Motivation Manifesto: Practice Joy and Gratitude (Declaration 5of9)

Hey friends, it's Brandon. And this episode is part of a special 10 part series that I'm doing right here on the podcast exclusively where I'm going to release the major parts of my audiobook of my book, the Motivation Manifesto. Yes, I'm releasing 10 full chapters of the audiobook right here on the podcast. So make sure that you're subscribed to the podcast and you download these episodes. You'll see these episodes designated as Motivation Manifesto and then the chapter name. And here's the deal, these are only going to be posted until June 3rd. So I'm giving you 10 days to go through the entire Motivation Manifesto audiobook of the major declaration of the book. Anyway, I don't, I won't include like the introduction or forward or stuff like that. So just jumping right into the declarations that made the Motivation Manifesto so famous. The book spent 36 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list when it came out a decade ago. Why am I releasing such a huge part of the audiobook right now? Well, literally was a decade ago. So this is the 10 year anniversary and I just wanted to say thank you and celebrate it with. Celebrate all your support. Frankly, you guys have been amazing to me in this last decade and that book kicked off such a magnificent part of my life. And I'll never forget the support you gave me, not only making it a major New York Times bestselling book, but just the love of that book around the world. It led to, you know, an interview with Oprah and doing courses with Oprah Winfrey Network. It led to some coaching some of the best teams in the world. It was an extraordinary experience of my own and many know the story that initially the publisher turned down the book. I had to go find another publisher. And that journey alone was a reason to always fight for your art. With no further ado, we'll play this audiobook section of the Motivation Manifesto. If you'd like to get the book, you can still find it on Amazon and I encourage you to go there and get it as well, because nothing like reading that book. But you'll hear me and my voice.

From 10 years ago reading this book.

Please enjoy.

Declaration 5. We shall practice joy and gratitude. Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. Sarah Bond we have been gifted with a divine vitality and the accompanying powers of will, strength and enthusiasm. Yet where is the energized, heightened, exhilarated pulse we would expect from such a chosen and capable people, why do we not hear more laughter and life? Where is the vibrant, mad fury and stunning passion of the fully engaged human? Where are the shining souls whose hearts beat with racing enthusiasms? Where are the magnetism and the fire? Where are the gratitude, the joy, the spark and the charge? What happened to that miraculous life energy that brought us into existence? It seems that a great tidal wave of cynicism and pessimism has washed ashore and drowned the dreams of our people. The emotional energy of the world is flatlining. We can see this drained life energy in a stunning number of people's eyes and faces. In their conduct and conversations. There is no vitality, no freedom, no positivity in their attitude. Look how their faces seem too weathered, sallow and stern for their age. Listen to how their conversations sound, quiet, resigned, like whispers from a tired, disbanding tribe. Broaden the view and notice that most of our culture's buzz and excitement comes from a mass hysteria surrounding newfound opportunities for wealth or from the manufactured lives of the celebrity elite. Ours has become a world where a tragic number of people are more fascinated by materialism and the lives of distant narcissists than by their own life experience. Humans are not destined to be the lazy, tired, greedy, boring caricatures of gross abundance splashed before us today with such sensationalism. Sadly, from afar, it would appear that many people have become resigned that they have given up their remarkable potential, that they are consenting to creep instead of soar, that they risk turning into a culture of slow moving, low aiming negativity, spewing brats and blamers. One by one, we are seeing so many people for whom we care get sucked into the awful whirlpool of negativity. The energy of all this is palpable, and it must be. Our imperative to change must be a main aim of our lives, to rekindle the magic of life. We mustn't live in the darkness of our doubts, the shadows of the joyless, or the clutches of the energy vampires. Let us remember that life's purpose is to live, to live freely, vibrantly, joyously, madly, consciously, lovingly, enthusiastically. Our nature gives us an intrinsic charge for such a life, and it is time to fire it once more. We are to be radiant, grateful, buoyant people, basking in our blessings and striving cheerfully toward our dreams under the bright and loving sunshine of the divine. It takes only will and conditioning to enjoy such a life. Let us make the choice to reexamine our attitude and orientation to life, to cultivate a more positive and present pulse. Let us declare we shall practice joy and gratitude. The jewel of life. The greatest of human freedoms is the ability to choose at any moment the palette of our emotional sky. We alone activate the very energy and emotion through which we experience life. If we wish to feel joy and gratitude in our lives, then we must direct our beliefs and behaviors in order to accomplish that end. And we must do it constantly, with such force and repetition that those emotions become the hues of our daily attitude. This is not easy work, but let it be our mission. Perhaps the severest requirement of the good life is to have the constancy of mind, to maintain our joy and gratitude even amid hardship, pain and injustice. This is the requirement of self mastery and happiness. So it rests on our shoulders to notice when we feel bored or depressed and to force ourselves outside to engage with the world with a smile. It's up to us to appreciate our team even when a project is failing, and to be thankful for our spouse. Even amid conflict. There can be no mastery of life. And if we cannot transform the energy we feel at any moment into cheerful engagement and deep appreciation, the self labeled realists will tell us this is impossible. They who have abandoned hope will say that our world is too stressful and cruel, that our genetics and environment are destined to dominate our life and feelings. They will insist that our unconscious minds and reptilian impulses from fear and selfishness. We'll rule the day no matter what we do. But let our own minds decide what is real and what is possible for us. Let our own eyes see among the bored and battered faces a starkly different, brighter lot. There are those whose faces are so alight with life that they serve as a blinding reminder amid the darkness of our time that joy and charisma and hope still exist. These are the energizers, the cheerful individuals who inspire and enliven those around them, even though their own backgrounds, genetics and environments would give cause for them to be apathetic and detached. They too might have come from a broken home or poverty. But instead of choosing bitterness, they seem blissfully aware of and deeply thankful for their blessings, even when those blessings are fewer and more meager than others. These few, the energized and happy and thankful among us, are not lucky, nor are they to be envied, for their treasures are available to all of us. Their treasure is a freely chosen attitude. We are not blind to the fact that it is difficult to choose joy in an agitated, chaotic, often angry world. The social contagion of negativity spreads quickly because the human mind is susceptible. We are wired to sense and mirror the emotional energy around us. Seeing fear on someone's face can trigger a state of fear. Such emotional contagion had primitive benefits. Once it was a blessing in times of grave danger. When the faces of our friends contorted in fear and they began to flee from some unseen threat. We saw their terrorized faces and automatically felt afraid and fled with them even before knowing the threat. This prevented us from being eaten or maimed by a prowling animal or murderous band of men. But this primal protection is now a mortal enemy without predators on the hunt for our flesh, with little to fear but fear itself. And and in a world full of bored, fearful, sullen people, this mirroring impulse can ruin our lives. The energy of the masses is at best a low tier energy. An emotionally bleak space created by a confused yet cynical people operating on little sleep, high stress and a frenetic desire to be somewhere else with someone else doing something else. We must ask ourselves, should I conform to their energy? And what of their thoughts and language when the trite and bewildered cynic tells us that the world is going to hell? Should we let our mind automatically seek to confirm this reality? Should we too allow our mind to cast around for something to complain about? Will we allow all the negativity and needy energy of the world to infiltrate and spoil all our motivation or serenity? We mustn't become catastrophes of energetic conformity. We must use our consciousness to overpower our mirroring impulses. The more we automatically allow ourselves to sync with others energy levels, unless they are the emotional energies of joy, love and enthusiasm we ourselves wish to feel. The more we diminish our personal power, the more often we fall in line with the poor language and attitude of the drowning masses, the more we sound and look like victims. We must never forget that ours is a world of distracted people craving personal freedom, but often choosing to operate from fear. And so, if we aren't conscious with our will and vigilance, we risk sliding into their tragedy. Life can lose its vibrant aura and charm if we do not bend the energy of our minds toward positive engagement and appreciation. And so let us take back our focus and remember the riches. Joy is the jewel of life, Gratitude the gold.

Hey, it's Brendan. Sorry to interrupt the audiobook here for you, but quick reminder. Make sure you subscribe to the show and and you download this episode or all the episodes in this 10 part series. Or frankly just set it so that all of my episodes always download to your phone because this series goes away on June 3rd. Okay? Other than that, in this little mid roll spot, I'd love to tell you about our Ultra group. I'd love to see if maybe this is the time for you to become more ultra successful in your own life, in every area of your life. And I always believe that to do that you've got to have a new level of performance edge. You've got to optimize your health, you've got to adopt some wealthy habits and you've got to get around a higher.

Caliber of network people who are striving.

And working really hard to achieve great things. If that sounds like something you're interested in, I'd love to invite you into Ultra. Just go to Ultra vip. That's literally the website just Ultra vip. There's no other part of that website. Just go to Ultra VIP for the invitation to see if you're right for my private networking group, Ultra vip.

The Joyous Master what is the magic of the joyous few who illuminate the world? Where do they find such pleasure in life? And how do they exude such positivity? Theirs is a simple formula. The joyous are simply more conscious and consistent in their attempts to sense and generate joy and gratitude. They try harder, making joy a practice, a habit, a consistent condition of their character, an enduring social art amid glum and boring times. They have made it their aim to live a joyous life that is all. No smoke, no mirrors, just those simple forces at work that sustain motivation, attention and effort toward that which they desire. This answer is not popular. It isn't easy to admit that we do not try often or hard enough. But if joy is lacking in our lives, we must accept the clear truth that we are not often enough bad, bending our will to joy. We can lie and say that joyful people have it easier than we do. But we all know happy people who have less fortune and health than we. Let us look at the instruction of those little happy people around us. Children have joy naturally. Their curiosity, lack of expectations, pleasure in small things and full engagement in the moment are are quick sprouting seeds of joy. We can learn from them what would happen if we put their natural inclinations for joy into our lives. Could we shift to being more curious about our immediate surroundings? Won't releasing expectation, especially the expectation that perfection should surround us everywhere we go, bring new delights? Can we take pleasure in small things and expecting good things to come our way? Surely doing these things would change our lives. Let us return then to the Instruction of happy children again and again. Be curious, release expectation, take pleasure in small things and expect good things. Cheerfully engage the moment. Let this become our practice, our mastery and our honor. Those who perfect bringing joy to every day of their lives are not unlike any other master. They work so hard at something that it soon becomes play. The greatest artists and athletes, the highest achieving executives and entrepreneurs, the happiest laborers and the most respected leaders all lose themselves in their work with great zeal and enthusiasm. Their efforts are like a game. They immerse themselves cheerfully, as if playing to their strengths in a grand sandlot. They do not look angry, bewildered, frustrated or restless, but rather relaxed, effortless. Even in chaos and turmoil, they meet struggle with intense and spirited joy. They engage in the challenge and honor it as if they expected it and accept it. Even amid the discomfort of growing complexity, of building their lives and their careers, they often appear unfazed and nearly serene. They often sing while they toil and smile. When perplexed and working, they spend and stretch themselves with devotion, willing themselves to remain positive and cheerful, knowing that one day their diligence will make them masters, knowing that one day they will have their victory and transcendence. These are the Joyous Masters. The Joyous Masters know that struggle does not always have to equal suffering. Let us learn from them and remember there can be joy in spirit, in meeting life's demands, in stretching beyond comfort, in pushing through times of high exertion and low achievement. The Joyous Masters know that that life is a journey, a trying and exciting adventure whose destination matters less than the passion and freedom felt along the way. Let us learn from them and remember that even when we are weary or uncertain, we can feel presence and eagerness for each moment. The Joyous Masters know that amid all the chaos and conflict, all the hurry and wickedness of the world, there is something solid within that is beautiful and steady and good. Like them, we can have the sense that our mind and soul are fresh and pure and clean, even as we slug it out in the thick mess of humanity. The Joyous Masters know that nothing good comes easily, but that all things can be met with peace. Like them, we can show grace even in the tightening grip of pain and face our long trials with serenity and dignity and enthusiasm for a new day. The Joyous Master knows that in time everyone will find their path. So the ultimate virtues are patience and love. Like them, we can know that there is no need to force or coerce others into our quest or joys, no matter how unwilling or undirected someone appears in this moment or this year, we know that all will find their way eventually to their own sense of freedom. Let us pray that we may find the will and strength to learn such things, to practice such things, to become such masters. The Path of Gratitude we should not focus on the shadow in the corner and be so foolish as to miss the fact that the shadow exists, or only because the room is illuminated. There is light all around. There is much to be grateful for in the seemingly dark world. And so all we must do is pull our gaze from the shadow and look to the ocean of divine light and grace in which we are blessed to live. To the attuned and grateful, the cascade of the universe's blessings feels like a magnificent waterfall of luck and wonder. In searching for things to be grateful for, we need not look far. One must simply release the ego, let down the Persona that feels it has created all things, or must perfect all things and accept the natural, the unexplainable, the energy that has graced us with vitality and a world of magic. A vibrant and happy life begins at the path of gratitude. So let us be more appreciative and thankful for each day. Let me be thankful for all the light that surrounds me. Let me be thankful to any caregivers who inspire me. Let me be thankful to my lover who overlooks my shortcomings. Let me be thankful to the women and men who risk their lives to protect my freedoms. Let me be thankful for the blue tint of the sky and the beauty of our natural world. Let me be thankful for the heart that drums life through me. Let me be thankful for last night's rest, no matter its length. Let me be thankful for my gifts of free will, of volition, of endurance. Let me be thankful to my mentors and to the traders who also instructed me. Let me be thankful that I am not living in deeper need. And let me be thankful for my home, for my daily bread, for my clean water. Let me be thankful for the opportunity to work and create and earn. Let me be thankful for the luck that has advanced me and the disasters and tribulations that have educated me. Let me be thankful for the blank slate that comes with each morning. Let me be thankful for my breath and the clean moment at hand. Let me be thankful to my Creator. It is in finding so many things to be thankful for that we become appreciative and alive. Just as we have done with joy. Let us make it our aim to become masters of gratitude. We are blessed. How shall we maintain such joy and gratitude in our lives, we remember always that our emotional state is a choice, a selection from a broad palette of reactions and feelings available to us at any moment. As a power plant does not have energy but generates energy. We do not have happiness. We create it, generate it and transform lower energies into into higher energies. Similarly, we do not have joy or gratitude, we generate and experience them by our will. We can make joy and gratitude a daily habit and standard simply by measuring how often we cultivate such emotions several times each day. We can assess our success by asking on a scale of 1 to 10, how much joy and gratitude am I bringing to this moment? There is power in this wording. We are not asking how much joy and gratitude we are experiencing in the moment, as if we are somehow entitled to such high emotions. We are demanding personal responsibility. How much am I bringing? In rating our emotional reality, we become more aware and we allow our mind to decide if the answer is acceptable based on the quality of life we desire. If we are living at low levels of joy and gratitude, our intuitive nature will demand that we heighten our focus and emotion. Perhaps we might be thankful for such self reproach that stirs our minds and souls to higher levels of energy when we know we could be happier and more grateful. Yes, let us be thankful for that and for all things, for we are blessed.

Okay, it's Brendan, the modern day Brendon here, jumping back in. I hope you enjoyed this chapter of the Motivation Manifesto. If you did, yes, you can still find the book for sale on Amazon and I would encourage you to. If you're not yet a member of Growth Day, maybe this is the day that you join. There's actually a 12 week advance motivation course based on the Motivation Manifesto in Growth Day. It's unlocked for any of our Mastery members. How do you know if you're a Mastery member? Well, just go to growthday.com and get yourself signed up. If you're already in Growth Day, just go to the search bar and type in motivation manifesto and BAM. That 12 week course will pop up for you free just for being a Mastery member in Growth Day. Again you can go to growthday.com and you'll find an entire course 12 week online motivational course unlocked for all Growth Day Mastery members.

We'd love to have you in Growth.

Day if you're not already. Again you can just go to growthday.com I want to thank everyone for listening to this episode of the Motivation Manifesto audiobook.

Again.

Make sure you download this episode and the episodes otherwise you will lose these on June 3rd. This is a 10 day preview of 10 chapters of the Motivation Manifesto. My thanks for the 10th anniversary of the release of the Motivation Manifesto.