New Year's Resolutions are Bullshit

     Pretty harsh tile for this article. But there is reality and then there is fantasy. Look I'm not saying you can't do it, it is possible. From a statistical standpoint it rarely happens. According to a Forbes.com article from 2013 only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions. After only two weeks 33% have already stopped following their resolution. So why don't they work? Because they are based on a calendar and hope. Base those things on hardcore exuberance with a plan and watch the results you want come to fruition.

     They say change is hard, I have to disagree. When someone tells us something it is from their perspective and we a have a choice. We can believe it, or we can experience it for ourselves from our own perspective. Change is hard work yes, and that is what makes most people shy away from trying. Another thing about change is we have to get real with ourselves. We have to look at all the blemishes and scars to really see the truth. And we have to acknowledge the truth about ourselves which can be tough. Well heck it is tough to look at yourself and realize you're the problem. In order to achieve a resolution and change something we need to be hard on ourselves and truthful about why we are where we are. Starting means committing to action everyday. Everyday is Day 1. Day 1 requires a new resolution to hardcore energy and exuberance to get after that goal, dream, vision, or whatever you want to call it.

     The Process is what really matters. Do you know where you're headed? In the P-TEAM Coaching system it is referred to as your Arrow. Your Arrow is the direction your going to focus on and send your energy to. If it is loosely defined then your chances of hitting the mark are low. Every action we take, every thought we have, every decision we make needs to be designed to release our Arrow with confidence in the direction of our purpose. It requires creating bigger, better energy than what got you to where you are now.

Don't make resolutions. Make a commitment to yourself first. Build from that, do it for the right reasons and be real.

Happy New Year

Daniel

P.S. I selected this photo of JYD because he is modelling the energy you can have to attack with your Arrow.

Joy To The World

     I remember as a boy the powerful stirring in my heart when at Christmas I would here the Carol Joy To The World. That inner stirring would rise up and I would see the beauty of the season and the world around me. There wasn't an adult view of life that suffocated the amazing symbolism of this gift. Yes I am a Christian, and I am proud of that. Proud because I am a better person with God than without. I am not religious, I am a Disciple of a way of life. That is my purpose as a I walk the path ahead of me.

     Here is the thing to remember about Joy To The World. We are that Joy, share in that Joy, and create that Joy. The Joy is contained in our DNA, never lost, yet certainly buried as we transition to being an adult. Society has a way of creating a pressure that removes that real Joy. We start to walk away from the truth of that Joy to a reality that aims to suppress it. Yet it is always contained within us and it's source willing to show us the way. The heart of hope will open the door to Joy that resides within a gift we have the choice to receive.

     This season offers us a chance to reconnect with that inner child. To experience the Joy the World received. To be the light you were designed to be and lift up other people. Being a servant often goes without an recognition and is looked down upon in today's society. The purpose of service is not about today's society. The purpose of service is to elevate the other person to a place of Joy. Service is not about recognition, it is about restitution of the heart. As the lyrics to Joy To The World say, "Repeat the sounding Joy." It is a sound at this time of year. It doesn't have to go silent when the lights and trees come down and the status quo returns. We are the sound of Joy, not politics, not religion, not a heart that is closed to serving others.

Merry Christmas

Daniel

Berserker Mode

     The year is winding down,and what a year it was for me. The end is not what I pictured but then again not much of the entire year I could have pictured transpiring the way it did. What I do know is that I stormed the castle and I stormed it my way. Fuck societal conditioning and the status quo. It was a break through year for me. I have stepped outside so many limiting beliefs about myself this year and created new higher limits to push. It was exciting, exhilarating, and a test in staying true to myself. Not having life dictated by other people's judgments, expectations, and what is in their best interests is truly freeing. But I'm not satisfied with just being at this level, there is much more to accomplish.

     As I wind down this year I can't help but look forward to next year. I'm going into

berserker mode. Berserkers were champion Vikings who reportedly fought in a trance like fury. I plan on attacking the upcoming year that way. I'm taking the momentum of this year and what I was able to accomplish and using it to launch me into 2019. It is a great feeling to create a lifestyle, way, and path that speaks about who I truly am. There will be no excuses for me as I storm the castle. And I intend to hurt along the way in my pursuit as I rattle my own cage to create that berserker mode.

     I will be launching my P - TEAM Coaching platform in the New Year. Personal, Team, or Organizational coaching for performance is the focus. This is designed from years of personal pursuit in athletics and as an Author. You won't find anything comparable to what this platform will provide you if you want results.

I hope that as this year winds down it finds you and your family in good health. I hope that the New Year brings you abundance as you define it.

Blessings

Daniel

Chasing Goats, Finding Eagles

     I just returned home from Rossland BC where I competed in a 50km Ultra Marathon. The course was savage and beautiful all in one. I didn't fully accomplish what I set out to do but was happy with the way the trip unfolded. I follow my heart and every now and again my ego clouds the true purpose of these events. You see God had a plan for this trip fully outside the scope of the race.
     With her Granny becoming ill my wife had the tough decision to stay home. We had planned a little holiday together but her family needed her at home more. So I set off on my journey alone, well not exactly. God had brought me to this journey to reacquaint me with my true function. The function that he had placed on my heart so many years ago. I chose to challenge myself in these races because I need a challenge. The challenge makes me feel alive, it gives me focus. The challenge as I often forget is part of my higher function though. So as I journeyed along God just showed up everywhere along the path to remind me to get over myself and into my true function.
     The people that I competed against were all amazing athletes and people all around. Being among people like this exploring our limits is a cool experience. Its competitive but the supportive energy from the top to bottom is incredible. We had to summit five mountain peaks along the course and each one brought me to an emotional place of joy and serenity. Lessons in being fully present as I worked hard physically and had the spiritual awareness that life is much more than just the race itself. Life is being in the race and allowing yourself to become alive through emotions and experience. There was pain and suffering as there always is in these events. However the joy I experienced in each moment as I explored my function through Spirit was worth all the hurt.
     The day after the race I hiked down to a spot on the Columbia River in Trail BC. I am always moved to heightened spiritual awareness when I am near rivers, streams, creeks, and streams. This was no exception as I processed all the energy and wisdom God was downloading from the race experience. Suddenly across the expanse of the river an Eagle floated gracefully towards exactly where I was standing. As I stood mesmerized the amazing bird flew around me and at times flapped it's wings and hovered over the water. I don't know how long the Eagle hovered and flew around but it seemed like hours for me. For Native Americans the Eagle is a sign of the great spirit, a very powerful symbol in their culture. Here I stood processing all God was showing me on this journey when this powerful symbol and beautiful creature floated into my time and space. It was an emotionally charged moment that brought incredible clarity to me and the function God has set before me.
      You are not simply just human. You are part of the history of humanity. Your Spirit is here for a purpose and a function. Don't allow your ego to cloud the true purpose of your Spirit and function. Your light is required by the rest of humanity. Shine for all of us to see.

Blessings

Daniel
   
"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

2018 Tour of Hope, My Spirit Soars

Another Tour come and gone, however the memories and experience will last forever. Nineteen of us rode our bikes 850 kilometers to raise money for The Kids With Cancer Society. We rode to raise awareness. We rode to honor the survivors, the kids still battling, and the little ones who have passed away.

In a world where special interests groups are clamoring for attention. Where justice doesn't always prevail. In a society where attention seeking is more important than morals, and values have eroded to unhealthy levels, riding for the Kids is immensely rewarding. These children and their families don't have a choice. Cancer attacks and they have to battle. The battle is real and they are fighting for their lives. Thank goodness for The Kids With Cancer Society and the support and help they provide to these kids and their families.

For eight days I got to spend time with my ride family. This amazing group of Riders, Volunteers, and some Kids With Cancer staff come together for one week a year on the Tour. I met new friends who were on their first Tour. I reconnected with the veterans who have been around many years. I was raised up in so many ways being around the group and by what we do when we set out to do this ride. I am blessed to be able to have the health and well being to ride this event. I am blessed with the support I get from people donating to The Kids With Cancer Society so that they are able to do what they do.

There is a Spiritual aspect to this even that I look forward to every year. My Spirit soars as I ride and experience the beauty of the Country I live in. My Spirit soars when I am able to make a difference for families walking through a dark valley. My Spirit soars at the love and compassion this group expresses every year. My Spirit soars because I am alive and every day is a gift. My Spirit soars because I am pursuing life, my own, and the hope for the lives of others. My Spirit soars because the Tour of Hope does exactly that, it shows there is Hope in a world that is in need of Hope.

As of today the 2018 Tour of Hope has raised $257,213.97. It's not too late to donate, go to:
www.kidswithcancer.ca and click on the Tour of Hope 2018, select any rider and you can donate.

Blessings

Daniel


"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

The Face of Vulnerability, Naming My Fears

     A curious sidebar to leaning into vulnerability is finding my own voice. One thing I was stripped of as a young boy during events that changed my very nature. Learning to be vulnerable has allowed me to move back towards being the truth I was born to be.
     Being afraid is another road that is a tough road for a man to go down. Voicing fears is not manly right? And there have been many a time I have voiced my fears or opened up and had them rammed right back down my throat. Often as a the victim of sexual abuse you're dealt with more critically than the predator. And let me tell you I have been on the end of much critical scrutiny about what happened to me. So fear lives deep running through me on many levels.
     I have learned to name my fears and embrace them for what they are. Some are real, some are old patterns and habits I am moving beyond. But having that voice to speak them is a powerful energy that has helped me to enter into more of my truth. Having a voice can scare others and lead to them judging you. Oh well, its better to have a free voice then a mind chained by others demands. I have new strength in naming my fears and setting them free. Fears are a form of energy that we internalize. By naming those fears I have been able to release that energy and move out beyond that force that kept me stuck. It's

hard to be completely fearless, but that is the joy that vulnerability can bring to life. It's a joy because there is more to gain and fully live than there is to lose.
     Fears become barriers in our mind that keep us from being fully alive. The types of barriers that trade freedom for a self-imposed prison. My goal is to harm no others on this journey. Having a voice doesn't mean being rude or confrontational. But giving voice to your fears sometimes means having to let others know that you've become a changed person and they may not like that. That is for those people to deal with. For my fears have no power over my life and being vulnerable enough to open them up to the world is living my true nature.

Blessings

Daniel

"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

Dancing with the Moment

     After the tragic collision the Humboldt Broncos had I was reeling for a few days. It just made no sense that so many lives were lost. First of all my prayers, and thoughts go out to every parent, family member, friend, girlfriend, billet, or anyone who knew an individual who passed. I wasn't sure how to write this in terms that makes sense. But I know it made me realize how valuable each moment is. It also made me realize that I don't fully embrace every moment I live. Too often I am focusing on the long range goals I have and out there on the hoped for horizon. I was meditating on this when the following popped into my mind, 'Dance with each moment' of your life. Dancing is a metaphor here for being present in every moment.
     Doing Epic Shit can be done in the moment every moment. I talk often about enjoying the process and the journey. Upon reflecting I realize that I often don't actually do this. By focusing down the road I am failing to dance right in this moment. Dancing in this moment means to just accept the moment as it is. Being the silent witness and observing the moment without judging it, and others. Maybe most importantly is not judging myself in this one beautiful moment. Doing Epic Shit means accepting what is going on right here and now. Embracing this pain, this joy, this failure, this success, this opportunity right here to dance the moment. I'm not saying don't try to change the events that are impacting the moment, however don't spend so much time focusing out beyond the moment you forget to live. Dancing is a joyous activity, it is vibrant, energized, and a celebration. That's why Dancing with the Moment caught my attention.
       I wanted to try and make sense of the tragic Humboldt collision for myself. What really struck me about that collision was the loss of potential, the loss of dreams. All of the people who lost their lives on that bus were there for a purpose. They had a passion for hockey, each other, and their dreams. They were dancing in the moment together doing what they loved. Life is short, pursue it like it is. Tomorrow could change everything. So today bust your ass to live your passion dancing in the moment to enjoy that journey. I believe that I can honor the Humboldt Broncos by doing my part to keep their collective passion alive by dancing in my moments. As humans we can live a collective passion that celebrates all of them and all of us. This collective energy can lift us all when a moment and life doesn't make sense.

God Bless

Daniel

"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

I am Vulnerable

     This was a difficult piece for me to write. As a male I have built a persona around that uber male way, you know, that I'm a man and that means not being vulnerable. As a survivor of sexual abuse, there was a point as a very young man I made certain that I was never going to be vulnerable again. I built a fortress around my heart and guarded it with vigilance. As a boy I had part of my nature ripped from me, and when that happens you are never the same.
     Recently I was blessed to go through a process that had me examine me. It had me get to the root of me and who I am. It was emotional, painful, hard work, and spiritually uplifting beyond words. And I made a choice to do it. Part of that process had me look at what it means to be vulnerable. In that learning I discovered something amazing. To be vulnerable is to be human. To be vulnerable is to be a man. This process for me could be likened to using a drill to drill through your own hand by choice. All that I was had been built around not being vulnerable. I had to turn my personal philosophy upside down and allow myself to see the possibility that being vulnerable would bring freedom.
     Isn't it unique that being vulnerable could bring me freedom? I experienced this once before when I looked my abuser in the eye and gave him forgiveness. That release of anger, hatred, and disgust was freeing. As I went through my process and faced my choice to be vulnerable something amazing happened! I was forgiving myself. This forgiveness was about opening my heart to possibilities about myself. By not allowing myself to be vulnerable I closed myself of from my true nature. I closed myself off from living, from exploring, from being instead of doing. I am afraid, I can honestly say that. But I am also alright with being afraid.
     Being vulnerable to me means being human. Being human means to live life in the pursuit mode. By not being vulnerable, what I was doing was decaying rather than growing. So life in my fortress was not pursuit. Life was darkness and fear. I came to realize that I was not being human. I want to be human. So I go forward with my mind open.  I can be smart and be vulnerable. I can protect my best interests and be vulnerable. I can create my life instead of just surviving it by being vulnerable. I am vulnerable

God Bless

Daniel

"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

Running with the Moose, riding a spin bike for 24 hours.

      I get asked one question often when I am doing my 24 Hour Ride for the Kids With Cancer Society. How do you prepare for that? I like to jokingly say, "I watched a video!" That's what you do today right? Anyway back to the topic. I will preface my answer with a recent experience. I saw a Moose running through a field on a quiet morning and watched it lumber through the snow. I thought to myself, that's what I look like when I run, chuckle. In many Native North American beliefs the Moose represents self-esteem and the magic of life and death. It stands for the expression of joy and accomplishment. I adopted the Moose as my Spirit animal that day.
     How I prepare and prepared to ride for 24 Hours has been a lifelong journey. And the tag line would be, "Thanks to all the Moose I have ever run with." Getting weird eh? To all those neighborhood friends who played road hockey, five hundred, hide n seek, rounders, jacks, catch, and adventured all over the place, thanks. To all the teammates I played hockey, baseball, and football with, thanks. To the friends who scaled fences at local hockey rinks to play after they closed with no lights on, thanks. To all my friends who would throw a football around in the dark on warm summer nights and cold ones as well, thanks. To that cousin who would shovel off a section of the field in winter so we could play football, super big thanks. That's how I prepared to ride a bike for 24 hours.
     I've been blessed with fellow Moose who love to go on adventures. They love to live a video in life rather than through the videos of others. To all the Moose who coached and kicked my ass, thanks. To the power hungry people who showed me that the pursuit of position is bullshit and what you position should really be used for is to serve. To the P-TEAM who taught me how to battle, grit it out, and who held me accountable to my objectives, your Moose presence is appreciated. That's how I prepared to ride a bike for 24 hours.
     On Friday March 16 and Saturday March 17 2018 I was blessed to be in the presence of many people who carry the spirit of the Moose. Together we raised over $14,000 (and still climbing) for the kids With Cancer Society. I had an idea in 2015 and a community built Dan's 24 Hour Ride into a successful event for helping kid's who are battling cancer. Sitting on the bike watching it all unfold brought joy to my heart. My own spirit soared at all the amazing people gathered to make a difference. Together we made a dent in cancer. Never limit what is possible, seek to accomplish what others say isn't.

Blessings

Daniel

"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."

   
   

A TROM Statement

     Trom is Irish for bold. Our lives are a bold statement if we allow them to be. Not being conformed to the ways of this world is tough. All the conditioning and status quo thinking attacks us and works to keep us wrapped up in it.
     You are designed to be bold. You are a bold statement that has the capacity to overcome the status quo. The life you have within you breaks the silence that happens when you aren't being authentic. It is a silence that steals your nature. Trom is the courage to step out of the shadow and into the light.
     This is a message that has come to me a lot lately. Your heart will not invest in compromises. It powerfully shifts the energy we are living and allows us to create trom living. Where are you compromising on your objectives? On your truth? That is not who you're designed to be. You have the courage to live your truth in a bold manner every day.
     I am trom with the compassion to make the world a better place. That is the statement I can pursue within my truth. I am that statement and I will live it. This life we have can be our own trom statement. It can be a living document we embrace with love and the light in our hearts.

Blessings

Daniel

"Breaking the chains of ordinary and the curse of mediocrity."