Tony Robbins for President
Seriously. I’d give up my pinky toe to watch him rip into Donald Trump. Listening to this scrumptious beat as I write in case you want to vibe with me.
Over 2 million people from 60+ countries have attended Tony Robbins workshops over the last forty years. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime coach, bestselling author and billionaire entrepreneur; there’s even an award-winning documentary on Netflix about his work — I am Not Your Guru. Tony’s counsel has been sought by the likes of Bill Clinton to George W. Bush to Oprah Winfrey to Serena Williams. “There are gaps in people’s lives,” Tony says. “Whether it’s your job, an intimate relationship, your financial success or your level of joy. My mission is to help you close that gap.” I love it!
I attended my second ‘Unleash the Power Within’ seminar in West Palm Beach, FL with 10,000+ others a few weekends ago. Full days without breaks (seriously — he facilitated for 12 straight hours the first day without missing a beat), fire-walks on burning hot coals to show us what we can accomplish in a ‘peak state,’ and rave-style dance parties with music blaring as you tap into your innate energy — Tony is a maniacal genius, and I love it! Here are a few takeaways from a deeply meaningful and inspiring weekend.
#1: “What does it take to be happy? PROGRESS!” Everything on our planet, (including us), is either growing or dying; there isn’t a third alternative. I’m happiest when I’m learning new things; when I’m driving forward and filling my calendar with events and experiences that I’m excited about. And I’m most unhappy when I’m stuck and can’t make a decision; when I’m letting life happen to me instead of for me and complaining about how unfair it all is. Victor Frankl, the Jewish psychologist who spent much of WWII in Auschwitz, writes in his awe-inspiring book Man’s Search for Meaning, “We had to teach the despairing men that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life — daily and hourly.” While I don’t imagine that Frankl and other concentration camp prisoners experienced much happiness in those years, I am convinced that Victor Frankl and Tony Robbins are invoking the same principle: we can lose ourselves in the shit-storm that life throws at us OR we can fight for progress in every moment, trusting that even in the worst possible of situations, there is something to learn and grow from.
#2: “We get what we tolerate. Most of us tolerate a low level of energy.” I spent so many mornings struggling to get out of bed in my 20s; just another fucking day of work; damn it! And I spent many an evening drinking myself into a stupor or experimenting with stimulants so that I could mask my low level of energy. It SUCKED and I totally tolerated it. Friends and colleagues with a lot of energy would often trigger me. What the hell’s the matter with you? That level of energy can’t possibly be real…On a deeper level, I was totally envious; I wanted what they had and I had no idea how to get my hands on it. What Tony Robbins has empowered me to see is that I ALWAYS have access to that level of energy; it’s just about tapping into it and bringing it to the surface.
Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned over the last 2 years in startup land, as I’ve helped grow a successful company, (Breathe For Change), is that energy and passion are the foundational pillars of so much of our success. People crave it and want to be around others who are oozing with positive energy — even if they won’t consciously admit it! I am committed to living every day with more passion and energy. It is a total game-changer for me.
#3: Trade your expectations for appreciations and your life will totally change.
Research shows that when we are fearful or angry, our EEG patterns (which measure the electrical activity of the brain) and our EKG patterns (which measure the electrical activity of the heart) are chaotic and misaligned. But when we visualize something that we are deeply appreciative for — if only for a few minutes — our EEG and EKG patterns begin to flow in unison, aligning our brains and hearts. Experientially this makes sense to me. When I focus less on my expectations of how something will be— that wasn’t supposed to happen! This is terrible! — and, instead, find something to appreciate about the situation, I can change my focus, balance my physiological state, and ultimately, craft a more thoughtful and powerful response. I truly believe that the most effective antidote for fear and anger is simply practicing gratitude.
Every morning I take a few minutes to focus on three moments in my life that I’m grateful for; from the smallest occurrence to the largest gifts in my life. It has made a huge difference in how I deal with negativity, and I look forward to it every morning. If you’d like some guidance, here’s a video recording of me doing a 12 minute morning meditation, (which includes the gratitude part and a few other components that Tony recommends). I hope it helps; I’d love to hear how it goes for you!
#4: An extraordinary life is a life on your own terms. A year ago this statement would have frustrated me; what the heck is a life on my ‘own terms’ and why do I deserve that? Now I feel like I’m inching closer every day, and I hope that my journey can help inspire others. Here’s what I wrote at the seminar about what an extraordinary life on my terms looks like. “I’d let go of petty criticism and judgments. I’d appreciate moments that bring me joy AND moments that bring me sadness. I’d unleash my energy and passion into the world, and live every day like it truly matters. I’d focus on being of service to others and working with people to help them find deep fulfillment and happiness in their lives. And I’d do it all with a big ass smile on my face.
I’ll close with a timely parable that Tony shared during the seminar. A person pleaded with God, “Give me more time!” God smiled and replied. “There isn’t more time. Give me more of YOU!” Yes. Yes. Yes. Onward and upwards —December, 2018. Let’s go!
