Write what you learned….

Recently, I asked a BTL practice participant to send me their writing from what they learned in our last practice. I do this frequently to see if the team is learning what I want them to. I’m often surprised. What follows is the participants writing. I hope it inspires you half as much as it does me. You see, I get to be there (it’s part of my purpose for practice, remember) when human hearts awaken. Thanks, my friend, for your writing. It is good.

“Kicking my ass – what does that mean? “I’m going to work harder” vs “I’m going to be my own toughest critic.” For me? Kicking my own ass means I’m going to make the uncomfortable, comfortable. I’m going to  stretch myself thin. I’m going to create and chase new possibilities. I’m going to sacrifice social opportunities for the things I truly want. Mentally, I kick my own ass by challenging the little voice in my head. I speak when I need to speak. I listen when I need to listen. I pry. I challenge. I investigate. Emotionally, I make myself uninhibited and vulnerable, ESPECIALLY in tough moments. I learn to see the communication without having to respond. When something is boiling up in my craw, I empower myself to spit it out instead of suppress it again. Physically, I wake up every morning to make myself who I want to be and chase my dream state – my dream body. Professionally, I act with integrity. I do what I say I’m going to do, and I do it on time. I chase every sale until there is closure, one way or the other.  I offer myself as a great teammate, a hungry but humble one. 

When we speak and it gets emotional.. it means something that’s been festering in our craw is starting to boil back up like bad heartburn. Good. Spit it out and empower yourself with peace, it doesn’t come back once you let it go. Your craw will thank you. Your mind will thank you. Why do we continue to swallow rotting and recurring problems? We don’t want to take accountability. We don’t want to let go of that “golden egg.” That golden egg is our reason for anger or resentment. It is our view of the world and the people within. That’s some tough shit to let go.

BUT..we do not to realize that we lose freedom of self-expression and empowerment when we swallow our problems. If you have something to say, say it. Be strong in your belief. Be strong in your speech. Be strong in your core. A good friend does challenge. By ignoring the challenge or letting it go, you are missing out on the opportunity to make your friend better. You HAVE to open them up to the possibility. We aren’t here to make them love us, we are here to be their catalyst for growth.

The reminder for today is that the WHY will light us up and lead to our actions. It provides motivation to kick our own ass. Words matter less when we know our WHY. 

What about when we are not lit up about it? Doesn’t matter – we find the silver lining about what lights us up so we aren’t mindlessly PA’ing. We kick our ass because we know what is important. I’m not lit up about working on my relationship, it’s hard freaking work and I want to be right…but what lights me is the possibility of a GREAT relationship. 

Most elite does NOT always mean hardest working; However, it is almost always one in the same. I was the weakest link, but I wasn’t going to let anyone else work harder than me. Every day I got better, we got better. Extra sessions, extra days, etc. the reality is that I worked hardest for ONE season – just to catch up. Work hard ALWAYS, not just when you need to. 

Don’t wait for someone to show you the way. Model the way.”

Done so…