In 1987 one of my football coaches at the University of Arizona introduced me to visualization. One day at practice he had me and some of my teammates sit down, close our eyes and to see ourselves being successful in “your minds eye - Whatever it is you’re trying to achieve, whether it be a game winning field goal, a 65 yard punt when your backed up on the one yard line, or even earning an A in one of your classes, play out those events in great detail over and over in your mind.” At first I thought he was losing his mind and his suggestion was ridiculous but then I learned that many professional athletes, very successful athletes used visualization as a part of their preparation. Over the years I would learn that more and more people from all walks of life use the power of the mind to help them accomplish their goals and create the life that they desire.

There’s so much to be said about the hidden potential that lies dormant inside our brains. There are many accounts of people that claim to have used visualization to cure an incurable disease, to help alleviate chronic pain, to recover from serious injury, to overcome difficult challenges, or to arrive at a place of great success. Visualization can be used to help us develop optimal health, relieve stress and anxiety, sleep better, overcome an addiction, build stronger relationships, accomplish goals, among many other wonderful things.

As with most everything in life in order for this to work for us we need to spend some time actually doing it. I try to set aside 10 to 15 minutes a day to focus on creating the images in my mind that I want to manifest into my life. May I suggest giving it a try I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If you find it difficult to focus and you find your mind wondering that’s normal and that will happen in the beginning but stick with it and you’ll see how much easier it will eventually become and the benefits you’ll receive.

One of the first lessons I learned after meeting my “main-mentor” out in San Jose, California was to get my bare feet onto the earth. During our initial visit I was standing next to him with my hands in my pockets. Once he noticed he forcefully insisted that I take my hands out of my pockets and went on to say with his Vietnamese accent in broken English that ” Never put your hands in your pocket - even when you cold - big problem in your country - people alway disconnect from earth - alway wearing shoe - walking on cement or wood or carpet - very important to take in energy from earth and sky - put hand to sky it work as antenna to take energy from cosmos - your feet on the earth is like root - root of tree and it take in energy from earth.”

My two boys are playing tackle football for the first time this year - They are 9 and 7 years old. Both of them attended a week-long preseason conditioning camp held on the boardwalk/beach in Asbury Park, NJ. The man responsible for organizing the camp was George Conti, my high school football coach that put us through the same very intense sessions 25 years ago. Watching my boys sprinting across the beach through the deep sand brought back some memories that reminded me of the very valuable life lessons that Coach Conti shared with us. The game of football is phenomenal for preparing young men for the game of life. It teaches teamwork, discipline, hard work, perseverance, humility, how to lose, how to win, fearlessness, unity, enthusiasm and so much more. Enthusiasm is a key component to success no matter what the endeavor might be. Enthusiasm makes any task, no matter how difficult or challenging easier to accomplish. Enthusiasm makes you feel as though anything is possible and I happen to believe that to be one of life’s greatest truths - which reminds me of a great quote by Napoleon Hill: What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. So get out there, put a smile on your face, and get excited about what it is that you choose to do!

The other day I mentioned in a blog that there is a big shift in consciousness that’s taking place and I thought it would be a good idea to elaborate. If you watch the news on TV, read the newspaper, listen to talk radio, visit any number of the websites that report the (bad) news, are a documentary film buff, or simply travel in circles with people that like to share the doom and gloom they heard or read about, then you know all about the poor state of our union here in the good ol U.S. of A. Our wonderful media seems to get the big the big $$$$$ reporting on all the negativity, which means they’re getting the ratings, which means we the people continue to tune in for a daily dose of misery. Well the SHIFT that I’m referring to is basically an attitude adjustment, a new perspective - people are fed up and are desperately desiring change - they’re tired of being force fed so much negativity - tired of the rat race - tired of being tired - of family members dying young - of war - of crimes perpetrated against children - of corrupt politicians - of being lied to, of mean-spirited, racist, and violent people - of corporations and irresponsible people destroying our planet - of being depressed - of feeling disconnected - of living with no purpose, of living without love.

The Shift begins in the way we think followed by the way we act and finally by the way we treat each other, ourselves, and our planet. The shift will lead us to a new existence where there’s clean air to breath, healthy food to eat, pure water to drink, neighbors that we trust, an over-all feeling of connectedness with God, with each other, and with mother nature - Peace and Harmony. It’s coming and it’s a force to be reckoned with - Can you feel it? No? Then close your eyes, sit real still, and listen. There’s instructions there for all of us to follow - Jump on board it’s going to be a wild ride.

Health care is the hot topic that the media and the politicians have been rambling about for months. The system has been under a tremendous amount of mounting pressure for quite a while and if some drastic measures aren’t taken soon we could be on the verge of a major implosion. In terms of a solution or a good plan of attack I believe there’s only one way out: PREVENTION and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - It may not be a common thought to consider Planet Earth as one enormous organism but that’s exactly what it is - a living, breathing, ever changing entity the we humans are merely a part of. When the health of the human being suffers so does the health of the planet. Once we start to take better care of ourselves we will also start to take better care of the very source of our our survival, Planet Earth. The movement has begun and a big shift in consciousness is in progress. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to our planet, and to each other. Take control of your health and be a part of the solution as opposed to being a part of the problem. CHIFORCE and “Living the Seven” is the perfect place to start. Together we can make the changes that will heal our Planet and put an end to the unnecessary suffering. Let’s Get it Done!