Motivation Manifesto: We Shall Not Break Integrity (Declaration 6of9)

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 declarations 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 coaching some of the best teams in the world. It was an extraordinary experience of my own and many. You 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 6. We shall not break integrity. First say to yourself what you would be and then do what you have to do. Epictetus in our darkest hours, we are tempted to break our integrity to compromise who we are, what we believe in, and what we know to be right and true and good. There is an opportunity to be weak and heartless and it is taken. An impulse arises to be cruel or to cheat or to run from our very own dreams. And it is sadly followed right when it counts the most. We forget what is important and abandon our higher moral convictions. We make an important promise to our children or team, but don't follow through. We lash out in anger to those we love when they are most vulnerable. We lie to someone we care about, even though we absolutely know they are desperate to hear the truth. We let disappointment win the day and hastily quit on our dreams just because we stumbled and fell and made a mess of ourselves. We withhold our voice when when we have a chance to shine, hiding our true selves at the expense of authenticity and growth. We act indifferent or cowardly just when the world needs our presence and strength. These are moments when we experience a sudden rupture of mind and spirit, a lack of virtue, a descent into the dark plains of selfishness and irresponsibility. Perhaps it is not always so dramatic. Not all compromises of our character are like the movies often portray, centered on huge and vexing life decisions. There is no tearing out of hair as we desperately try to figure out what to do, as if a grand existential dilemma is unfolding all around. There is no dramatic debate in a public square or a conflict so heated someone collapses to the ground because they can't stand a given inch. No, most breaks in our integrity are small in scale and go unnoticed. They often come when we are too busy to pay attention. We didn't even notice we were rude. We didn't realize it became a habit to act unlike ourselves, to tell little lies, to be easily angered, to keep our ideas to ourselves, to talk too much about ourselves, to gossip, to delay, to ridicule, to be late, to forget the thank yous and the I love yous. We broke stride with who we are and how we want others to perceive us because of little throwaway acts that we didn't realize were solidifying into a character that was likely beneath us. It is time to remind ourselves that today's thoughts and actions become our legacy. When we forget this or lie to ourselves, thinking our actions do not matter, we have permission to act as momentary buffoons. We let ourselves break just this once from our values. We cheat just this once. We lie just this once. We put off the hard task just this once. We skip the workout just this week. We take the drink just one more. And soon we find that each of these little breaks in our will leads to another and then to a lifetime of compromise and regret without vigilance. What is right and strong about the human spirit can be whittled away and broken forever. Let us not forget that our actions form, piece by piece, a structure that is either upright or crooked. And so let us aim to be our highest selves, keeping our character and values intact, meeting every situation with solid integrity and generous humanity. When the next temptation comes to be weak and heartless, and it will come, we will not take it. Instead, there will be a strong, grounded refusal to break, a decision not to compromise or lower ourselves, that mighty lift that comes from doing what's right, a grand ascent to another realm of human character. With when we are congruent with our divine nature, personal freedom and the hope of mankind rests on our commitment to stay true to ourselves, our dreams, our word, our goodness, and our loving nature. By refusing to bend on our values, we become unbreakable, solid and stable, courageous and certain men and women of valor, worth and and character. Let us build a life we are proud of. Let us declare we shall not break integrity. Creating Clarity when we are incongruent, acting in ways that are not aligned with our beliefs, we feel off, frustrated, regretful, and over time, miserable. But when we align our thoughts and actions with our values and priorities in life, we we enjoy the blessings of a chosen and satisfying life. This knowledge requires us to ask two who am I? And what is important to me? These contemplations may be two of the most important in life. No profound personal power or full freedom can belong to those who do not know the answers. To find our answer to such daunting questions, it is helpful to consider the qualities we desire in three separate areas of our our character, our connections, and our contributions on character. Very few people have ever done deep work in defining their character, the specific identity they wish to have. They simply respond to the world on a whim without paying any real attention to the type of person they want to be or be become. With no targeted identity to act toward, they become amalgamations of the desires of others and the circumstances and cultures in which they live. They have no real character because they are slave to impulse and mimicry. Contrast this with a woman who owns keen self awareness. If she is vitally aware and committed to being a kind person, she is rarely rude. If she has defined herself as deeply empathetic, she intentionally develops the discipline to listen more, to help more, and to love more. She works to align all her thoughts and habits with the ideal person she wishes to be. Awareness and discipline give her freedom to live her potential. Do we have this level of self mastery? Do we know what qualities of character would make us feel congruent, happy, and whole. If not, let us ask if I were to die tomorrow, how would I want others to remember me? What exact words and phrases would I be happy to hear them use to describe me when I guide my decisions and actions today? What exact words and phrases should penetrate my mind and inspire me to be a good human people? The answers to these questions give us focus in life. Should we desire to be remembered as vibrant, kind, intelligent, loving, and courageous, then we must choose to live in alignment with those descriptions. To some, this seems too basic a premise. But common sense is not always common practice. How many times have we caused ourselves pain because we failed to pause and think? How would my best self view and respond to this situation? This must be our day to define the best of who we are and what we will stand for. Tonight, in the glow of gratitude for our free will, let us write down the words and phrases that describe our ideal identity. Put them on beautiful paper and in ink. Carry them everywhere. Look at these words, memorize them, verbalize them. Become them. The more we align our actions with this identity, the more free, motivated and whole we shall become. Life will feel brighter and more our own, more deep and satisfying destiny will smile on us, and we will be welcomed into the gates of heaven as people of purpose and integrity. On connection, Let us also define how we shall interact with the world. What kind of experiences do we want to have with the important people in our lives? Those who fail to consider this always fail in their relationships. Imagine the man who has no clarity or commitment for the quality of interactions he has with his wife. If she is upset, he's likely to simply mirror her feelings and frustrations. But he should say to himself, I will be a present, stable and solid husband for my wife, and this means I will be alert and attentive to her feelings. I will listen to her closely and I will seek to be empathetic and supportive, even in times of crisis or conflict. He can go to an even greater specificity in his interactions with her, thinking of how he would like to connect with her while out to dinner, during their commute to work, on their vacations, at times when they are challenged with their finances or their children. The more thoughtful he is in advance of these situations, the more intentional and consistent he becomes during them. His integrity is made public and real, and soon he will be proud of and loved for and his actions. We should sit and write these things. Who is important to me and why? How shall I interact with them so that they are appreciated and experience the best of who I am. What kind of person should I become so that I am happy with how I treat others tomorrow? Then let us rise to give our full effort to being that kind of person and interacting with others as we desire. If we can do this each day of our life, then when our final hours greet us, we shall be surrounded by those we love and serve and they shall tell us why they loved us. And a wide smile shall spread across our face, knowing that their descriptions reveal something important that we lived and loved in congruence with our heart and highest humanity. ON Contribution finally, let us define the contributions we wish to make. What do we want to create, build, shape, share or give beyond our interactions with people? What things do we wish to give them or leave them? What tangible evidence of our creativity and life do we want to leave on this earth? Too many people are failing to think of these questions, and so they are bartering away their integrity day by day in unfulfilling tasks. They are not working towards something real and meaningful, something they know will bring them joy and fulfillment. They say yes to too many projects in order to please others at the cost of their own satisfaction and soul. Had they been more proactive in defining what is meaningful and important to them, they they could have avoided feeling so distracted and unfulfilled. There is no reason for us to suffer their same fate. Now let us sit down, pen in hand once more, and describe the projects and aims that give us energy, enthusiasm and meaning. We have written these things before, but in writing them we reconnect to our motivation and our power. So what will we be proud to contribute to and accomplish in life? What service will we provide? What art will we create and leave behind? What difference will we make? From such questions is birthed a life that matters. But without vision into these things, we have nothing to align ourselves to. Where there is no clarity, there can be no integrity. Armed with intentions for who we wish to be, how we wish to interact with others, and and what we wish to give, we become conscious people. We gain the full might of our personal power. The Six Practices of Integrity Wisdom is knowing who to be and what to do in a given situation. Virtue is acting on that wisdom. We all know that we should be thoughtful, kind, loving and happy people. Yet not all of us choose to be those things. This chasm between knowing and doing is the dark pit where people lose themselves. Every violation against our values and virtue is a slice against our integrity and happiness. But every stand we make to express our integrity is another brick added to the great structure of character we are erecting each day. And so let us choose wise life Practices the first practice of integrity is to think before we act. No major decision or action should be made without considering the major categories of our life, our personal well being, our relationships, and our social responsibilities. We must ask, are the choices I am about to make going to support my sanity and happiness as well as the health and welfare of my family and community? What would happen if my choices and actions were broadcast on the evening news? Would I be proud of them? Failing to ask such questions has led many good people to descend into bad ones. The second practice of integrity is to never commit to anything where we lack passion. We must stop saying yes to everything as many of our failures occurred because we began something with half heartedness. As we become more mature and enlightened adults, we come to realize that if an opportunity is presented to us and it does not gain a near 100% enthusiasm and commitment from us, then the reply must be a 100% no. Often, breaking integrity means repeatedly doing things we do not love with people we do not care for. Isn't life meant to be a passionate love affair with our work, our faith, and those we are blessed to know, care for and serve? Then let us maintain that passion through spending our time wisely.

Hey, it's Brendan. Sorry to interrupt the audiobook here for you, but a quick reminder. Make sure you subscribe to the show 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 Dot vip. There's no other part of that website. Just go to Ultra Ultra VIP for the invitation to see if you're right. For my private networking group Ultra vip.

The third Practice is to keep our word. If we say we will meet our lover at noon, then we must arrive at or before noon, when we promise to complete the project by Wednesday. Then we shall turn it in on Wednesday. Should we tell another, we will keep their confidence. Then we must not gossip. This practice is one of the highest arts of life, to remain true and noble and trustworthy. Imagine completing our life and saying, I was the person that people could count on. I showed up when I said I would. I gave what I said I would. I delivered because I cared for my integrity and the people in my life. We ought to pray we can live such a life, and we should complement those prayers with action to make it so. The fourth practice is to always treat others with respect. Those reflecting on their lives often regret that they treated people poorly. Almost all suffering in our personal relationships comes from a lack of respect given to or from others. But few people have a clear definition of of what respecting another means. Giving respect means to do no harm, to allow others their rights in expressing themselves, and to honor the fact that their own thoughts, feelings and actions are real and justifiable in their own minds. Even if we see them as unimportant or wrong. Respect does not necessarily mean approval. One can respect another's right to speak, but not necessarily approve of what is spoken. Respect means that we see others as doing their best with what they have, who they are and what hand they've been dealt, even if we find their efforts wanting in any way. It means seeing the divinity in others and never inviting disrespect into our lives by projecting disrespect onto others. The fifth practice is to tell the truth. How much trouble do we get into by lying? How many of our big upsets or strained relationships are amplified by a small fib? The woman who tells many lies is forced to live many lives, thus lacking a singular character and mind. The man who lies today is haunted tomorrow, doomed until the specter of his very own lie appears in front of all, at which time he will be preoccupied by the judgment of others, internally and externally. He is guaranteed only pain. To lie to oneself or to others, then, is to wound oneself. We mustn't allow ourselves the temporary ease of telling any lie. The long term cost is always embarrassment and regret. We must not chip away at our integrity one small lie at a time. The sixth practice is to always favor action. If we stand doubtful and delayed on the sidelines of life, it is as if we stood at the edge of a river and did not wade in to save a drowning child. When we see a beautiful woman and desire to speak with her but do not approach, regret will follow us. Should we dream of beginning a new career but never take action, regret will ultimately consume us. When our mind wants something for good and meaningful reasons and we do not pursue it, this is like dismissing our own self. The less we act, the less integrity we have with our own heart and mind, the less we trust ourselves, know ourselves, love ourselves. So let us remember that integrity is found in taking actions that support our genuine desires and and values. None of these six practices require anything extraordinary. They are all natural impulses, but it is our day to day failures in maintaining them that cause most of our human suffering. The more of these practices we enact, the more we experience human happiness. Why do we universally admire and respect a Gandhi, Mandela, Mother Teresa, Lincoln or any other leader or legend from history's pantheon? It is because they were guided by these integrity based practices. They stood for something. They didn't break with the values they believed in just because they faced struggle. They were good people who kept integrity between their words and actions. We can follow their lead. We can become people who are strong and proud and respectable. All we must do is make integrity a lifelong practice. The Seven Temptations and so let us anticipate the situations in life that are most likely to cause us to break our integrity. In a stunning lack of self knowledge, people are often surprised that certain circumstances cause them to react in ways that are beneath them. It's as though they never paid attention to when other people became angry or unhappy and thus never learned how to avoid becoming angry or unhappy. They have been stupid to the lessons of the world and so they regularly behave stupidly. Perhaps it is time to review what we have learned from the wisdom of the sages and our own experience. By now we should all know that we can easily lose integrity when we are feeling or reacting to any of these Impatience, disappointment, desperation, aggression, hurt, loyalty and power. Those are the seven temptations. Let us know them well so we can prepare for them and remain true to our highest selves when faced with them. The Temptation of Impatience we begin with impatience at some point in our lives. We have all lost ourselves when our patience was tested, even if we view ourselves as a kind and loving parent. When the kids ignore our fifth request to quiet down, it is easy to explode in anger. Should our new business not succeed as fast as we wish, it is easy to quit the pursuit of our dream. Lack of patience has made many good men mean scores of would be successes, failures and countless Good ideas abandoned just as they were about to become real. It has also led to almost all cultural ills related to greed and poor financial decision making. This despicable focus on short term profit rather than long term growth. Free and conscious people develop a high degree of emotional intelligence that alerts them when they become too hurried, impatient or irritable. Through practice and discipline, they condition their mind to issue an early warning system that says I am panicked and likely to make a bad decision. I must take a breath and slow down. It would be more intelligent and responsible to calm down now, to overcome the stress of this moment and then to do what is right for the long term. We can begin to develop this skill by reflecting on times we were impatient. When was the last time I lashed out at a loved one because of my inability to keep patience and perspective? What could I have done better in that situation to calm myself? What other situations seem to infuriate me with impatience over and over again? How will I choose to respond in those situations in the future? The more we reflect on the times when our impatience got the better of us, the less likely we are to repeat our failures of character. When we look to our future, let us imagine how we wish to be remembered. The good parent wants their children to say my parent was patient and loving with me. The good business person wants their employees to say I am glad our founder stuck through the hardship and and kept their vision alive rather than quit too soon. Nothing here should surprise us. The wise have always taught patience is a virtue to keep our integrity in life. Let us make that common sense, common practice. The temptation of Disappointment Many people break from their integrity because of disappointment. Things don't turn out as they desire and their ego flames and fumes causing them to break commitments to themselves and others. This is the woman who tries a new weight loss program and gets results. But because she hasn't lost as much weight as she anticipated, she breaks her resolutions and goes back to old habits. It's the working man who promises to work harder. But upon seeing his first efforts go unnoticed, he quickly drifts back into mediocrity. It's the entrepreneur whose first attempt ends in failure. So he decides to go back to a joyless job for a better sense of security. For most, disappointment isn't the problem. It's what they do after they feel disappointment. They quit. Disappointment is just the excuse small people use to justify their urge to quit and to enjoy a life of ease over the hard work and trial necessary for for real achievements. More conscious people see disappointment as a Common and harmless reality of having high aims and standards. If we are not disappointed from time to time, we are not attempting anything new or bold or significant. So let us realize disappointment is necessary and holds no power over us. In truth, disappointment often dies when we adopt a learning mindset. Rather than being saddened or frustrated to a point of failure, we must simply become curious, asking, what can I learn here that will help me alter my approach? What lessons must I understand so that next time I can be even more of my best self and provide even more of my best service to the world? The contrast could be no less stark. Unsuccessful people allow disappointment to stop them in their tracks, to break from their commitments and values and dreams. They let disappointment grow into an identity of failure. Successful people feel disappointment and learn through it and let it go. They use disappointment to enlarge their competency, not let it cut their character or fail their dreams. A disappointed failure or a learning achiever. Let us choose this day once and for all which group we shall belong to. The Temptation of Desperation the most predictable moments when people break their integrity are when they are desperate, on the brink of ruin. The business person nearing bankruptcy decides to do something dishonest to make a fast but dirty buck. The person starving for love compromises herself to gain acceptance and affection. The student, desperate to live up to others expectations, cheats on test after test. The hungry man steals sustenance. We have all made bad decisions when we were needy, so let us remember them and look for patterns. What point of need do drove us to bad behavior? How did we think about others, the world, and ourselves in those unhealthy or irresponsible moments? How could we have behaved differently in ways that would have supported our faster rise and a higher sense of integrity? What are we committed to in similar situations in the future? We would be fools not to anticipate that desperation will greet us again in the future. If we are pursuing our dreams, we will get knocked down, we will struggle, and we will likely at some point lose money, status and influence. We will be forced to scrape together every ounce of our resources and respect to continue on. And so let us decide now how we will behave in those moments. In every great story, there is always a scene when the central character becomes desperate and afraid. How they behave in the moments afterward dictates whether or not they are cowards, villains, or people of integrity and valor who save the day and ride proudly into the bright horizon. When our hour arrives, when we suddenly fall into a pit of need, let us act in accordance of our highest values and show the world just what we're the Temptation of Aggression People are often at their absolute worst when responding to others aggression. If they are bullied, they become violent. If their spouse is pushing an idea that they dislike, they fly into a rage. If their boss tells them firmly what to do, they weaken and agree to it, even when they disagree with all their soul. Yet our goal is should never be to meet someone's assertiveness with an action that makes us small, angry or hurtful. No good comes from becoming bitter or violent. When others are aggressive, that is the time to be hyper aware of our reactions. When others push too hard, let us simply accept they are acting from a place of ego and often ignorance and direct our own mind to not lower ourselves to their level. That is when we should ask if I removed my anger or hurt from the situation and acted from my highest self, what would I do now? Responding well to such a question is what made Gandhi and King and Mandela so focused and true and admired. The world will push at us and enervate us and seek our conformity and obedience. People will be rude and mean and absentminded. So let us choose a higher road, maintaining our values and standing for peace even in the midst of what feels like war. Over time we will always find that patience shall overcome aggression and love shall overcome hate. The Temptation of Hurt Vigilance is also required when we are hurt or experiencing any negative emotion. Otherwise, we can become the woman who feels wronged and becomes spiteful even though she does not see herself as a spiteful human. The man who physically attacks another person because a verbal insult made him feel small. The leader who decides to derail an entire project because he was embarrassed. This is an area in need of examination. Let us ask how do I usually act when I am hurt? How do I see and react to other people when I am in a negative mood? What reminders can I give myself the next time I am feeling hurt so that I stay true to myself and keep progressing in life? Maturity insists we recognize that feeling hurt requires the same thing as feeling happy, a conscious choice. When a hurt wells up in our heart, let us examine whether or not it is useful to keep around. Let us realize it is our own internal representation of a situation that we alone have given meaning to. We can feel hurt, but we must release it quickly and never aim it at others. Integrity is is learning to feel hurt but not integrate its darkness into our soul or cast it onto another. The Temptation of Loyalty not all breaks from integrity are for self protection or want of character. Often we break from what we know is right out of good intentions. It is an odd truth that the liars among us are most often good and loyal people who who lie in order to protect someone they love or respect. This is the man who believes himself a good husband and lies to his wife in order not to hurt her. The supposed good friend who doesn't want to expose her girlfriend who has been having an affair. The leader who withholds information to protect his company's reputation. But when loyalty is chosen over truth, corruption is always near. Small lies to protect those we love, work with or care for become bigger lies. If we lie for others and us against them, mentality develops in which we mistakenly pit them and us against the world. Failing to recognize that our lies hurt other people, we justify lies as if blind to their inevitable ripple effect of hurt. Must we never lie? What else could be our aim? Any other intention is to willingly sully our soul. Should we find ourselves in a moment in which we feel we must lie to absolutely ensure the safety or health of ourselves or another, we should still be cautious. We often believe total disaster will befall our lies. If we should tell the truth, and this is most often untrue itself, there is a reason all spiritual texts say in some form or another that the truth shall set us free. If our or our loved ones backs are truly against the wall and definite harm will occur if we speak the truth, then the best we can do is favor silence over false words. We can speak up in honesty for those we love, but we need not speak in falsehoods to protect their irresponsible behaviors. We needn't choose to forfeit our character simply because someone else's has been compromised. Should we wish a pure and clean spirit, Let us be cautious against all practices or justifications of lying. This is not an easy practice, but a life of disingenuous ease is not what we are after. The path to transcendence is illuminated by truth. The temptation of power. Power itself is not bad. It is the means by which some people seek or wield it that can cause harm on the way to power. People who lack integrity and virtue lie, cheat, steal and step on others. But likewise, those who maintain virtue use their power to advance good ideas and lift up people in need. The secret to seeking power with integrity is to stop imagining that when we finally have it, we will suddenly change. The evil person will only become more evil with greater power. The kind person, kinder. The loving more loving. The generous, more generous. As we seek money or influence. Let us be clear about who we are today, knowing that this will simply be amplified when we gain power. And so let us write some more. When I gain more influence through wealth or status or luck, what shall I do with it so that I remain true and proud of who I am? In acquiring abundance and influence, we must remain true to what we stand for and the best of who we are. Each and every day of our lives matter. That is real power. Action becomes character. Our actions are creating a character that will stand tall or shrink into the darkness of regret. To be wise and virtuous humans then conscientiousness is required, especially when faced with the seven temptations of impatience, disappointment, desperation, aggression, hurt, loyalty and power. The world will constantly bombard us with opportunities to be small and catty people. It would be easy to give up on ourselves and our dreams. It would be easy to treat others poorly. But that is not our path. Freedom and victory belong to those who remain strong and true despite temptation.

Okay, it's Brendan, the modern day Brendan 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 advanced 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 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 all the episodes otherwise you will lose these on June 3rd. This is a 10 day preview of 10 chapters the Motivation Manifesto. My thanks for the 10th anniversary of the release of the Motivation Manifesto.