Re-invention-Is it possible to restart the clock?

Is it possible to simply re-invent ourselves and restart the clock?

I believe our minds are far more powerful than we have ever imagined, but also that when we are under any prolonged pressure or are enduring any type of physical or emotional pain, that we can create mind shifts in the blink of an eye that can change how we react and respond, and in doing that enable ourselves to change many of the situations and circumstances we find oursleves in.

The caravan in the picture below is where I called home back in 1993.

Life's circumstances, our experiences and chosen paths in life can take us down some funny detours. My only belongings were my old volvo, ￡200.00 cash, my dog, a few books, some pens, an old sentimental pair of boxing gloves, a few photos of family and friends and some clothes. Hard times? In recent years I had lost some really close friends who were taken far too young. I had lived a loose and carefree life that had eventually spiralled out of control. My mind was in turmoil at that phase of my life, but it became one of the most valuable and even enjoyable lessons to happen in my life. It was a time of deep reflection and pain.

Sometimes you need to lose everything you have to find out what you've truly got.

My life at that point had hit a brick wall. I decided to take off to get away from everything and with no fixed plan or direction I drove for hours before pulling into a single track road that led to a small haven on the west coast of Scotland between the towns of Oban and Lochgilphead. I was hungry and I needed to rest from the drive. The local pub proved a welcome retreat. Little did I know then that I would be spending a lot of time from that day onwards working in the Inn and living among and being part of the small community there.

I worked 7 days a week in The Lord of the Isles in Craobh Haven working day shifts one week and evenings the next. My tent was pitched a short walk from the Inn and it would be my home for the next 4 months. That proved to be an adventure within itself as the tent was frequently flattened and drenched by the very powerful west coast Atlantic rains and winds. Many a morning I would wake up after my soaked and battered tent had collapsed on top of me during the night.

As the months passed I learned of an old caravan that lay isolated in some woodland only a couple of miles away. Intrigued, I made my way there to inspect it and moved residence that very afternoon. The caravan itself was just a shell. There were no connections, no light or water, nothing, but it was like moving into the Hilton for me. Four walls, a roof, seats and with some drawers intact, I felt blessed. My dog, a young Dalmatian called Mac, the local 'pub favourite', welcomed the change too.

As the months passed I had time to contemplate my life and where I had gone wrong. I drank a lot and troubled myself with the dark memories of a misty past and the bridges that I had burned before disappearing into my new existence. I've always wanted to do something special with my life. I had very low self esteem that stemmed all the way back to my high school days when I was the daily victim of some vicious bullying that would affect me for a long time to come. Time ticked on until one particular day the emotional turmoil came to a head. Personal despair had given way to the realization of the agony I felt, the agony of a failed life. I realized that for life to improve and get better things would have to change, that I would have to change. But, where does one start?

If I were to share everything I did it would take a book and a keynote address itself to tell you how I went about creating personal change, so I will share with you three integral factors that were critical in the process of creating powerful personal change within myself.

If we want change in our lives, change for the better, then there is a very important step we have to take. That step is personal ownership and responsibility. We have to own everything about ourselves. This includes our strengths, weaknesses, faults, our emotions, actions, predicament, state of mind, and much of our past. We have to free our minds from passing blame and accept that we, only we are responsbile for how we respond , act and harbour the attitude we carry around with us every day. That takes some brutal honesty but is necessary in liberating your mind to move forward in life.

The next step I took was in developing an acute self-awareness of my thoughts and inner talk. This period of personal growth helped sharpen very useful focus skills I would need creating the shift in mindset I was determined to make. In our everyday language and response to stressful situations, or our oultook on life, I learned that we tend to use harmful metaphors and sayings that have a powerful influence over our actions and our attitudes. The development of self-awareness took some practise but the efforts proved huge in terms of defining my attitude and progress in the coming months and years.

Thirdly I knew i had to work on my confidence and to do this I decided to learn new skills. I changed my thought environment to keep my brain busy into a learning culture of constant improvement. I was changing what is known as a fixed mindset I had into a growth mindset. As time marched on I eventually developed what I call my focus platform, a process designed to improve every area of my life consitently a little at a time. I made a decision to challenge myself, raise my existing skills and get to work on acquiring new skillsets. I became an avid studier in whatever I put my mind to and was focused on becoming the best version of myself possible.

We spend so much time over-stressed trying to hold on to stuff we can't take with us at the end of the day when in reality everything we need we already have. It's when you have nothing else to call upon you find out the power and value of it.

We live but a very short time. My advice is to not hold grudges, don't spend your time weighed down by life's anxieties, don't turn to self-destructive means. Help others, tell your story, think on growing from your experiences, value your minutes, hours and days...and life will bless you.

Don't spend your time in regret. If you want to do something do it, decide....and walk on. 

Live Your Gift as it is meant to be lived!

Looking back....I wouldn't change the experience for the world.

You have the ability to overcome any situation, trauma, or adversity through developing a deep rooted focus to change your life. You can restart the clock and you are capable of reinventing yourself. It is literally all in the mind if we can learn to get mastery over it.

Do not be easily discouraged. Silence those whispers in your mind, they are enemies at the gates. Adopt and nurture thoughts of resilience and encouragement. Dream big and go like hell to change your internal state. Put your old disempowering thoughts and actions to the sword and move towards the life you deserve.

Anyone can do it!

Here is my final message to you:

‘Wherever you are in life it’s the perfect place to start from. Your attitude determines what results you get out of life. Take responsibility and ownership for everything you are and what you have, establish strong core values, live in alignment with them and the highest doors of excellence will open to you!’