 Environment plays a huge factor in our lives.
It shapes our thoughts and actions, and it influences the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. Our belief systems are formed based off of our experiences within our environment, and our outcome - where we are currently, as well as where we will end up - is very much effected by those belief systems. In many cases, an environment's effect on an individual is regarded much like water's erosion of a river bed or beach - inevitable and unstoppable - a cause and effect with little to no choice of outcome. We can't stop our environment from molding and shaping us - we are designed to learn, adapt, and grow. It's in the programming. We can, however, control how we are effected by that environment - how we respond to it, and, more importantly, we can control the actual content and context of our environment. This is huge because we can control what shapes us. The average person spends an enormous amount of time surrounding themselves with the wrong things. Many people spend at least 4 hours per day on social media. There is enough network and cable programming, along with streaming services, to keep a person occupied for at least 2-3 hours per night. We won't even get into video games. How much learning is happening in that time - and by learning I mean the acquiring of skill or knowledge that can be applied to some area of life? How often is a person encouraged to better themselves in that time? How often is strength of character reinforced in that time? How often is a person inspired in that time? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy entertainment, but it's not at the forefront. It was never meant to be. We are all meant to live lives of meaning, yet many of us fall into just living to get by - buying the bill of goods that we allow to be sold to us. We allow ourselves to become products of the environment pumped to us through every medium. Consumers, living vicariously through pop culture social media, reality television, outrageous sitcoms, over the top action adventures, and propaganda sold as news. This is not life. You don't read about life or watch it on a screen. You engage it, experience it, and adapt, learn and grow from it. Then you help others do the same. The problem is, if everything around you is feeding you a message that keeps you in your current state, then you're probably going to stay in your current state. You need to surround yourself with a message that inspires you to greatness. Life is hard, and we get tired and lost without reminders. The wrong message, the wrong influence - without a buffer, can be disastrous. I've seen people who have post its of key words or phrases placed at various spots on their computers and around their desks as constant reminders. Some gyms have powerful phrases that convey key beliefs painted on the walls. I, like many others, have a banner and a flag in mine to remind me of principles and beliefs that are important to me. Many athletes (and business people) have mantras they repeat to themselves to keep their focus and self belief high. I myself started listening to podcasts while driving and using spare time to read books and articles on business, training, and mindset. Surrounding myself with the words and experiences of those better than me keeps me focused and excited as well as more creative and insightful. I am better at what I do when I do this. My head is in the game instead of in the clouds. All of the above are simple examples of tools and tricks people use to create their environment. The key is, you need to be challenged and inspired. There is no room for negative views, negative talk, or negative people. In my 20's there were many things I wanted to do. The people I was predominantly around at the time weren't interested in the same things I was. There was no one or nothing in my life pushing me to pursue better things, and I didn't have the same outlook or understanding that I do now. I paid dearly for that. I might be in a different place today if I had chosen better back then. Read that last paragraph again. Knowing that you will be shaped one way or the other, you can choose to be shaped in a positive and powerful way that propels you toward the things you want - toward your goals. You can choose to fill your head with messages that support who you want to be, and where you want to go. If time is an issue for you, then stop squandering it, and put the little of it you have to good use. Try this - redeem some of the time you spend each day goofing off. Instead of social media or tv, read a book you've had on a list, take a class, learn a new skill - whatever. You know better than me what things you'd love to do. Pick words that inspire or challenge you, and use them as a personal mantra. Dump the relationships that foster bad habits and bad thinking. Pursue ones that challenge you to be better. Fill your head and your life with those things that drive you toward who and where you want to be. Accept no less. - Eric
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 The majority of the world is beyond our control.
We have limited control over much of the external forces that effect us, yet we try as hard as we can to exert control over these things. This can lead to a lot of frustration, anger, rage, despair, and hopelessness. If you don't have a frame of reference here, trust me - I know what I'm talking about. As we keep worrying about all of the external things outside of our control, we often neglect those things that are within our control, and the majority of the time, it is those things that will have the greatest effect on our lives. We do have control over our physical, mental, and spiritual self improvement. Why, then, do we let this slip from our grasp? Why do we neglect this - trading our chance for greatness for amusement and passing comfort? This one thing we absolutely control. We can wield the power to create and recreate ourselves in accordance to who we want or need (or are needed) to be. This has always been what amazed me about training. It's like math. All you have to do is show up, and be willing to put in the work. People act like they have to be motivated to train, or they're waiting for the right time - for the right pieces to fall into place. What they don't realize is that it's in the moments where you aren't motivated, where you have to squeeze in a session - doing only what's necessary - when you have to truly fight and struggle to get your training in - that the greatest progress is made - the spirit and mind are toughened. The body will follow. In this regard - training, growing, learning becomes something sacred - a sacrament to ourselves and to those close to us - be it family, friends, co-workers, or team mates. By making ourselves stronger, tougher, more resilient to the challenges that will come, we become able to pull ourselves through the struggle - becoming something, someone greater than we were - becoming something heroic in an age of mediocrity and settling for good enough. We become an example to ourselves, and, therefore, through our actions, mindset, and attitude, stand as an example to lead others who may be looking to us - because you never know who is watching. Perhaps the greatest thing you can do today is commit 100% to the process of transforming yourself from a hobbyist to one of the dedicated few. Someone who is willing to sacrifice and do what is needed to break the mold of mediocrity. Someone who is willing to push back against a life that's designed to make you soft and compliant, waiting for the inevitable downward spiral. Someone who is willing to call themselves out on their own B.S., because you can do so much better, and so much is riding on your choice. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for those close to you. Forge something great. BE someone great I'm pulling for you. - Eric  The above is an action phrase I use to keep my head in the right place. I owe it to Tony Blauer,
whose company Blauer Tactical Systems uses the phrase "Choose Safety" as a quick, easy to remember reminder to the trainee to always do the thing that keeps them safe. This is my take on it. When in doubt - always do the thing that makes you stronger. Choose Strength. Simple to remember, and strong enough in their call to action - these two words have helped me in my training, in my thinking, and in my life. When I've been tired in a training session, and I want to skip an exercise I know I get benefit from that phrase comes to mind - Choose Strength. What it means to me is strong enough to change my thoughts and attitude. The phrase is a reminder that the power and responsibility are mine, and that my outcome in training is based on the decisions I make. I can choose to go to bed by a certain time every night, so I'm rested enough to perform well and recover well. I can choose to eat foods that will support my training and my health. I can choose to do the work that is necessary to elicit the result I desire. If I simply decide to Choose Strength, in less than a second I can cut through the nonsense of how I feel about doing something and start moving in a positive direction. The doubt, discouragement, fear, distraction, etc are gone. It becomes a simple equation of action equals result. The cool thing is, choosing strength starts to flow over into the other areas of your life. When in doubt - Choose Strength, and move forward. If you need help, hit me up. If you need training - I have several options. We can find one that fits. I'm here to help.  We spend a lot of time focused on the past - what we didn't do, what we should've done, etc.
Maybe we didn't make the best decisions. Maybe we didn't do the right things back then to position us for where we want to be right now. Maybe we feel like we wasted a lot of our time - a lot of our life. I know this thought process and these feelings intimately. The problem isn't thinking or feeling this way - that's natural. The problem is acting like it's a life sentence - like you've ruined your life, and it's over. Every thing you do is a choice. Everything. Maybe you don't like your job, but you keep going anyway. That's a choice you're making. I know, you've got bills to pay. So make another choice - figure out how to pay your bills by doing something you like better. I don't want to be another guy telling you to quit your job to find happiness. That's not my point. My point is that each day is a series of choices for you. If you don't like where you are, who you are, or what you are doing, and you do nothing to alter the situation, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO STAY THE SAME. If you are unhappy - if you feel you have wasted time, wasted life, wasted resources, gotten yourself into a bad spot - then do something to change it. Use those feelings, that regret, that desire for something better to fuel you and drive you forward. Do one thing today to change a habit you don't like, or create a new one you want to have. I've made it a point to write on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Most of the time, I'm writing late at night to make that deadline. Last night, I was unable to write, and I failed to have myself setup beforehand. I dropped the ball. Do I give up? Do I start letting myself slide because it's hard to always keep a deadline? No. Here I am writing. Instead of having had this to read this morning, you'll have it to read tonight, and I'll have further reinforced my habit of writing regularly, while having a lesson in being prepared for circumstances where I'm not able to write the night before. The good thing about mistakes is they show you what not to do, but they're only helpful if you learn the lesson. The same can be said about thoughts and behavior. If circumstances show you who you really are, and that turns out to be someone you don't like, then choose to be different, and take action. You're only truly stuck if you allow yourself to be. There is always a way, you just have to want it enough. If you find yourself lamenting, whining, and crying instead of doing, then maybe it's time to ask yourself what you really want. Here's the thing, though - It's not too late to start working on where you want to be. If you need help, hit me up. I'm here for you. - Eric |
AuthorEric Chasko is the head of Redemption. He is a Performance Enhancement Specialist, Certified Underground Strength Coach, Progressive Fighting Systems Full Instructor, and Blauer Tactical Systems SPEAR: Personal Defense Readiness Trainer. From young athletes to busy professionals, he helps people develop the physical, mental, and emotional strength to win on the field, on the street, and in life. Archives
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