en*light Life

Day 3 – Transformation Day!

What an incredible, albeit, emotionally charged day! After a long day (from 8:30am thru 1:30am), the group of us were amazingly energized and excited. The energy level was insane as towards the end of the night we had a mini rave that ended with Tony and crew dousing audience members (and themselves) with water. It was like a big party at one point! Aside from all the fun, Tony guided us through some intense transformational exercises that targeted our limiting beliefs, which ultimately is designed to close the gap between what we desire/our goals, and obtaining results.

The major thrust of Transformation Day is to take a goal (e.g., mine was losing weight), and eliminate beliefs that get in the way (e.g., it’s too hard, “I can’t”, etc.). The idea was to eliminate the non-constructive beliefs and replace with positive beliefs. In order to facilitate the process of changing beliefs, we were guided through a visualization exercise that forced us to take a look at a future without accomplishing the goal. Going back to my example of losing weight/becoming healthier, my visualization was imagining myself consistently gaining weight over the course of the next few years and decade and seeing the end result – myself as severely obese – which was a very traumatizing experience. The point was to feel the consequences of not taking action towards a goal.

After the visualization exercise we were given an alternative - accomplishing goals. For example, mine was being model thin (hey, I can dream, right?), healthy, and full of energy. Now, think about this, do you think visualization of the consequences is effective? In my case, oh yeah! Robbin’s visualization exercise was so simple, yet effective. Imagining myself as fat was traumatic enough for me to do something about it. (Since attending the seminar, I have changed my eating habits, and when I do indulge a fatty treat, I only eat a couple bites.) Anchoring exercises followed the visualization exercise to further support change.

Major concepts covered today were:

• The pyramid of mastery:  7 areas of constant growth for an extraordinary life, which includes the physical body, which was the first layer, or most basic base layer for growth. 
  • We then scored these aspects of our life (physical body, relationships, career, finances, etc) on a scale of 1-10 to get a picture of where we are in each layer – the idea being that most of us are unequally focused on some areas and not others. The goals is strive for excellence in all areas in order to be whole.
  • Filling out a gap map to determine where and how much we full short in accomplishing our mastery areas
• The 3 pillars of an extraordinary life, and the fast track to results and personal mastery
• The importance of strategies to organize resources and consistently produce results; and the strategy types: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory.
• We even learned a few tips that are meant to establish more connection with a lover/partner, such as auditory location
•  The importance of standards. Specifically, raising your standards will change your life
• The 2 mm difference between excellence and outstanding
• Values – towards and away types, which might be in conflict

In Day 2 of Unleash the Power Within (UPW), Anthony Robbins focuses on getting you into a mindset of success. He does this by making you define your goals by really feeling and breathing them into your consciousness. Specific topics covered in UPW Day 2:

• Introduction to neuro-associative conditioning (Tony’s method to making you “feel” your goals and success.)
• The Ulimate Success Formula
• Power of beliefs
• 3 beliefs of lasting success (it must change now; I must change now; and I can change it now)
• Understanding that the past does not equal the future.
• 3 steps to lasting change
• The driving force behind change (The science of momentum)
  • Here, he brings back the example of the firewalk - once you take the first step, you are very motivated to take the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc step. In other words, once you have momentum, it’s easy to keep going
• Exercise: Finding your passion (What do you love? Hate? Are Passionate About? What You Really Want)
• Understanding Decision Making, and effect on change (from should to must)
• The power of team - by seeing everyone as part of your “team” makes you limitless
• Science of Achievement
• Art of fulfillment
• How proximity is power (who you surround yourself affects your standards,  and ultimately, influences who you become)
  • People’s lives are a direct reflection of teh expectations of their peer group
  • Peer = anyone that you are willing to alter your communication/behavior, etc. with in order maintain their respect or love
  • love your family, choose your peers
  • You can help millions of people, but only carry 4 on your back (take away message - there are only so many people that you can carry)
• How to build rapport via energy, tone, modeling, mirroring breathing/posture/gestures/handshakes, and eye contact
  • Tony also demonstrated how to use this in building attraction with someone you are interested in, as well as connecting within relationships

Other tidbits of wisdom:

• If you are trying to convince yourself you’re something you are not, you won’t be successul
• Manage your state by making your worst day, your best day
• Serve from the heart to light up other people’s day, which will turn, will light you up.
• Progress shows up in the form growth and contribution
• If you want to live an extraordinary life, you have to  STRETCH (beyond your comfort zone).
  • doing something outside of your comfort zone expands you mentally, physically, etc.
• Find something you care about more than yourself, and give to it every day

Overall, the point of Day 2 is get your thinking of what you want, and how to maintain the momentum needed to committ to change.

The following is a review of the UPW (Unleash the Power Within) Seminar Weekend in Long Beach, CA. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc. are written up separately to pack in more information.

Prologue (before the Seminar): Lesson learned – Arrive Late!

Day 1 of the seminar started off in frustrated panic as we rushed to get parking (lots were full), and get a good seat. After clearing up ticket issues at Customer Service, and being herded like cattle into an unorganized line by the even more unorganized event staff, we were instructed to stand for over an hour before being allowed to sit in our seats. The explanation from staff members: “Tony likes to see the mass crowd of seminar attendees pile into the auditorium all at once.”  A lady standing near us confirmed that this was the case at previous Tony events she had attended.  Lesson learned: Show up late!  The way things are set up, it really doesn’t matter if you show up when doors open, or show up late, getting a good seat is luck of the draw, and because Tony starts late, you won’t miss anything if you show up slightly later than the scheduled start time.

After the annoying start, the thought entered my mind that perhaps Tony is so confident in his ability to change our state of mind into a more positive one, that he purposely initially creates an environment of frustration (i.e., long wait to enter the auditorium) for the pure challenge. Whether or not this was his intention, after a grand entry and pumping up the audience, it’s hard not to have his positive energy rub off…

Lessons Learned from Day 1:

Ever wonder if you can get psyched enough to walk across hot coals with bare feet? Day 1 is essentially prep for doing just that.  Why this method? Answer: walking on hot coals is supposed to be symbolic of facing your worst fears head-on. The rationale being that if you can walk on the hot coals, then you can do almost anything. In order to get primed for walking on the coals, Tony teaches the following:

• The #1 thing that stops us from moving forward in life and accomplishing goals is fear. Our 2 primary fears are: 
  • We are not enough
  • We won’t be loved

Application – learn how to use fear to your advantage, rather than letting it rule you!       

• Understanding  what controls and determines the quality of our lives via change in physiology, focus, and language
• Uncovering why we do what do (e.g., habits), which are driven by our primal needs (certainty, uncertainty/variety, love/connection, significance); and spiritual needs for growth and contribution.
• Dance with your fear, as it is only energy (that you can use to work for you)
• Find the words and motions that change your state
• Train yourself to be certain 100% of the time, and walk around like you are a 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 -10 from lousy (1) to fantastic (10).

Other tidbits of wisdom learned on Day 1:

• The 3 mandates of a leader are:
  • See things as is (not worse)
  • See things better than it is (have a clear vision that drives it
  • Make it as you see it (convert vision to reality)
• Happiness comes from progress - “If you are at the table of success for too long, you are not growing. If you are not growing, you get (lazy) and unmotivated.”
• Rule of the universe: Grow or Die
• Main excuse people give for not achieving goals: Not enough resources (which includes time); however, life is never a resource issue, it is about resourcefulness. Success = resourcefulness
• The only things that keep us from getting what we want, is the story we tell ourselves (not having enough time, kids, etc.)
• When you are grateful, you are happy
• Take the best of someone, and breathe it in (and keep it in your heart).

Tip: Dress Warm!

The Anthony Robbins event will leave you freezing your butt off! It was so cold that the man himself and opening speaker remarked how cold the room was; however, when I followed up with the staff members they confessed that the auditorium was purposely fixed at the cold temperature. Not sure if Tony wanted to keep us awake and jumping around (during stretch/exercise breaks), or if he really didn’t plan on us freezing, but make sure you wear layers and closed-toe shoes.

If you are interested in learning how to have more successful and fulfilling relationships with the opposite sex, we highly recommend the workshops developed by Alison Armstrong for PAX.  She has created an extremely eye-opening series of workshops that explain the differences in how men and women think, communicate, and act in relationships. 

Understanding Women workshop

Men, PAX provides two coed courses. They offer a workshop titled Understanding Women: Unlock the Mystery, which provides you the opportunity to better understand women, and have more fun and satisfying relationships with them. It is advertised as being “for anyone who wants to understand why women do what they do – how they think, act, speak and listen – and how to work with it instead of being frustrated by it!” 

Co-Ed Workshop  (In Sync With the Opposite Sex)

PAX also has a coed workshop titled In Sync with the Opposite Sex LIVE™ , currently offered on CD (see below) and sometimes Live, which teaches men and women to “understand how the most basic instincts of men and women pit us against each other in the world of dating and relationships” and how to change this pattern to develop satisfying relationships.

Our male friends have also found the audio books/books below to be intertesting and informative.

Understanding Men

Alison Armstrong’s material is based on years of research with men, which has led to an amazing understanding of men and their stages of development.  This knowledge opens a new opportunity for compassion, respect, and understanding between the sexes.  After her workshops you will no longer buy into the old clichés about men—instead you will have a newfound appreciation and respect for how amazing men are and how amazing and satisfying relationships with them can be.   

PAX provides a free introduction to the workshop series called Making Sense of Men™.  It is a free three-hour seminar for women only, which promises to teach a new way of understanding men. You‘ll learn how men are responding to you and how to gain their attention and affection.  It also introduces you to the language men speak and explains how this is sometimes the complete opposite of how women think and communicate.

The fee-based workshops for women occur in a series and include the first, and most popular seminar, Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women, which is a fantastic seminar for women. We couldn’t believe how much we learned about men in this  weekend workshop. This is an empowering, informational seminar that allows you to experience an entirely new way to relate to men. It has the potential to change your relationships with men in the most simple and profound ways.   

Cost of Workshops are typically in the $400 range, but PAX offers payment programs ($99/month). We also highly recommend the following products by Alison Armstrong:

If you can’t attend a workshop, this is good start:

This book teaches the stages of men via a story. This book is also on CD; however, I notice that my friends/family did not like the book on CD; but loved the book.  

If you don’t want the story version of the stages of men, this is a brief overview (note: this is usually given out for free at the Making Sense of Men introductory course). The information is gone over pretty fast, (thus, the reason why Armstrong created the story-telling version above), and advertises her seminars.

When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book called “Using Energy” and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home. 

William appeared at the TEDGlobal Conference  (video can be viewed here) where he talked about his invention, and shared his dreams: To build a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village, and to go back to school. Following Kamkwamba’s appearance at TED, there was an outpouring of support for him and his modest but hugely promising work. Members of the TED community got together to help him improve his power system (by incorporating solar energy), and further his education through school and mentorships.

You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor).