One Year Sober

This Saturday I'll be celebrating my one year sober and clean from alcohol. I don't say this to brag or impress on anyone that if you drink alcohol that makes you a bad person.

I just know what it was doing to me and the effects it was having on me personally. For me personally, I decided it just wasn't worth it anymore. Enough was enough.

As you can imagine, when you turn from a path to pretty much going off the beating one into self discovery mode, entrepreneurial, taking risks etc.. You are met with some intense critics and at times pure hate.

Over this year I've been met with a ton of nicknames. To name a few... Communist, Fake, Phony... Etc.. I stood there and I took it, but I realize anyone who so chooses to use that language toward you does not deserve a spot in your head or life. Also they are usually saying more about themselves then then are you.

Choose to live by values and principles and walk away. Wish them tremendous blessings in life and carry on.

The old mantra is true if you'll change, everything will change. The key to your better future is you. I used to hope the government would change, taxes would change, the economy would change, negative relatives would change, but I realized there was a big problem with my list, I wasn't on it.

The work of real change in life starts with you. It's an internal battle, not an external one. Work on the guy or girl in the mirror each day and I promise you everything will change for you.

This past year I purposefully used Instagram as my way to challenge myself to post content that would add value to someone's life or at least make you think, and document where the sober journey was taking me, so I'd be able to reflect.

So I decided to compile a 3 minute video last night of where this last year has taken me and I'm excited because it's only the beginning of a better future.

Many other voices will try to tell you what you should do and where you should be. My best advice stay true to your heart man. Win the war internally and your external environment will not only clean up, but your heart and soul will flood with tremendous joy and fulfillment. You'll start to enjoy the reflection staring back at you.

Wishing you all the blessings on into the holidays and the New Year! Be set free. God Bless!

Hope you enjoy.

Video Music Credit: Boyce Avenue- On My Way

http://youtu.be/mLtMj4grzgY

Laying The Foundation

God's been really pressing this on me and giving me a serious revelation, and I can't get it out of my head. So, I'm going to share it hope in that some way it blesses you wherever you may be.

"Build the foundations of your life on rock and not on sand."

It's biblical that the wise man builds his house upon the rock and the foolish man builds his house upon the sand.  I'm not just talking about your house you live in either.  I'm talking about your philosophies, your relationships, your lifestyle choices.. etc.  

Over the past year or so I've been really soaking that phrase in. I believe it is that quote that can make or break our life's.  

Obviously we are all going to be met with life's unexpected storms, but the one question we must constantly ask ourselves is how strong is our foundation?

Laying a solid foundation is the key to building anything long-term. People often wonder why things fall apart so easy. 

In my opinion, You have to ask yourself when your life feels like it's falling apart: 

Did you build that (business, relationship, family, lifestyle... etc) on a weak foundation? 

Was it a rush to show you matter?  

Was it pride/ego?  
Was it to prove something to someone? 
Was it to keep up with the neighbors or the Jones's? 

Did you rush something so much that you completely skipped the foundation?

A weak foundation will almost always never withstand the first few storms.

However, a solid foundation will always withstand the storms of life. Strong foundations take much longer.  They are carefully crafted. A brick may come loose, but you don't move forward until it is laid properly.

Regardless of your current political affiliations here's a great example. 

Think about this: The foundation of America has withstood how many storms? And we are still here today. The foundation was tested many times, wars, the economy, scandals... Yet the flag still stands because of what our forefathers laid down a few hundred years ago. 

The forefathers built our country to last.

If you want to build something long-term you have to build it brick by brick with patience. By slowly laying one brick at a time the foundation of that (business, marriage, family.. Etc) will become more and more solid to the point the storms will have a tough time destroying anything that comes it's way.

Where do you find yourself today?

The harsh reality we all face is we are the sum total of all of our past choices and actions. Yes! Where we are today is our fault. Instead of pointing the blame externally which we quite often tend to do, it takes courage to look at the person in the mirror and own up.

I hope your present circumstances find you well. I hope your winning in this life and enjoying every single day! However, if your present circumstances don't look good. Don't worry your life's not over. You're still breathing. It's your chance to start over, renewed and refreshed! 

The one question I've asked myself plenty of times this year, I'm going pose to you. 

Is your current foundation built upon rock or on sand?

God Bless :)