning of the world you hinder your ability to be  free. Certain aspects of social conditioning are obviously inevitable, but being able to switch perspectives on your own free will is vital. Quit giving your power away.

Personal Responsibility

Choosing to take 100 percent responsibility for your life is no easy feat, but it is an essential component of conscious growth. Many would rather rely on the illusion of security instead of embracing the true power that they contain.

During my high school years, I was fortunate to have parents who allowed me to exercise a solid amount of freedom for my age. I gained their trust and was rewarded with the ability to do  things  many of my friends could not. In Shanghai, there is no drinking age and going to “clubs” is a very popular high school activity. For kids in high school, this privilege can quickly become abused. Being exposed to the freedom of drinking at a young age, allowed me to have a more mature outlook on drinking later on in life. While I wasn’t responsible early on, I quickly came to understand the importance of exercising freedom properly.

Does that mean I don’t mistakes? Of course not. I’ve had several parties here in college where I went overboard, yet I’ve learned a great deal from pushing my freedom to it’s boundaries. When I mess up, I do my best to take full responsibility. I try to avoid putting blame on others because I know I’m in complete control of my life. Admittedly, I would love to place blame on others at times, but that only puts up a false wall of security. I may not be able to control everything that happens in my life, yet my reality is from my own doing. Period.

When you assume complete responsibility for your life, you enable yourself to make massive change rather than patch a band aid over a reoccurring pattern that you wish to change. If you want to experience financial abundance know that you are responsible for creating enough value to meet your needs. If you want to attract better and more loving relationships into your reality know that it’s up to you to find them. If you want to have energy  and experience great health you must make that a priority in your everyday life.

Change begins with you.

Exploring Freedom

Learning to experience freedom isn’t always easy. It’s sometimes simple to forget how magnificent you really are. Each day make a conscious effort to use your freedom in ways that benefit humanity.

Experience each moment and appreciate the goodness in you. Let your emotions and thoughts flow. Don’t be afraid to falter. Stop living in such a powerless state of mind.

You have the ability to move the earth but only if you embrace the freedom to do so. To shine you must be free. There’s a choice to be made in  everything you think and do. How do you express you freedom? What ways are you changing the world? Please share in the comments.

Post from: A Boundless World

Exploring Freedom

Related posts:

1. 7 Lessons I’ve Learned From My First Semester In College Having just about wrapped up my first semester at college,...
2. Interview with Ivan of Ivancampuzano.com Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an...
3. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...

1. 7 Lessons I’ve Learned From My First Semester In College Having just about wrapped up my first semester at college,...
2. Interview with Ivan of Ivancampuzano.com Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an...
3. The Dark Side of Positive Thinking The other day I came across a post on positive thinking...
4. My Holiday Plans A few people have asked me what I intend...