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Category: Living Well

Showing Up As Your Best Self And Where You Show Up

Published on June 15, 2026

While out with a friend last night, we decided we wanted to find a place to dance.

The first spot we went to had us barely two stepping. It was slow and there wasn’t really any dancing vibes. We tried, but the most they were able to get out of us, movement-wise, was a trip to the bar.

The second spot featured a DJ my friend knew. A tried-and-proven vibe controller and he didn’t let either of us down. Neither of us stopped moving the whole night and couldn’t help but overflow a contagious energy to everybody else who was in our general vicinity.

Creating a split screen image in your head of us at spot #1 barely two-stepping and us at spot #2 uncontrollably expressing ourselves can illustrate beautifully the power and importance of alignment and environment.

When you’re out of alignment, you’re forced to operate at a suboptimal level. You do your best to bring the energy, raise the vibration, and express your best self—but, you’ll almost always get throttled.

When you’re in alignment, you almost can’t stop your optimal level from expressing itself. Your energy overflows uncontrollably, your vibration is pulsing perfectly, and your best version is simply doing its thing!

That said, there is an undeniable responsibility that lies in the hands of the person—it’s not 100% the environment’s job to bring out the best in you. But you better believe that environment plays a major role.

…A role worth thinking about as much as you might spend thinking about how you most want to show up in the world.

What Pieces Are You Leaving Behind?

Published on June 11, 2026

The question is not whether or not we’re leaving pieces of us behind… the question is to whom are we leaving behind those pieces?

…And what pieces of ourselves are they getting left with (to utilize; to loathe; to remember us by; to resent us for)?

Maybe Just See What Happens?

Published on June 11, 2026

If you have social anxiety or feel nervous about showing up to an event solo that you want to go to… because you feel like you need your family or friends there with you at all times… maybe just try showing up and seeing what happens?

If you feel tired or like you’d rather be lazy… or feel like you need to be motivated or amped up before going to a workout class or exercise based activity… maybe just commit to showing up and seeing what happens?

If you are a planner and get invited to a trip with friends, but don’t have details on where you’ll be staying… who you’ll be staying with… modes of transportation… etc… all that’s confirmed is the round trip plane ticket… maybe just commit to the plane ticket and trust that you’ll figure out the rest as it unfolds…?

Maybe instead of needing to know all of the exact details ahead of time… or needing specific criteria to be met… or needing to feel a certain kind of way before doing or trying something…

Maybe just commit to showing up and seeing what happens from there?

Evolution Comes From Pressure

Published on June 10, 2026

A parent got upset with me about how one of our martial arts programs was presented.

I’ve been thinking about the interaction a lot. And, consequently, how our programs are presented.

It’s lead to some intriguing conversations with my associates and some new ideas on how we might restructure and proceed. In, what we hope will be, a better way.

And if I (we) can continue to channel the emotional energy we might feel from harsh criticism and heated feedback into constructive brainstorming and actions for improvement… then, in some sense, we should be thankful for harsh criticism and heated feedback.

…Because evolution comes from pressure, not comfort. And if what comes unto criticism can withstand the flames, then it comes out on the other side better; more tested; more polished.

And if it can’t… then it’s a good thing it was brought to your attention and burned.

…Because otherwise, you’d be left peddling a lower, less evolved thing from a lower, less evolved version that has a lower, less evolved experience and understanding.

…And nobody wants that.

Don’t Blame It On The Discipline

Published on June 9, 2026

Being disciplined is impressive.

Living aligned is like being consistently disciplined… only without as much effort.

Being disciplined is not eating a cookie when there’s constantly a bowl of them in front of you. Living aligned is not eating a cookie because there aren’t any cookies for you to eat.

Being disciplined is forcing yourself to get through a grueling workout. Living aligned is getting your workout in via your favorite sport/activity.

Being disciplined is working hard on a project that bores you to tears. Living aligned is looking up at the clock after having worked really hard on a project and being shocked at how much time has gone by… and wanting to keep going to complete more.

If you find yourself wondering how the best are as disciplined as they are… it’s not because they have a superhuman amount of willpower… it’s because they’re excellent at aligning what needs to get done with their circadian rhythm/schedule, aptitudes/abilities, interests/curiosities, identity/self-awareness, home/work environments, and so on.

Don’t blame it on the discipline… blame it on the misalignment.

Envy Not

Published on June 4, 2026

Envy not the person who has what you don’t have or who has gone where you haven’t gone…

Envy the person who thinks not of what they don’t have or where they haven’t gone…

…And instead focuses solely on what’s here, what’s now, and where they have arrived.

For joy and gratitude in the current step is an excellent strategy for evoking more of the same in the next step. And the step after that.

And so too for the person who steps with envy. It only evokes more of the same. No matter how much you acquire or how many places you’ve gone.

Want More Energy? …Don’t Save It.

Published on June 3, 2026

Your body adapts to the demands of its environment.

Sit at a desk all day, take the elevator, use valet, consume passive entertainment on the couch, skip your workouts… and what you’ll effectively be telling your body is: all of that beautiful life energy you gifted me… isn’t needed.

And your body will reduce how much it produces in the future. Until you get to the point where doing even the most basic of tasks is exhausting.

Do the opposite and use it all up though? And your body will find ways to not only produce more, but increase your future stores.

The people with the most energy aren’t the ones who have saved their energy the most… they’re the ones who have used it up most consistently.

Remember this when you’re on the fence about showing up to your workout or playing with your kids outside or going for a walk around the block… because you’re tired.

…Yes, there’s a line that needs to be honored and rest could very well be the better decision if you’re truly fatigued.

But remember that what you agree to as being your energetic limit is what your body will adapt to from there. And if you’re being dishonest with yourself, then your energy stores will iteratively shrink. And if you’re being honest, then they’ll iteratively grow.

And why lie to yourself about something that can so drastically affect your life? Life energy is one of the ultimate life currencies… and the good news is that you get to spend all that your gifted each day and you’ll be fully replenished, plus some, the next!

Hope you have an exhausting day ;)