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M o n d a y M o r n i n g M o t i v a t i o n W i t h M i k e #23

Let’s get straight into it.

I want you to ask yourself something. I need your full attention for this one, no distractions, no bullsh*t.

This could get uncomfortable, so buckle up.

How easily replaceable are you? Another way to put it, if you didn’t have the title(s) you carry, would those around you still follow you?

Let’s use me as an example. I wear 5 different hats every day.

• 🎩I’m a husband

• 🤠I’m a father.

• ⛑️I’m a trainer/coach.

• 🧢I’m a creator (writer/artist)

• 👲And I fancy myself as a leader in my community.

I am many other things too— son, brother, friend, etc— but above are the roles I fill every single day, rain, snow, or shine.

If I died today, how easily could I be replaced in each of these roles? Listen, I know obviously my wife and kids would be devastated. I get that but if and when Leslie was ready, could she find another man that loved her more fiercely? That did more around the house? That provided and protected better than I do?

Could my clients find a new trainer that listened to their wants and needs more intently? Would he or she be better at diagnosing imbalances and dysfunctions, enabling them to create better and more customized programs? Most importantly, would he/she be there for my clients, as a genuinely caring human, better than I am?

The short answer to all of these questions is, absolutely. Yes.

Like many of you, I also have my ups and downs.

Especially since 2019 when I lost my best friend from college.

Though I'm aware and working hard at it daily, since losing B, I’ve struggled harder than ever with matching and certainly exceeding the standards I hold for myself in regards to being there physically and emotionally for the people in my life.

What matters most though is that I can be honest with myself and am fully aware of my shortcomings. To me, true fulfillment and greatness (what I’m after in this life) starts and ends with self-awareness.

So I’ll ask you again, do you pour enough into your relationships each and every day so that you make it absolutely impossible for your shoes to ever be filled? Or do you just bark orders all day and expect people to listen and follow because you’re the parent, or the ‘‘boss’’, etc?

Do you go to sleep physically and emotionally exhausted every single night as a direct result of your daily efforts? Are you spent? Is your tank empty?! Or are you coasting through and not giving this precious life of yours everything you have to offer?

Like the quote states above we’re not here just to survive, we’re here to thrive, damnit, and this is your sign!

So picture this, today at lunch, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones come and wipe everybody’s memory in your life of who you are to them.

❗️❕️Time-out❕❗️

Before we move on, lets assume you’ve already checked yo’self and are granting yourself some grace, because beating ourselves up does no good for not a single soul. A key component in becoming self-aware is understanding and embracing how deeply flawed we are.

So to hell with perfection, it’s all about progress.

I’ll say that again, progress over perfection.

🗣GAME ON!

Ok, so now’s your perfect opportunity to start from scratch and lead a life aspiring to inspire each and every person around you. Show them why they follow you, don’t tell them.

Show them.

I read somewhere once that the greatest ROI you can ever receive is from investing heavily and daily into your relationships.

So let’s start there.

• Pour into your people. Invest your time and energy into their well being and growth. Stay patient with them, be understanding, and give them grace too. Hey, I never said this would be easy.

• Place integrity at the very top of your priority list. “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort. It’s choosing what’s right over what’s fun, fast, or easy. And it’s *practicing your values*, not just professing them.” - Brene Brown

  Remember the newsletter awhile back on values?!

• Take care of yourself too because it is 100% impossible to pour from an empty cup.

In an attempt to not overwhelm you, we’ll stop there. That’s plenty for now and accomplishing the above will most certainly have you falling dead asleep every night.

Spent. Empty.

String enough of those together in a row and you will absolutely die empty, having lived a full life, leaving a lasting legacy behind for generations to come.

Imagine a world where everyone set out to achieve this…

Thanks for allowing me to be vulnerable earlier with no judgement passed, y’all.

And guess what also happens, by default, as a byproduct, if and when you do all of the above? How do you think you wake up?!

💪🏽STRONGER💪🏽

💥BOOM💥

And please never forget:

Helping one person might not change the world but it very well may change the world for that one person. Never pass up an opportunity to help!

Much love, mi gente!

- Mike O’Hara

PS

If you’ve been here awhile and this newsletter sounded familiar, you’re not crazy. It was one of my firsts but it reminds me of my mom in so many ways and I thought it would be a great way to give her a shout on her birthday today! Happy birthday, mom— I love you to the moon and back, thank you for working 2-3 jobs, volunteering as our school’s booster club president, taking us around to all our sports, and other activities, and showing all 4 of your children how to live life to the absolute fullest. I don’t know how you did it and I will forever be grateful for you and all you are. Cheers to your 21st birthday again and to many many more!

YOUR FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED:

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