I actually had this article written up before when I had only envisioned Designing A Champion to be a blog for me to share my thoughts.  I know several people loved it, and as I was reading through some of my thoughts today, this article came up.  So, I am putting it up again today.  Hopefully, you will find this concept extremely useful in your life.  God Bless!

If you have ever been to the circus and seen the elephants, you may have noticed that these huge animals are kept tied up by a relatively small rope.  It is very interesting to see how something so big is contained by such a small restraint.  After all, if the elephant chose to, he or she could easily snap the rope and break free.  So why do they stay restrained? 

From the time they are babies, they are restrained with this same rope and no matter how hard they pull, while they are still a baby they can’t break the rope.  After a while they just give up and as soon as they feel the boundary that the rope is putting on them, they stop pushing.  Therefore they never break the rope and never break free. 

Do you see a parallel in your life?  How often do we do this to ourselves?  We  are repeatedly told from the time we are children that we “can’t” do this or that, and sooner or later unfortunately we often give up trying.  So my question to you today is how big is your rope?  Have you really thought about this?  Don’t let the limitation that someone else put onto you hold you back!  You have the power to break free and live the life you want and honestly deserve to live!  Break the rope!!!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

 No matter where you are in your life’s path right now, you always have the ability to push onward to become something better.  One of the most interesting things that I have observed about people that are successful in finances, sports, relationships or other areas of life, it’s that they always keep the desire to get better at what they are already great at doing.  They also almost always tend to want to become better at other areas of their lives as well and to become more well rounded.

 I truly believe that at some point in the lives of successful people, they hit a fork in the road.  They had the choice to just keep going along the same path as everyone else, or they had the option to do things a little different, to cut their own path for others to follow.  If you wish to become all that you can become, search these paths out.  They most definitely are not as well defined as the “easy” and “popular” paths, so it will take some effort on your part.  However, it will be worth it.  Many years from now, you will be able to look back at the path you will have created for others to follow and your legacy will have become established.  Through one simple decision, you very well may alter the course of history.  What could that decision be for you today?

“One of these days, I…”, “Tomorrow, I…”, “If I ever get the chance, I…”

How often do you hear any variation of these phrases throughout the day?  More importantly, how often do you say them yourself?  Very often, we tend to sit back and tell ourselves, our families, and our friends, “Someday, things will be different.”  In itself, this is not a bad thing to think or say, but the more vital part, the most crucial part of this is to say “when” things will be different.  All to often, we find ourselves going through life with every intention of starting that exercise program, starting to eat better, starting to read more, starting to put some money away every month, and on and on.  Then we suddenly stop and take a look at our life and a lot of “somedays” have passed us by.

You see, time will pass whether you start toward your goal or not.  Five years from now, you will be five years older, and what do you expect to be different?  Don’t fall into the trap that just because five years pass that all of the sudden things will change for you.  They won’t.  You have to start today; this very second if at all possible to move your life, your health, your intellect, your faith, and your finances to a different place five years from now.  If you want something to change, you MUST DECIDE to change it.

Years ago, I heard the saying, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”  The same is true for your life.   The Law of Compound Interest is always at work.  Investing a little bit today (not just money, but anything else in your life) will take you to a certain place or situation later in life.  When you decide to make little steps today to improve your health, your intellect, etc., it will propel you forward later.  Likewise, if you take small steps today that have even a small negative impact on your health, intellect, etc., it will manifest itself with bigger problems down the road, especially if you keep letting yourself slip ever so slightly on a daily or weekly basis.  So, today use the power of time and the Law of Compound Interest to your benefit.  Take the time to make a small step in the right direction, and then do it again tomorrow.  You will then be able to look up in five years and be amazed at what a difference a little bit of effort and time made in your life.  After all five years is five years.

I was reading an article written by a chiropractor friend of mine earlier this morning, when something I read struck a nerve(no pun intended).  Why do we get stuck in the rut of contracted thinking when times get tough?  Does this really make any sense when you think about it?  We cannot spend all of our time and energy trying to contract when in the end we are trying to expand!  What I mean is this.  As a personal example, anytime that I have gone along my road to my dreams, dreams to be unreasonably successful in my life, there are times when everything is just growing and going crazy by leaps and bounds.  Then it hits, a short period of time where although I still see some growth in my businesses and life, it’s just not happening fast enough.  By the grace of God, most of these times, I realize what is happening, keep my mindset on the outcome I desire and plug along.  However, there have been times where I began to contract.  During such times, I began to utter phrases like, “I can’t afford this…” or “I don’t have time for…”, and although I know this is a trap, I sometimes can’t help but fall right into it.  Then comes the hardest part, how to dig myself out. 

 When you find yourself at a point where you are feeling like you are just struggling through life, without enough time, money, energy etc., unless you like that circumstance,  here is the secret to getting out of the rut.  Change Your Mindset!  Think expansively!  You see when you make a statement such as “I can’t afford that” or “I don’t have time for…”, you are automatically instilling within your own subconscious that you desire that outcome over and over.  After all, we tend to get what we focus upon.  On the other hand, if you say things to yourself such as “How can I afford this?” or “How can I find the time to…?”, immediately the subconscious will begin its job of trying to solve this problem for you.  You will see opportunities open up right in front of you.  Opportunities pass us all the time, but most people miss them, because they are so focused on just getting by.   The great leaders of history, whether they are famous for their spiritual gifts or business success or anything else, all have/had an expansive thinking mindset.  It’s not always going to be an easy road, seeking opportunity; you will continue to stay right where you are or slide back to square one at times. Keep your eyes on your destination, focus on what you can do to get there, and then let nothing hold you back!

As a chiropractor, teacher and trainer, I have been asked many times over the years, “What type of workout should I do?”.  The first, and usually the most obvious response is “What do you want to accomplish?”.

 You see, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of books/articles written on everything from weightlifting to running barefoot.  Constantly we are bombarded on TV with infomercials for the “newest and hottest” workout guaranteed to make you lose 50 pounds and 10 dress sizes by the end of the week! Magazine after magazine lines the shelf with every celebrity’s “secret routine” that got them ready for the red carpet, and the list goes on.  It’s easy to see why anyone would be confused.

 So, back to my original response, “What do you want to accomplish?”.  For most people, the workout they are looking for is one to lose weight and/or maintain health.  Again, this is not a simple response as some people will be more inclined to one type of activity as opposed to another, but I will offer some general advice here.

 An ideal beginner workout needs to include a few basics: resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and some stretching exercises. Each and every one is vital to have a healthy, well rounded body.  Although there are numerous reasons to do each one of these, we won’t get into that until another article, as each needs to be addressed individually.  Suffice it to say though, that people will be drawn typically more to one category or another and this is where the trap can come in to play.  Many times, people get into a rut and overdo one form of exercise, leading them to eventually get bored and burn out.  Once this happens, they tend to lose any interest in exercise for a while, sometimes permanently and as a result their health suffers.  What a shame!  You have to understand that there are numerous ways to make exercise fun and enjoyable.

 So here are a few tips to get you started:

 1. Begin with something you enjoy.  Don’t try to talk yourself into a full, all out assault on any type of exercise you don’t like.  It gets too easy to find all the excuses of why you just can’t stick with it.

 2. Start off slow.  If you always enjoyed running for instance, but haven’t run further than the refrigerator in 10 years, don’t expect to do a half marathon  in a week.  Frustration will set in and down you go into the exercise and fitness graveyard.

 3. Buddy Up.  Everything is easier when someone else is there with you, and exercise is no different.  Find a workout buddy that will hold you to the fire, and expects you to do the same for them.  Invariably, there will be days when one of you will just not feel like going to work out.  The other must then step up as a source of motivation and inspiration.

 I could go on with this list for some time, but continue to check out our website, mark us as a favorite, find us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter so that you can check back with us regularly.  We will be continuously getting great ideas out to help you increase your quality and quantity of life!

Recently I have been reading a book written by one of my mentors, Dr. John Demartini.  He makes a point about saving that I really hadn’t stopped to think about, but I totally agree with him and think perhaps you may find this information useful as well.  The question is should you invest in your savings or should you pay off your debt.  Debt has literally worked it’s way into a position of power in our society from the top to the bottom.  We have people who have spent more than they make and as a result end up owing credit card companies sometimes a full year’s worth of earnings.  For that fact we have a government that has borrowed well into the trillions and steadily raising that number every second as the power of compound interest takes effect.  What this has led to is many people that are middle class and are just trying to get by as well as even sometimes multimillionaires that end up owing their entire “life savings” to someone else.  

Luckily in the past few years, there are people that have become the voice of reason on the subject.  There are those that have made a fortune for themselves teaching others how to get out of debt and begin building their portfolio.  There are companies that are entirely dedicated to “negotiating with your creditors to bring your debt down”.  While it is great that people are beginning to learn again that we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become so covered with owing others, that they in fact “own” us, it is vitally important that people learn the art of saving as well.

Saving is important for a number of reasons: it is important when the unexpected shows up, it’s important for peace of mind, it’s important to have a “retirement plan” down the road and so forth.  However, there is one key reason that feeds into all of the others, and that is that money comes to those who manage it.  Put another way, money tends to come easier to those who appreciate it’s value, and as a result take care of it and work with it so it multiplies.  Jesus even taught in the Parable of the Talents, that “to he that has, even more will be given, but to he that has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  You must learn to appreciate the value of money and find out how to make it grow.

So, now back to the original question: Should I save money or pay off my debts?  Dr. Demartini and I agree on the answer when we say do both.  So, what about all of the get out of debt talk that you hear all the time, are they wrong?  Absolutely not!  Here’s the key however, while paying off debt is motivating and you can sense a freedom come about you when you get your creditors paid off one by one, it’s increasingly more motivating to see your bank account grow and money flowing to you.  If you spend all your time focused on the debt, but don’t get yourself into the habit of saving and growing your fortune, then you ultimately will end up right back in debt.  How many times have you heard family or friends say, “Well we had all our debts finally paid off and then…happened. Now we are starting over on the process again.”  The problem was, they started with a short term goal which they met, but they did not take the time to discipline themselves for the future.  You must pay your bills and pay extra to get those debts down, but don’t let yourself fall into the trap in which you say, I will begin to save after all of this is paid off.  As any multimillionaire or multibillionaire will tell you, one of the secrets to fortune is Pay Yourself First and the rest will somehow take care of itself.

Have you ever stopped to think about how putting limits on yourself affects not only you, but also those you love and care about.  These limitations even penetrate further into society than just those around you, but also into the millions of lives you may have changed if you had only tried.  You see there is a consequence to every action as we all know, but most of us tend to forget about the consequences that happen due to our inaction.  If we choose to think small, always playing it safe and never going for what we feel we are destined for in this life, we are ultimately arguing with God when He states “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, and again Jesus makes the statement that “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.  If He notes that He desires for us to have life in abundance, real true abundance, then why don’t we try to live that way.  We have to take the talents and the ambitions that we are given and apply them in the best and most fruitful way we can in order to have abundant life.

As stated earlier, our thinking small and not taking a risk will ultimately not only restrict us, but it carries forward to our children and into society as a whole.  For a moment think about Christopher Columbus sailing for weeks, running out of food, listening to the men on board complaining and the folks back home saying he was crazy.  Think about what would have happened if he had said to himself “this is too hard, I can’t do it”.  If he had made that choice Americaprobably still would have been “discovered” by someone else, but it could possibly be an entirely different makeup at this point, just based on one man’s decision to act.  He knew there was risk, but if he didn’t take the chance what would have become of the future United States?  Another example that I love about how our decisions impact society much more than we know comes from Andy Andrews book The Traveler’s Gift.  In the book he tells of a teacher fromMaine named Joshua Chamberlain.  Listen to the story of Col. Chamberlain below:

After this point, Andy goes on to say that according to historical experts, had Chamberlain not acted that day, but instead given in to the fear of losing, the Union probably would have lost the battle ofGettysburg.  Historians also agree that had that happened the Confederacy would have probably won the Civil War.  Even further, historians also agree that had that happened, theUnited Stateswould look much more likeEuropetoday.  TheUnited Statesas we know it would not exist.  There would be no American Dream.  Our world would be different because the most prosperous and powerful nation in the world would not exist.  All this could have changed with one decision to not act, by one man, in one situation.

Don’t ever fool yourself into believing that what you do or don’t do is not important!  Take the chance!  Live the life you were designed to live and take the chains of self-imposed limits off!  The world needs you!