“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.”
                                                                 — Sonia Ricotti

So often, it’s not the events themselves that cause us the most pain—it’s the stories we tell ourselves about those events. It’s the judgments we make, the blame we assign, and the weight of resistance we carry that keep us stuck in suffering.

Life has a way of humbling us, stripping away the illusions we cling to so tightly—often just so it can rebuild us into someone stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.

I’ve experienced this firsthand.

The two most painful events in my life—losing my 11-year-old brother to a tragic drowning accident, and enduring the end of a 26-year marriage—brought me to my knees. I felt broken, uncertain if I had the strength to go on.

In those moments, I was angry. I blamed others. I blamed myself. I even blamed God.

But slowly, something began to shift. When I stopped fighting reality ...

“Dedicating your time to being AGAINST something is the same as dedicating your life to something you hate; you feed it with your energy. Knowing what you are against, helps you decide what you are FOR. From there, the best thing to do is to pour all of your focus and time and energy into what you are FOR instead.”
                                                                                                                                                                                           — Teal Swan

We live in a world where being against something is often the loudest message in the room.

Scroll through social media, turn on the news, or listen to the latest debate—and you'll see it. Movements, political platforms, and conversations are often built not on what we want to create, but on what we want to destroy.

And while standing against injustice or hardship can feel noble, I’ve found that fighting against something too often keeps us focused on what we don't want...

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."
                                                                                                              — Joel A. Barker

Each of us is born with a vision—an inner knowing of who we’re meant to be and what we’re here to create.

Think back to your childhood. Remember how limitless your imagination was? You didn’t just dream—you became your dreams. I personally wanted to be a cartoonist, a doctor, an astronaut… even a superhero (and yes, at five years old, I was Batman).

These childhood visions weren’t just whimsical fantasies. They were clues—guiding us toward the path of expressing our unique gifts and making our mark on the world. This gift isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s in all of us.

So, if these visions are embedded in our hearts, why do so many of us allow them to fade? Why do they become distant dreams instead of powerful realit...

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
                                                  — William Shakespeare, Hamlet

It’s human nature to label the events in our lives as “good” or “bad,” especially when they don’t unfold according to our plans or expectations. But what if those very labels are limiting our growth? What if what we see as a setback is actually the beginning of a breakthrough?

One of the most profound lessons we can learn is that meaning is not found in the event itself, but in how we interpret and respond to it.

Sometimes life reminds us of this truth. It disrupts plans, shifts priorities, and forces us to adapt in ways we never imagined. And yet, for many, it can also became a time of deep reflection, renewed purpose, and unexpected opportunity. It shows us the power of perspective and the importance of staying nimble—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.Let me share a story that beautifully illustrates this idea.

Let me sha...

“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”

                                                                                                                                     — Dwayne Johnson

This morning, I almost skipped my mini-exercise routine. I was tired. I felt sorry for myself. And honestly, I just didn’t feel like it. Then a story came rushing back to me—one that stopped my excuses in their tracks.

Years ago, I heard about an elderly man who walked into a gym and turned heads.

He was in his early nineties—yet his body was lean, powerful, and incredibly strong. His chest was broad, arms defined, legs like tree trunks. His back was solid, yet supple. Even his white hair carried a kind of youthful energy, matched only by the twinkle in his steely blue eyes and the vibrance of his spirit.

Someone asked him his secret.

He smiled and said,

“Over 70 years ago, I made a promise to m...

"There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you are committed, you accept no excuses—only results." – Art Turock

A few years ago, I was at a conference and heard a speaker share a quirky yet profound take on commitment. He said:

"I had bacon and eggs for breakfast this morning. The chicken was involved, but the pig was COMMITTED."

While this may sound a little cheesy, it stuck with me. It made me reflect deeply: How committed am I really to the things I say I’m committed to?

Or, as the legendary coach Steve Chandler often asks, "Are you interested, or are you committed?"

In my 50 years as a martial arts instructor, I’ve had the honor of working with thousands of students. Of those, hundreds have reached the prestigious rank of Black Belt and beyond. But here’s the thing—what sets these students apart isn’t physical prowess. It isn’t about strength, flexibility, or ...

“We’ve got to remember that we get whatever we focus on in life. If we keep focusing on what we don’t want, we’ll have more of it. The first step to creating any change is deciding what you do want so that you have something to move toward.”

— Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within

In sports, business, and life, champions share one powerful belief: What we focus on expands.

Think for a moment about the vision you have for your life or your business.

When you focus on the things that fuel your passion, things that energize you and ignite your soul, you often attract the right people and the right circumstances to help you on your journey. It’s like the universe starts working in your favor.

On the flip side, when you focus solely on the obstacles or challenges you face, it can feel like those very obstacles multiply.

But here’s the key truth I want to share: I’m not suggesting you ignore your challenges or pretend they don’t exist. Absolutely not. What I’m inviting y...

"Accept, then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. This will miraculously change your whole life."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     — Eckhart Tolle

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending a transformative meditation retreat. Four days of immersion in peace, stillness, and centeredness left me feeling deeply connected. But when I returned to the "real world," I was immediately struck by how easily I slipped back into old habits, the familiar patterns of overthinking and stress that often take hold in everyday life.

The biggest challenge I face is learning when to accept things as they are, to let go of my need to control every outcome, and to surrender to the flow of life. It’s a lesson that continues to evolve, and ...

“Today is a new day. Don’t let your past determine your future. Let today be the moment you stop being a victim of your circumstances and start creating the life you truly deserve. You hold the power and the time to transform your life. Break free from the chains of victimhood and embrace the greatness that’s always been within you. You were never meant to live a life of mediocrity!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                           – Steve Maraboli

Are You Living as a Victim, or Are You Taking Ownership of Your Life?

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending a life-changing seminar by one of the most transformative coaches I’ve ever known—Steve Chandler. During that event, he posed a question that has stayed with me ever since:

Are you living as a victim, or are you stepping up and owning your life?

At first glan...

"I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich.”
                                                                                                                                                                  — Jim Carrey

Visualization, when paired with inspired action, is one of the most powerful tools in the Champion’s arsenal for success and fulfillment.

When we look at elite athletes, we often notice that the gap in talent between them can be astonishingly small—almost imperceptible. What separates the extraordinary from the ordinary is the integration of the body, mind, and spirit. It’s the athlete who brings together these three forces, harmonizing their physical strength, mental clarity, and inner drive, who stands the greatest chance of achieving powerful performance and victory.

If our hearts are the compass of our desires, and our bod...