THIS IS ISSUE.010 OF THE SMRT LIST
Hello, Friends!
I just noticed there are 5 days left in January and I haven’t sent out my monthly newsletter yet. The last time I checked, it was only January 15, I swear!! 😂 Where the heck did time go… seriously?
I’m obviously not being present again. 🫣
It’s been a wet and dreary month in Vancouver. The city is smothered in fog as I’m writing something I chose to commit to last summer. I could be doing a higher-value task but the one thing I NEVER do it disappoint myself. So far, that’s worked out. Have you tried it?
A lot has happened this month and my mind has been nowhere but everywhere. I’m going through some unexpected adversity in my personal life but there’s nothing like practicing living on the edge of your comfort zone, right?
Whatever life throws at you, you have to remind yourself to stay in your lane and not get distracted. If you want something, you have to develop extreme tunnel vision.
I’m all about the HEALTHY + WEALTHY life. I want it all— and fuck anyone who says you can’t. But hopefully not you, my dear reader. That’s why we’re friends, right?
Let me give you some tips on how to attain it.
Hint: it’s all mind management.
In this newsletter, I’ll cover 2 topics to get you closer to your dream life:
How To Design A Healthy+Wealthy Life
I got into fitness when I was 20 and removed “I can’t” from my vocabulary by forcing myself through hell for no apparent reason.
I mean, you had to come up with a strategy to survive puke-worthy Crossfit WODS. I can’t believe anybody would find enjoyment in doing hundreds of burpees (non-stop) after lifting a 💩 of heavyweights. We must’ve been bored AF in our 20s. 🤷🏻♀️
I got through it by talking to myself. All the time. I had to convince myself I wasn’t crazy but over time, I learned mantras are proven strategies. I even developed a love affair with burpees, wall balls, sled pulls, and double-unders.
Mantra #1: Just Do It
Before a workout, I’d use to say to myself, “just do it”, start the timer, and begin the WOD with zero hesitation.
It became easy over time.
Neuroplasticity at its finest!
This was the first time I became aware that neuroplasticity really worked— which took me into a decade-long journey into obsessing with upgrading my mind.
- Your brain listens to everything you think and say.
- You can rewire your brain to do anything you want.
- You can create your reality through the stories you tell yourself.
Mantra #2: Stay In Your Own Lane
My biggest pet peeve is when people project their OWN limiting beliefs onto me… because I’m human and that distracts me from my vision.
We can’t help it. We’ll all get affected by bad vibes no matter how “strong” we think we are but one thing you’ll need to get good at is switching emotional states on the fly so nothing penetrates your inner peace. 🧘🏻♀️
My resting bitch face will say so otherwise but my mind is usually as calm as a cucumber. 🥒
I wasn’t always this way— I’m sure my parents and lil’ sis will tell you. I was the spawn of the devil growing up, and always had to get my way… but my excuse is that I wouldn’t be where I am now if I settled into the mediocrity of my below-middle-class upbringing. I didn’t step over anyone but I took risks and paved my own way since I discovered the internet at 9.
The Tale Of The Missing Stiletto
When you grew up with people getting to do cool stuff while you were too ashamed to ask your parents to replace your barbie’s missing stiletto, you don’t cry and play victim.
My barbie had one stiletto her entire existence because I lost her other one.
This seemingly insignificant loss drove me to do whatever it takes to find my place in the universe. Everything I know to this day was self-taught because I knew: no one is coming to save me but myself.
NO ONE escapes childhood without trauma. I had a good childhood but made peace with growing up in scarcity. I spent the last few of years learning how to live in abundance.
When you learn to focus on the solutions (how to make more money) rather than the problems (lack of money), opportunities literally fall into your lap.
You can say it’s the laws of attraction but it’s way more than that: intention, inducing the right neurotransmitters, hard work… lots of it.
Truth is, if you want to appreciate abundance, you have to work for it. NOTHING worthwhile comes easy— because if it was easy, it won’t bring you any fulfillment. 🤞🏼 Lots of science behind this related to our dopamine reward system, which I’ll cover another time!
For now…
How to Cultivate Abundance
#1: Define Abundance
Let’s shed the stigma against “abundance.”
There’s nothing wrong with wanting money because we all have our definitions of success. Having anything shame or bad vibes towards “money” and “wealth” is one of the many reasons why the poor stay poor.
For me, time freedom is the ultimate success and money is simply a tool to let me live comfortably so I can thrive and work on projects I’m passionate about. If you can have it all, why not?!
What about you?
Take out your journal and write down what “abundance” means to you so you don’t get distracted.
#2: Read On…
In my blog post, “Your Scarcity Mindset Is Draining Your Bank Account”, I break down:
- Where Does The Scarcity Mindset Come From?
- Signs You Have A Scarcity Mindset
- Signs You Have An Abundant Mindset
- How to Use Scarcity To Your Advantage
- Why Scarcity Can Be A Good Thing
- How To Cultivate An Abundance Mindset
- My Lessons On Cultivating An Abundance Mindset
