Journal Entry #1

“As I sit here in Thousand Trails, Orlando, reflecting on life, I can’t help but come back to one of the most impactful quotes I’ve ever come across: “My message is my life.” These words, spoken by Buddha, have stayed with me through years of travel, challenges, and growth. At first, I didn’t fully understand them. But as life unfolded—especially during my journey across the U.S. in my RV with Loki, my service dog—I began to see how deeply they resonate.

A few days ago, Brenda and I left Panama City, Florida, where we stayed at the Naval Special Warfare Base. The RV campsite overlooked a stunning waterfront—one of those moments where you just have to pause and take it all in. “

Next week, I’ll share more about that experience and how living authentically opened the door to an unexpected gift: free Alabama football tickets. Sometimes, simply being true to your values creates opportunities you couldn’t plan for.

But today, it’s all about the message—how living authentically and staying grounded has shaped my journey and brought me peace of mind.

What Does “My Life is My Message” Really Mean?

When Buddha was asked about his message to the world, his response—“My life is my message”—caught me off guard the first time I heard it. I didn’t grasp how powerful and personal those words were until years later.

6 years ago, my life was full of uncertainty. Fast forward to a few months ago, Brenda and I were in a sort of limbo, trying to figure out what we were. Were we just friends? Were we a couple? Was she staying with me, or was I dropping her off in Tampa and continuing this cross-country adventure alone with Loki? Originally, the plan was to pick her up in LA, drop her off in Tampa, and head to the Florida Keys before making my way up to New York.

But life had other plans.

As much as I wanted Brenda to stay and share this journey with me, I realized something important: her decision wasn’t mine to make. That’s when this quote from Buddha started to click for me. I could only control my own actions and how I showed up in the world. Trying to control outcomes or other people would only bring frustration.

Absorbing Life Like a Sponge

Journal Entry #2:
“Entering this world means to absorb life like a sponge until no more water can be retained. Sometimes we need to twist and wring out a few old ‘life lessons’ from that sponge in hopes to forgive ourselves and do better for ourselves.”

Life teaches us in unexpected ways. The way you treat life is the way life treats you. When you live with intention and align your actions with your values, you start to notice life giving back in ways that feel almost magical.

How to Live Your Message

Over time, I’ve developed a framework to help me stay aligned and intentional. It’s simple, but it works:

1. Establish your personal values.
   These are your foundation—your guiding principles.

2. Define your morals.
   A compass for how you treat others and yourself.

3. Set short-, mid-, and long-term goals.
   Whether it’s one year, three years, or five years out, having a vision keeps you focused.

4. Create a mission statement.
   Something that ties your values and goals together.

5. Apologize to your past self.
   I call this the “Sorry Exercise.” It’s about letting go of regrets and finding peace with where you’ve been.

6. Complete the 5-Why Exercise.
   Ask “why” five times to get to the root of what truly drives you.

7. Write affirmations.
   Start with five and repeat them daily.

8. Find role models.
   Look for people who inspire you in different areas of life—professionally, personally, spiritually.

If you want more tools like these, check out my free ebook, “The 1 Approach System”. It’s a guide to creating clarity and purpose in your life, and it’s free to download.

Finding Peace by Letting Go

For most of my life, I tried to control everything—the outcomes, the timing, and sometimes even the people around me. But here’s the thing: the more I clung to control, the more stressed and disconnected I felt.

Journal Entry #3:
“Live your life through a message that you would want reciprocated back to you. Live without fear. Live in the present and live a life worth dying for.”

It wasn’t until I started to trust the process—and trust myself—that I found real peace. There’s only so much you can control in life. Once you do everything within your power, the rest requires faith. Faith in yourself, faith in the people around you, and faith that life has a way of unfolding as it should.

I stopped living in reactive mode and started focusing on what I could do right now. And you know what? That changed everything.

Living in the Present

As Ram Dass said, “Be here now.” We can’t change the past, and we can’t predict the future. All we truly have is this moment.

If you’re ready to create a life aligned with your values, start with intentionality. I created my 6-week course to help people like you tap into their potential and find clarity. You can also explore my blogs at Mogressive.com for more insights and stories from the road.

Remember: your life is your message. Live it boldly, authentically, and with purpose. And trust yourself enough to let go of what you can’t control.

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