Meet Juvan Langford - Men's Empowerment Coach talking about his ‘Self-Awareness’ story

Say it with me. I will grace the stage.

I will grace the stage.

Yes. I will grace. That's what you get to say.

I've been grateful.

I will grace the stage.

Awesome.

Yeah. What's going on, guys? I'm Javon Lankford. You tune into another episode of the Avi Aria show. Sam.

Digital brotherhood.

Yeah.

How did you come up with that?

Global digital brotherhood.

Global digital brother.

Yeah. You know, it's interesting. I just got back from a six city tour in Australia.

Six cities?

Yeah, six cities Australia. And I was interviewed on the podcast and he asked me, what are you up to? And I said, I'm building a global digital brotherhood.

And I was like, that is bouncing.

Where did that come from? And I sat back and I realized I've been doing the digital piece for a while. I have a digital agency in LA working with the celebrities and athletes and I've also started my own YouTube channel. So I get that part. But it's the global piece. When after being exposed to Australia and traveling before that, living in Spain, I realize the impact that I can create not only in my own community, but really globally.

And so just a wonderful kind of brotherhood for men.

For men, yeah. So I'm a men's empowerment coach and I basically create content community in conversations that support men like ourselves in breaking through our greatest challenges so we can live our legacy. I do a lot of legacy work. I believe that a lot of people want to leave a legacy. That's something that's very important to us, but it's important that you first create that before you leave it, and so we don't have to wait to create it. And so a lot of work that I do with men is getting underneath the challenge, getting underneath the adversity to understand what's really at the root of it. Let's pluck it and plant something that's actually going to be powerful. So you can start building that now, not wait. A lot of people are choosing the things that they don't want and it's not wrong or bad, but they're not aware of the choice.

Right.

And when you increase your awareness, you increase your choices. When you elevate your awareness, you elevate your choices.

How important was self awareness for your own self? You know, you said you were modeling, you were doing whatever, so it seemed like, you know, you were having a good time.

Yeah.

And so where did this self awareness come from?

Setback or, you know, it was a journey. I spent a lot of my life being better than average, but not great at One particular thing. That's how I knew that there was more. I played sports, and I was really good. I played in college. I played overseas, came back, and it was a great experience for me. But I didn't never. I never hit the NBA. I never did anything that was really to talk about, nothing to write home about. I modeled, was on the COVID of magazines, stunt doubles, Runway. I've done all those things, but I never was America's Next Top Model, Right. I was an AB student. I never made honors three days in my life. So I was always just almost there, right?

And I knew there was.

That it just didn't work for me. I knew that there was more that I could do, more that I could be. I just didn't know how to access it.

Tell me in this situation, if you know people who are listening to this and they're at A and B, a lot of people will be very happy with this. I got to model. I got to play basketball. I did all of these things. What are the kind of signs that you get to say, you know what? I need to up the game now, or this is not for me, or I'll be better at another game. And then maybe there's a game, but I don't care if I'm better or worse, or you'll be over.

Yeah, I think it's being authentic and being honest with yourself. A lot of people don't check in. They're not with themselves. And something I talk about, about workshops and trainings is teaching men how to be with themselves, to really know what's check in, what's happening here, and this little thing called the heart. I've been courageous enough to go within myself and spend time with Javon, because I'm never alone. I take me everywhere that I go. So I've spent a lot of time with Java, and in that time, I've been able to go to places that I wouldn't normally go. I've been able to discover things about myself that were uncomfortable and unnerving, things that I didn't want to share with anybody. And as I went on that journey and I attracted the people who were going through the same thing as myself. And I went to workshops and trainings and audiobooks and YouTube videos and conventions and weekend events. It was just deposits, Just weekly, monthly, daily deposits. Deposits on truly discovering who I am. It's a journey that I just know. Some people just know. You know, it's not for everybody. You know, some people, as a metro told me this. He said, some people work at McDonald's. Some people are multi billionaires. Right. Everything isn't for everybody. Sure. But if, you know, if you know in your heart of hearts that there's more available, it is your duty and responsibility to explore that. And I took that on very early, and it's been an incredible journey. And now that I have broken through my greatest challenges, I'm positioning myself to create safe spaces for other men and women to break through their challenges as well.

For men, I think we have a guard, especially when we're with other men, for sure. So I think this trial get to the building, and I saw that 50 of you went to the grouse fountain and all of that. So I think that breaks a lot of barriers to say, you know what, you're in the same boat, everybody. And to have a community feeling while you go through your workshop or after that, I'm sure helps. And then you're building a community worldwide in six cities. And hopefully, you know, if things go according to plan, it'll be India also.

Very soon. I will be. Will be in India for sure.

Excellent.

For sure. We'll be in India.

So a lot of people think that, you know, am I worthy enough? That's one part. And then some guys might think I already have enough. Am I being greedy in wanting to go to the next level? What would you say to them?

I say I think you're greedy, not going to the next level.

Okay.

And I say that because you're selfish. Absolutely. And I say that because there's always.

More available, you know, people from the elevation effect. I. I see you breathing a lot of together brotherhood and all of that. That, I think is the most powerful thing because that's what got me to, you know, want to meet you. And that's how I got in touch with you. So this brotherhood that you're building, what if some people have the awareness and the others. Others don't. It rubs off on them eventually. How does that work?

Everyone deals with their stuff differently. And so I show up, I create the space. And the beauty of being an adult is that you get to choose who you play with in the sandbox. So it's not for everybody. The next level isn't for everybody, but I know that it's available if you so choose.

A lot of people are like, you know, your 9 to 5 or, you know, give up your job, become an entrepreneur. And I then I see a lot of people who, on a whim, have left what they're doing, and now they're not happy because they can't support the bills or whatever is it that, you know is. Entrepreneurship is great, but it comes with its own challenges. Right. So how much is practicality? How. How do you. Is there a balance between the mind and the heart? Because sometimes people follow the heart and, you know, they might make a emotional decision which might not be feasible. You have family, kids to feed and all of that. Yeah, I'm sure you get those kind of questions. How do I know it's not worth. Because my friends are making more money driving better cars. That's why it's not working. Or I don't sleep well at night and I don't sleep well at night if I'm not making enough money. If I have money problems. What I'm trying to get at is when is the discomfort?

Herein lies the challenge. At almost birth, men are told that there's the physical and there's an emotional body. To take the emotional body and to disregard it. And the emotional body is the one that carries the wounds, it carries the stories, it carries all the pain that is holding us back from the next level. And if we can't be with that emotional body, if we can't break through and reframe the stories underneath, we will always stay at the same level. It's easier to stay at this level because I know the pain that comes with this level. I know the discomfort that comes with this level. I'm good here. I can handle this. But the unknown, the unknown is unnerving for most people.

That is so true. A lot of people spend a lot of their life, sometimes entire life doing that. I cut off drinking for my life. I cut off smoking for my life. Thanks to my daughter done on these things in my life. I'm a more centered person. I'm more alive. I'm more aware, you know, coming back to self awareness. I know what. So I am now dealing with me and my feelings more than feelings which come after, you know.

Absolutely.

So how. How important is that aspect, you being an athlete, physical and all of that? How important is that in changing your life?

I love this question. I talk a lot about this too as well. So my body is my business. I treat it like a business. When I'm sick, my business is sick. Right, Right. When I'm frustrated or I'm grown, my business is thrown and frustrate. Right. So I'm very aware of what this is telling me. I'm tuned in, I'm tapped in. Okay. I need to rest. You've been going for five days straight.

You need a day off.

You need to close the computer or this relationship, this friendship is draining. Every time I hang up the phone with her or I leave him, I feel depleted. Will you be responsible and either communicate that to the person and then give them the opportunity to address that or let go. Or let go. So we're not responsible with our business. Right. So we drink and our bodies tell us that doesn't work. We smoke and our body says, hey, can you calm down? We abuse our bodies because, again, it validates the wounded self. And when you tapped in, you stopped drinking, you tapped in, you stopped smoking, you stopped hurting the business, stop hurting yourself. And that's what I've been doing. And I think what's happened is teaching other people to really treat their body like a business. It's transformational. It's game changing. Where we're going, there's certain things that we can't afford to do, certain places.

We can't afford to be.

And I've just been. I've just acknowledged that, and I know that there's the next level for me, and I stay in that space. And if someone feels that there's next level and they're being discouraged, then you get to change your tribe. You get to, you know, move the circle, maybe try a square or a triangle, something different. Of course.

I know what you're saying. Tell me, how important is it to what. What does Jawan do? You know, you said you found your alignment, so this is what I've understood of balance. I'm going to be 40. I've understood a lot of things. I still want to discover so much more. Balance, I've always found to be an elusive. You know, balance is like. It's like know on a skateboard. You find it and it goes. You find it and it goes. You keep finding. So balance is not, oh, I found my balance and that's it, you know, next job or what's the next. What's next on the day? So you found your balance and you're helping others find their balance. How do you deal with your own? You go back to that space of, you know, losing your balance once in a while. How do you up your level? You've clearly upped your level and you're helping others do that. And, and I'm going to ask you how. How much your grouse grind timing was at the end of the show. Yeah, but, but tell me, how do you deal with you.

Balance is a word that I've taken out of my vocabulary. There's no such thing in my. This is just My personal philosophy, there's no such thing as balance. There is, however, a dance, and I've become a good dancer. And you become a good dancer by practicing. So I practice doing the things that make me feel good, that serve me and support other people in my life. And it was a hard journey. It is a hard journey. My stuff, my wounded body, all those things I speak on, I'm still going through that. I'm just living with them differently. I think about it like this, right when you're a kid, you fall down, you break your elbow, you bust your elbow up and not slide or swing it apart and you're bleeding. And in that moment, it's like the worst thing that ever happened to you. But about a week later it heals and you get a scar. That's how our life starts. We have these moments and in the moment, the event, it's like life is ending. But what happens is most people walk around like this the rest of their lives. All things I've been through, losing my father to leukemia, my mother on drugs, going through foster care, being abused as a child, all things, they didn't go anywhere. They're still within me. But I am choosing consciously, unapologetically, to live with them differently. And if men can learn to live with their scars differently, it's a game changer because they are empowered. From India to New York islands, I'm committed to really traveling this globe creating safe spaces and creating content and community and conversation to support us in breaking through so we can get this, so we can know what it feels like to not only experience the next level, like I said, living to be there and invite others up constantly. It's an inside out game where you're born to go. The people who are around you, they can't come. That's a really hard thing. People who have big hearts, people who are attached to their community and they're used to certain people, used to certain experiences or events. If you don't let go of that, you'll never make it there. You just won't make it. And it can't fit. It won't fit where you're going. And if you can't let go, then it can really on a really big challenge. That's where the pain comes from. That's where, you know, you start getting triggered and you start going through this process, like start questioning, right? Then you start sabotaging what you've already created and then positioning yourself to actually not elevate, but de elevate, you know, to really drop into this Place that you don't belong. This is an Internet moguls. I'm here with Avi. He's an incredible. He's an incredible being. He came up to me in the first conversation we had in person, was super connected, looked me in my eyes and he gave me so much love, so much love in his heart. And I want to thank you for supporting him and his vision and his mission to building something that's going to touch the lives and hearts of people around the world. I just want to thank you for supporting him and positioning him to truly take off and not only live his life to the next level, but invite other people like myself on a platform to truly elevate our games and our lives. So I thank you guys. I know you guys make huge sacrifices to be there to work with him and I'm sure you experienced the love of that's in his heart as well. But just know that from my heart, Javon Langford, to your heart, all of you, that I care deeper for you guys too. And we're doing work to support people so that we can all truly live on a whole. Another stratosphere sending you guys so much love.

I finished the gym today and every time I go to the gym, I put on my headphones and I'm listening to an audiobook. Because you know what? Reading is not for me really. I love these audiobooks. I've been following the Big Magic. This lady is phenomenal. She brought a concept of rolling the dice every time we're making a decision. Everything that we do in life, we're rolling the dice but without intention. Now that got me thinking. Imagine if we were playing a game with couple of hundred dollars, a couple of thousand dollars at stake. You would be putting intention before rolling the dice, right? But when we're going through life, every decision that we make every time we roll the dice, sometimes we're not even aware there is no self awareness while we're rolling the dice. That could be scary. We need to know what we're doing. Self awareness is key. Every time you roll the dice, there is an outcome. Why not put in the best intention when you're rolling the dice? I love this thing about self awareness through this big Magic book. I highly recommend you people go through that. I just had to share it with you. Thanks for your time.

Sam.