Your World Within Podcast by Eddie Pinero - GET BACK UP | Powerful Motivational Speeches | Listen Every Day

Episode Date: August 21, 2023

“Success is measured by how high you bounce when you hit bottom” – George S. Patton

Let's talk about the most important thing one can do while navigating the trials and tribulations of life. The thing that, as far as I can tell, supersedes all others, the great equalizer of human beings. One's ability to get back up. You simply cannot defeat someone who, despite the inevitable obstacles life presents, rises to their feet again and again.

You can't take someone down who molds the adversity they face into armor they wear. No, those people are gods of their own worlds. They are immune to the shackles that hold most back. See, the world is unpredictable. It's challenging. often it takes everything we have, right? Even the most planful and most prepared

or at some point taken down, even the most skilled will at some point find themselves outmatched. There are no perfect roads and there are no flawless performances. No one wins all the time, which implies necessarily the ones who create meaning in the world

are the ones who shape it from that chaos that surrounds them, who when brought to their knees, refused to roll over and look at the world from their back, but instead rise with a more thoughtful, aware, focused, depersonalized approach. Life is not happening to you,

it's happening for you. It's not giving you problems. It's giving you building blocks. The differentiator is some people build walls around themselves. And some build staircases to the moon. But ultimately we are all building something. You might ask, you know, really? Rising when you fall?

That's the most important thing? More so than courage? Strength, intelligence, confident. More than faith, contentment, success, growth, joy, more than love. And my thought is, 100% because you don't get any of those things without the ability to rise in the face of their opposite. Being those things means fighting for those things, and fighting for those things means a commitment to stand, to reach for them. Even when the world says no, even when the road is long.

If you learn to rise when you're fearful, when you're tired, when you're lost, confused or angry, if you promise yourself getting back up is not up for debate, that there will be no negotiation, that it's what you do and who you are, you simultaneously hold the world in the palm of your hand. See, most focus on avoiding the ground. And because of this, they find themselves disheartened when life is, well, life. We've all been there, right? Sometimes you cannot avoid falling. Sometimes the ground comes to you.

Sometimes you get no say. And the ones who find meaning in the pain, who brush themselves off and carry on into the night, Well, they're the ones with the power to change themselves in the world. What is the difference? When I think back to the first time I deviated from my comfort zone, my routine, I lost the certainty in my life. And as much as I wanted to go back, I remember telling myself one more day. Just one more day until someday became a day.

the current day and that made all the difference. Day one starting my company. I remember turning the camera on and feeling so lost saying words into a microphone that I almost didn't press record. But I did. Until one day I realized not only was it bearable, it was my purpose. The vehicle that transported my thoughts to the world

and that made all the difference. During the time, When some of the projects I invested the most time and energy into flopped, I remember almost saying this isn't for me. But I kept creating. I kept creating until I found that intersection of what I love and what adds value to the world. And that made all the difference. What's crazy is how small a decision that difference seems in the moment. how insignificant the decision feels.

As one stands and looks out from their doorway, the difference between going and not going, stepping out or staying in, making the move or waiting one more day. That difference is sometimes disguised in a cloak of triviality, but do not be fooled. The little decision to move forward, to hang on when your ego is screaming at you to just let go,

walk away, find some semblance of comfort and predictability. Those decisions to endure in the moments of hardship are what we come to look back on as the turning points that reshaped and redefined life as we know it. The courage required to make the call, release the video, register the business, send the message, reconnect with that loved one, deviate from what your friends are doing,

all those things, they may seem small enough now to spend a minute or two thinking about before moving on to our routines and what we are comfortable doing. After all, it's easy to disregard the small things. But the acorn that becomes the oak tree is small. We must, along with the current reality, see the potential in what those things become.

And sure, there are times where the present and the ideal are so different that it seems almost incomprehensible. But how do we get there? We get there by making the little decisions that will ultimately make the greatest difference. You are always one decision away from that evolution. So next time you find yourself looking down at the step in front of you, the step you know in your soul is the right step. Reminds yourself, yes, it sure would be easy to walk away here. It sure would be easy to turn back.

Yeah, it's just one tiny step. But in totality, it's exponentially more than that. It's the lifeblood of your new reality. The water to your sea, the oxygen. to your lungs, the crossroads in front of you will be, with your permission, the beginning of something larger than life. It will ultimately be the difference. The thing about storms is that they all have one thing in common, they pass.

And once gone, they leave you as a person different than who you were before you stepped in. Before you found yourself consumed by its adverse conditions, they are disruptors, breaking down and shaking up. But not for the sake of chaos itself. No, storms break us down so that we can build again. So that we can find within ourselves the power and the strength that simply remained. tucked away during those sunny days. And so walking up to the storm, what you'll immediately notice is a break from the normal. The every day.

An obvious detachment from the standards by which you had been living. But don't be fooled into thinking those dark clouds and heavy winds have nothing of value for you. Don't be tricked into thinking the rain will consume all the good in life. Because at the end of the day, it's that very rain that washes away the excess and leaves the meaningful. We don't grow despite the storms.

We grow because of the storms. So compose yourself and embrace what's around you. Amidst the storm, you might realize that you don't want some of the things you thought you did. You might realize that life contains variables that make it incredibly unpredictable. And when old plans meet new variables, sometimes we learn that the path we were walking down requires adjustment. It needs change. Not because we were wrong.

The dream was wrong, where the path was wrong, but because life is an experiment. Experiments are meant to test hypotheses and support exploration. Without the storm, sure, everything seemed fine. Everything was flawless, but in the thick of it, when the variables, the multiplicity of factors present themselves, it often paints a picture for us that we previously weren't able to see. That's okay. Ideal, even. It's life.

So when amidst the storm and presented this new information, this new portrait, pivot. Grow with your understanding and newly acquired knowledge. There's no point in remaining tied to the ideas, the people and the places that once served you, but have since run their course. Growth is perspective and awareness, and as the storm shakes your foundation,

it also hands you a clarity that those blue skies simply could not. So adjust, adapt, and move further into the person you are destined to become. You can't learn that on a sunny day. No, that's what storms are for. And amidst the storm, you might find yourself scared, nervous, unsure. You might even look back and wonder what life would have been like had you not stepped in. Perhaps you're angry with yourself for not navigating around the inclement weather.

Maybe you'll find yourself asking, how did I let myself end up in such a situation when there were visual indicators and weather forecast? People warned me about moments like this, yet here I am. You might find that the drop in temperature is uncomfortable. The rain, difficult, the wind, annoying. But here's what they don't tell you. There's something innately powerful about proving to yourself that you can move forward

despite those things. That when you're scared and step forward anyway, when you're lost but maintain your poise and trust in the process, when you're down but cling to hope to that light at the end of the tunnel, you emerge with a different understanding of who, you are. You end up stronger because you've allowed yourself to become stronger. And you don't get that on the sunny days. No, that's what storms are for. And amidst the storm, you might feel like the sacrifice required in life is more than you want to endure. Maybe even more than you can endure.

after all it's during our trying times that we're forced to make some of our most difficult decisions we might be forced to let go of some things that had been staples in our lives that in order to say hello to some things we must necessarily say goodbye to others and this hurts especially while it's happening it hurts But what you're really doing is learning to identify what matters and mitigate the things that don't support that journey. Sometimes storms teach us that growth is not about acquisition and obtaining more. And they show us instead that we've been carrying too much,

that we become accustomed to surrounding ourselves with things that no longer elevate or inspire or push us. and the best way to evolve is to move forward with less. So when you see parts of yourself fade away or dissolve, hold your head up. Because when you get to the other side, you just might see that cutting away those things was more liberating than anything you could find or pick up along the way. And we're not taught this lesson on those sunny days,

No, that's what storms are for. And amidst the storm, it's quite possible that you'll feel lonely from time to time. Maybe misunderstood. Perhaps like the whole world has everything figured out. They're moving single file through the correct door while you wander around aimlessly. That's not true. No one has all the answers and everyone has their storms. The question has always been, as far as I'm concerned, what will you make of yours?

Because we're always presented with the decision to let our adversity define us or to find something of value in it. The opportunity hidden in plain view. You're never alone in your pain or your distress. Those things are an inevitability. tied to the miracle that is life. But what you are is powerful. Powerful enough to learn in your solitude and bring that understanding back out to the world.

Powerful enough to let the lessons guide you to something beautiful. Powerful enough to find the meaning underneath the turbulence. We often confuse our times of greatest transformation with setbacks. We often forget that the darkness cannot withstand a single flicker of light, and we can be that light when we trust ourselves.

It's a lesson that can't be taught on sunny days. No, that's what storms are for. And that storm, that very thing you want with all your heart to avoid, it's not antithetical to your happiness or your prosperity. No, ultimately it's how you create those things. The trials and tribulations help us look at life from different angles. They remind us what we are capable of. Show us we can do so much more than we thought

that we have in many cases been accepting a reality that is not our own. That is just the beginning. And so whether you were on the outside looking in or at this very moment in the heart of chaos, remember this is making you who you need to be. And sure, it never feels good in the moment. It's never exciting when it's happening. But there will be a point when you look around

and see a world unlike the one you stepped away from. One in which you are stronger, bolder, wiser. One in which you have greater clarity and understanding a better sense of who should be with you and where you are going. It's not despite, but because of the storm, that you'll rise from the ashes and from the quote-unquote misfortune to find yourself and your way. When you look at erosion, I like say, do you. moons on a beach. What you see is something giving itself away little by little, deteriorating. Sure, there will be events that expedite the process, but generally speaking, it's lost a little bit at a time, day by day, right in front of our eyes. Until the time comes when

we realize that what we have is no longer recognized It's sort of redefined. And I think in a lot of ways we find ourselves in a similar situation. The concessions we allow every day slowly redefine who we are. You know, and it doesn't seem like much, that's the thing. It never does. Quietly detaching from what you believe. Taking on an identity that doesn't quite

white align with who you are, doing things, being places that causes something in your gut to protest, toning down the color in your life so that you blend in. These are not epic, monumental decisions. It's the drawn-out erosion of what makes you who you are. It's the chipping away of what makes you spectacular. See, the idea that now isn't permanent. So I'll just suck it up now. What's the big deal? I'll just settle for now. Let me tell you if that's your rationale, you're forgetting how easily tomorrow becomes never and now becomes forever.

We operate under an illusion that things will become easier. That change will be less strenuous down the road. We'll make things right, get back on track, be happy then, but the thing, but the change will be less strenuous down the road. happy then, but the harsh reality is that things don't get easier than they are at the present moment. It's quite the opposite. And to disregard or ignore this is to let yourself wither away at the hands of procrastination. If you're planning to wait for that, get comfortable. And see, conceding day in and day out, it alters your understanding of who you are and what you're capable of. reinforce our beliefs. Imagine a straight line,

a simple straight line drawn on a piece of paper. Right? You're in the middle. And on one end is who you are, in your heart, in your soul, and on the other end is everything you're not. Every time you sacrifice your principle, your beliefs, every time you say, that's not me, but fine,

that's not where I want to be, but okay, it's only temporary, you take a little step towards, what you're not. And another step, and another step. And one day you look in the mirror and you have no clue who's looking back at you.

Because you've conceded one small decision at a time. You've given away your sense of purpose. Sure, the situation is difficult. But the best things in life are the things that are not easy. You have to fight for those things. You have to stand up in the face of struggle.

adversity, the narrative that others want to write for you. We stay within guidelines because we think the outside is scary. No, what's inside is scary. What's outside is what you need. And when you stop banking on the anticipated miracles of tomorrow and manage the reality of today, you succeed. It's life's greatest test.

Are you brave enough? brave enough to be you. Are you strong enough to fight back when you're tempted to hide, to blend in? Every time you summon the courage to stay true to yourself, it gets easier. The difficulty lessens, you become free of the mental chains you've placed around your ankles. There are certain things in life worthy of compromise, but your identity, you're going to be able to journey, what makes you feel alive, that is sacred ground. That is worth defending until your last breath. No one can take that because it's yours. And when you look back on your life and the

amazing people in it, a life lived fully, will always supersede marching through your days, wearing a mask and following someone else's agenda. It's your life. It's your gift. Live it. Sometimes the inspiration doesn't come to you. No, sometimes you have to go out and find it. When it hurts the most, when the deck seems stacked against you, when the road to travel

seems to be longer than you can endure. These are the times we're tasked, not with waiting, but with creating. And those lows, they become highs because they force us to self-assess to look around and say, I don't want to feel this way anymore. I'm done tolerating X, accepting Y, associating with Z, and so a bridge must be created to something. And your question is simply what's that something going to look like? Here's what's interesting.

Knowing what you don't want is often the beginning. It breathes life into a first step. Maybe you look up and you have no idea what step 2,000 or 3,000 looks like, and that's perfectly okay. You don't need to know exactly where you're headed, exactly what the top of the mountain will look like. What took me forever to figure out is knowing that here isn't right for you, wherever here is, is enough. Because it is the beginning.

The engine that makes it all work. You don't owe explanations. Apologies aren't required of you. All you needed was that feeling in your stomach that more is out there and perhaps you've been depriving yourself of it for a tad too long. You just need to leave scarcity behind and train your eyes to find the abundance you exist with him. The other day I saw a quick interview Tiger Woods was giving. And I'm not really a big golf guy, but when the greats talk, I listen.

And those who have been following him know that he's had kind of a rocky past, right? a very public, you know, family situation to injuries, surgeries, a recent car accident. And you can only want someone like that to rise from the ashes, right? I feel like everyone's rooting for him to rediscover the dominance he once possessed. And basically in this interview, the interviewer's asking him about day one of the masters, where Tiger played well enough to make the cut. You know, he survived day one. and was about to continue the tournament into the weekend,

but it certainly wasn't the best golf he's ever played. And so upon reflecting on it, he says, and I'm paraphrasing, things aren't the way I'd like them to feel. But I've given myself a chance. And I love the way that sounded. Not just because it came from a man who's been metaphorically battling uphill

for what feels like sometime now, but because it's how we all re-emerged from our adversity. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Your past, all of it, the ups and downs, the bumps and bruises, they've all brought you here. And if life is one giant tournament, you've made the cut. You get to play in your masters.

Tomorrow is coming. And it brings, with it the chance to write the ship. To discover the undiscovered, to find yourself again. By showing up today, you've given yourself a chance. And that is the most powerful thing one can possess a chance. I think too often we look at what we don't have. We spend our time focusing on the holes, the blank spaces, the gaps.

Instead of looking at the opportunity we've created to pivot wherever we deem necessary, the flexibility is the asset, but only valuable when we recognize and utilize it. And yeah, that can feel like a tall order when we are not at our best, when we're operating at a level that, let's say, is less than ideal. It's easy to see all the problems we're going through as supporting evidence that the world is bigger than us, that we are outmatched by life. But really, all these things that have come together

to create our current state, there are nothing more than life providing you a chance, an opportunity to turn the page. I'm a tiger, you know, those lows, those setbacks, and perhaps even the personal anger, One would assume would accompany those things. They've given him the gift of now. And he recognizes that.

Just like everything that has paved the way for you has done the same. It's created the conditions from which you can now grow, further evolve. It's providing a little nudge towards those things we need to do, but maybe sometimes drag our feet a little too long. a little too long. So when the world throws you curveballs, how about seeing this situation as a chance to hit off speed, to step up to the plate and make something of what we thought was misfortune? When one trades, it's happening to me, for it's happening for me, you're presented advantages that were previously unavailable. They weren't there, and not because they didn't exist.

They weren't there because they weren't recognized. Because perhaps you saw the very thing that could help you as the thing that would hurt you. But regardless, here you are. Sharpened by the mistakes you made and shaped by the lessons you learned, you are here. You are here. Not to relive the past, but to create a new reality, write a new chapter, walk a new path. You are here. And wherever next happens to be, let it unfold because you chose it.

Let it evolve because it's who you are. the stands and make your way to this stage. We're sure, the stakes are higher, but so is the upside. I often talk about the power of looking over our shoulders at those highs and lows from time to time. Not because they have power over us, but because they have made us powerful. Look at all you've endured. See all that you've overcome.

and for what? Well, to put it simply, for the gift currently at your fingertip. The chance to say years from now, that sure you lost yourself. Things became chaotic, confusing, convoluted. Maybe you were unsure, maybe at times you even felt alone. But those times, the same times, times that could have kept you down. Instead, reminded you what you were capable of becoming. You don't get the light at the end of the tunnel without walking through the darkness.

And so to remember that, that all this has unfolded to bring about something beautiful on the other side, well, that just might be the perspective that you've needed, that you've left behind. The world will only give you what you ask for. And so right here, right now, instead of accepting a continuation of your past, how about demanding an evolution of yourself? That game of life awaits. And so for your sake and the world, don't be afraid to play.