Living in Possibility

Guest Post by Gary A.Christian

If you have seen the movie The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves, you will remember that the premise was that there is a world that we are aware of that is a fabrication called the Matrix and a whole other world that exists based on reality where anything is possible. Early in the movie Neo, Reeves’ character, is given the option of taking a blue pill and stay stuck with the life created by the Matrix or take the red pill that will open up the reality based world where absolutely anything is possible.

Well I’m here to tell you that there really is another dimension where everything and anything is actually possible.

The world in which we live in is one of fear, lack, hoarding, mistrust, disillusionment and loneliness. It’s a world of survival where there is a view of limitation and lack. One only has to turn on the evening news or pick up a newspaper to see evidence of this world. On the other hand there is also a whole world filled with possibility that is available to one and all. It is a world filled with optimism, potential, happiness, endless opportunity, power, freedom etc. This is a world that's hidden from view for most people because the world of lack, fear and scarcity is our default way of being.

But here’s the challenge that most people have with accessing that world….

They are stuck in the world of lack and therefore they don’t have access to what the possibility world has to offer. We stay stuck in jobs we hate because of the security that job provides. We don’t lose that weight that we’ve gained over the last few years because we’ve tried and tried and maybe “it’s just not meant to be”.  We even emotionally remain in failed relationships that have broken up because it’s easier to remain stuck in the hurt and pain of the break up rather than moving forward. We have all lived in this world because like I said this is our default way of living and we really don’t know any better.

However, to access the world of possibility in any area of your life you literally simply have to create the intention of possibility and live from that perspective. Although it’s a simple concept theoretically it won’t necessarily be easy to implement. When we are stuck in that world of overwhelm it can seem like a huge mountain to climb to get to the world of possibility but that first step is extremely simple.

You have to decide...that’s it.

Simply decide that you will move to the world of possibility in that area of life that you are finding yourself stuck and powerless in.  DECIDE to change it. And for many that will be the breakthrough that you are looking for.

Once you have actually made a decision to live in possibility you have to start with changing your mindset from one of scarcity and overwhelm.

...And how am I supposed to do that? You ask.

Well the simplest way to transition to the world of possibility is to change your language because your word creates your world.

Here are some examples:

Try > Will, Aim, Intend
Problem > Challenge
Spend > Invest
Have To > Get To
Should > Get To, Choose To
Must > Choose, Desire

As simple as this process may seem its immensely powerful because who we are and the actions we take is tied up in our language. It is not only what we speak to others but also, and more powerfully, it is the words that we say to ourselves.

If I was feeling stuck and powerless around a failed relationship that I couldn’t seem to get over I would first DECIDE that I wanted to get unstuck. Then I would have to create a new possibility or intention in this area of my life such as:

“I am creating the possibility that I put this relationship in the past where it belongs and open myself up for healing. This would allow me to clear a space for something new and marvelous to enter my life.”

Next I would define how I would operate in my world if I wasn’t stuck in my relationship. For example I would
• Give up on blame
• Look for what lessons the relationship taught me
• Let the other person go and wish them well
• Catch myself and monitor my thoughts and language when talking or think about the relationship

Finally I would conduct myself through the lens of this new perspective that I had designed for myself.

This is just one way to access a new possibility for feelings of being stuck in an area of your life. While changing your mindset and your language is not a magic formula that will work in every area all the time being open to the potential of what living in possibility can do for you and your life makes it a worthwhile process. Going forward I challenge you to look at your life and focus on an area where you are feeling like you have lost power or are feeling stuck. Redefine the challenge you are having from the perspective of living in the world of possibility and prepare for a new way of being around that area.

Are you overwhelmed? Are you living in possibility? What stopping you from living a life of possibility? Have you moved pass your possibility blocks?

Read more of Gary A. Christian's blogs here.

Caring

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

Last Friday morning I participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I was nominated by good friend Mark Young from Belize. I dedicated my participation in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to my loving and caring mother who passed away in February 2009 from complications related to polymyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and tissue damage.

For a period of about two weeks I had seen numerous videos on Facebook and other social media as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral. I had seen celebrities after celebrities poured buckets of ice on themselves as they were challenged one after another to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The aim of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is help to raise awareness of and donation for research on ALS. Over the period of the campaign I have seen ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos that were funny, epic failure, informative and educational as well as inspirational.

I have to admit that initially I thought it was silly for so many people to be pouring buckets of ice on themselves and then posting videos on Facebook and other social media. However, as campaign gained traction it struck me that the reason most people were participating was because they care about others. Let face it as Anthony J. D'Angelo said without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is about our community. I participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge because I care about people in my community that are affected by ALS.

My participation allowed me to also do a little more as I used my video to speak about the lessons I learned from my mother’s illness. One of the important lessons I learned from my mother’s illness which is relative to ALS patients is that patients with terminal or chronic illnesses need to be treated with dignity. They have to depend on others every minute of their lives. Simple things such as brushing their teeth, drinking a cup of tea or taking a shower that so many of us take for granted, ALS patients require help and care with.

When we care about others we are running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people that brings happiness. Care, compassion and kindness were virtues imparted on me by mother. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge provided me with a vehicle to share my mother’s legacy of caring with others.
After more than two weeks of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos I can safely say that most people participated because their guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring. Caring brings a sense of joy and contentment.

How do you show that you care for others?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog  http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

The F-ing Craziest Thing I Have Done

Getting married is not the f-ing craziest thing I have done. In December I will celebrate 21 years of marriage. If you speak with my wife she might argue vigorously that we merely stumbled to 21 years. I would disagree and for that reason getting married is not the f-ing craziest things I have done.

How about becoming a parent? With two young adult children and toddler the decision to become a parent is not the f-ing craziest thing I have done.

Lying on the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower is not the f-ing craziest thing I have done. Zip-lining and treetop trekking in Horseshoe Valley is not the f-ing craziest thing I have done. Descending Heritage Road or the top of Mississauga Road at a top speed of 65KPH is not the f-ing craziest things I have done.

The frigging or freaking (not the f-word you were thinking) that I have ever done is deciding to start my own consulting practice in 2006. What is the f-ing craziest thing you have done?

I started thinking about this blog one evening last week as I sat in my car at the Brampton Go Station with Malcolm, my 19 year old son. We were waiting for Michelle’s train to arrive. When the train arrived Malcolm looked at all the hard working people getting off the train and then said that most of the people looked unhappy. He said they all seem like fishes following the stream or ants following crumps or mice following cheese.

Malcolm’s observation and comments were poignant because his mother was getting off the train. I told Malcolm that the frigging or freaking craziest thing I have done in my life was deciding to start my own consulting practice. I told him that the people getting off the train were the normal hardworking middle class people. They relish in the semblance of the security and stability of their jobs. Their lives are by most part routine. Crazy people are like me do crazy things like become entrepreneurs or innovators. Most things for the people getting off the train are routine. On the hand, crazy people like me face risk and uncertainty of gigantic proportions. Some days I yearn to be like the ordinary working class man.

I cannot just romanticize about the wonderful virtues of being an entrepreneur. In 2008/2009 when the financial crisis hit I almost loss everything I had worked. If you don’t have the gumption for the risks and uncertainties that comes with being self-employed your life is better off being one of the thousands of ordinary folks. You are better off doing your daily commute into one of the big cities for your pay cheque.

As a business owner when I read of the extravagance of former public servants like Alison Redford in Alberta I wonder to myself if others understand the courage and challenges of entrepreneurs and business owners. For my business I have had to travel to some hostile countries without the benefits of an advance scout forwarding photos of hotels and suites, sussing out suitable patios and restaurants. In some cases I don’t even have the benefit of security. In fact, with the recent Ebola outbreak in Africa and violent conflicts in a number of countries my business stands to be adversely affected by travel bans and restrictions.

There is a lot that can be romanticized about being an entrepreneur but there is some element of “insanity” to business ownership. In a way business ownership is like an occasional wild goose chase. As small business owner I sometimes feel I am on a wild goose chase but lessons learned are immeasurable and I have enjoyed every moment. It might be crazy and sometimes yearn for a normal life but there is joy that comes with the business ownership that hard to explain.

As a business owner I dare is to lose my footing momentarily. I dare to lose myself and not to just have a normal life. Business is about facing risk and uncertainty. It is not about having a purely routine life. If business was about just doing the things that we can do there would be no innovation or creative. By daring to take risks and face uncertainties I have learn valuable lessons. For example, I now know how to better market and promote my services through the use of blogs, social media like Facebook, Google+, Linkedin and Twitter.

As frigging or freaking crazy as it has been to start my own business I have also made a fool of myself along the way. From such experience I have come to realize that there is a tiny thread between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. Today I encourage my friends to take a leap and pray like crazy that they will find solid ground to land. You have to be determined and prepared to exploit opportunities as they come along. For example, in this winter I was able to deliver a presentation on Bitcoin and virtual currencies to TD Global AML Team in Toronto.

Being prepared is one of the best lessons I have learned. As business owner you have to be prepared to meet your clients’ needs. Business ownership is crazy. You can’t pick my exit or the moment when an opportunity will be presented but you can ensure that you are ready. I am constantly educating and reinventing myself to remain relevant and current in my field. What are doing to educate and re-invent yourself?

Business ownership is crazy and because of that I have learned a lot about my core strengths and weaknesses are and I work to plug the gaps where they exist. Do not be afraid to go into an industry where you are not the core expert. When you are running a business you can learn from several different sources. As a business owner you have to understand how to build customer loyalty and this something you can learn when you interact with people from different industries.

It might be frigging or freaking crazy going into business but the key to success is to surround yourself with people or delightful and talented team. My wife and children, my brother Peter McKenzie, Chris Mathers, Owen Henry, Robert Mathavious, Nyron Davidson and so many others continuously challenge me to be a better me. Business ownership is crazy, you cannot make it on your own.

In 2006 when I started Mark McKenzie Consulting my friends thought I was crazy. Today, I think starting a business is the frigging or freaking craziest thing I have done. However, the life lessons are enormous. I do admire those who have a stable career and income and sometimes yearn for such. Business ownership the frigging or freaking craziest thing I have done. It is financially risky but for me it has been an adventure worth living.

What is the craziest thing you have done?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Authentic Swing

“Inside each and every one of us is one is a true authentic swing. It is something we were born with. It is something that is ours and ours alone. It is something that can't be taught or learned. It is something that got to be remembered. Over time the world can, rob us of that swing. It gets buried inside us under all our “wouldas” and “couldas” and “shouldas”. Some people may even forget what their swing was like” This is quote is from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron. It is based on the 1995 book of the same title by Steven Pressfield and takes place in the U.S. state of Georgia in 1931.

What is your authentic swing? What do you consider to be yours and yours alone?

Over the past year or so I have dedicated my time to mentoring a number of young graduates from the University of Toronto. Marc S. who is a member of the City Centre Toastmasters Club is one of my mentees. He would like to be a dentist and over the past year or more he has spent his time focused on preparing for entrance exams and interviews with dental schools in Australia.

Two weeks ago while I was away working in Trinidad and Tobago I received a call from Marc S. He was very excited. He informed me that he had just received offer of acceptance to prestigious dental school. I was elated. Last week I received another call from Marc S. He was even more excited this time as he informed that he had a second offer of acceptance to second prestigious dental school.

I am extremely happy for Marc S. His excitement was like a magnet with a momentous gravitational pull that almost brought me to tears. I remember clearly the first time he told me that he wanted to attend dental school. I told him that with a clear vision, goals and plan his dream will come through. I love when others succeed because it inspires me. I believe that I have a natural knock for keeping others inspired and motivated. My authentic swing is to inspire and motivate others.

Marc is reaping the benefit of power of belief. He did not need me to plant the seed of the importance of self-belief to be convinced that he would eventually get accepted to multiple dental schools. He needed reassurance. He needed a seal of approval or a vote of confidence. It is almost mystical and magical when we belief in our abilities as it manifest things we once considered impossible into possible and possibilities. Our authentic swing comes first from the power of belief and turning our dreams in realities. This not faith but we may be considered so. However, it is by far the most powerful and creative force in the universe. According to Albert Einstein, “imagination is the greatest creative force in the universe”. Your authentic swing begins with a dream and the power of belief.

A good example of the power of belief is world record of sprint 100m. Remember 50 years ago the 100M world record was around 10.25. Today it is standing at 9.58 held by Jamaican Usain Bolt in at the World Championship in Berlin, Germany on August 16, 2009. Here is an even better example. On July 30^th, I had the opportunity of listening to young Malala Yousafzai at the National Academy of Performing Arts in Trinidad. In October 2012, Malala boarded her school bus in the northwest Pakistani district of Swat. A gunman asked for Malala by name, then pointed a Colt 45 at her and fired three shots. One bullet hit the left side of Malala's forehead. She was attacked because of her passion for education of girls. Today, Malala travels the world as education activist. She is known for her activism for rights to education and for women, especially in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. Throughout history there are several example of mankind progression to greater things by merely the power of belief, dreaming and taking action.

Below I share six steps to developing your authentic swing:

1.            Have a vision and a plan. Visualise what you want and how to achieve it. Ask yourself, where am I now? Where do I want to be? How can I get there? Email me at mastbmckenzie@gmail.com and I will send you a copy of my developmental plan template.

2.            Be proactive and actively seek opportunities.

3.            Think outside the box. Do something new every day. Be innovative. Rekindle your childlike qualities and take some risks. Don’t fail because of inaction but rather because of your determination and courage to try.

4.            Be passionate and enjoy what you do. This will increase your motivation to work hard and drive up your creative energy for great ideas. Consider: What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? What do you dislike doing? Where can you improve?

5.            Broaden your horizons and add new skill sets and competencies. The best way to increase your capacity and exceed your potential is to invest in your own personal and professional development. Network and connect with like-minded people.  Sound your seductive siren. Read about me in Share News.

6.            Most importantly, believe in yourself.

What is your authentic swing? Have you discovered your authentic swing?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.