OnAscent Radio

So much of our internal struggle comes from not embracing change. Tension decreases when we understand that change is happening at every level, from the automatic to the biological to the mental... a human being is composed of moving parts. Our identity is no different. It is a dynamic phenomenon, similar to a river: flowing, moving, expanding, roaring, weaving all the time with power, and all the time with the potential to change. Do not limit yourself to a static understanding of who you are. Release your conditioned boundaries and be free.

On the surface, a single drop of water has little to no power. However, that same single drop of water consistently hitting the same spot over and over for years has tremendous power. How is this relevant to you and your life? Tune in to find out.

When purpose and meaning are distant, hope in life can be lost. When hope in life is not present, life can become depressing, stressful, and full of anxiety and worry. When purpose and meaning in life are present, you can expect to experience many benefits, eight of which I share and discuss in this episode.

Do you ever have days where you feel on fire? ..and that can last for a few days or even weeks? ...but then you have days where the struggle is real? I sure do! It doesn't make sense and is frustrating! Personally, I believe this happens to me because I hold myself to a high standard, and when I feel that I'm not living up to that standard, I beat myself up. Should I? Not always, and the same goes for you. Can you avoid the bad days? Not always, but what I have found helps is to ask three questions and take action based on my answers. Learn those three questions and what to do in this episode.

Your tolerance level often reflects your self-worth. If you accept less than what you deserve, you signal that it's okay for others to treat you that way. Tolerating negative behavior, such as disrespect or mistreatment, reinforces and encourages that behavior to continue. You have control over what you allow into your life. By setting higher standards, you shape your environment and experiences. Tolerating poor treatment in relationships can lead to resentment, dissatisfaction, and erosion of trust over time. Recognizing and refusing to tolerate negativity or mediocrity in your life can be a catalyst for personal growth and positive change. Listen to hear these points expanded upon and hear 5 more points about why and how we get what we tolerate in life.

The connection between the physical body and mental health is deeply intertwined, with each influencing the other in significant ways. Today, I discuss how physical health impacts mental health and vice versa, psychosomatic aymptoms, holistic health approaches, and my overall approach to maintaining my physical and mental health and helping my clients do the same.

The words we speak about ourselves hold significant power and influence over our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Listen to this episode to learn the 5 main effects of our self-talk and why they're important.

Have you ever looked back at your life and begun to make sense of the events and circumstances that have taken place and now see how they all worked together to bring you to the place where you are now? It's hard to see in the moment when it's all taking place. However, as time goes on and doors open and close, it begins to make sense. One of the hardest things I have found in tough times is to have faith, patience, and trust. These three pillars can be difficult because most people want change and results NOW. The waiting is the hardest part. Doing the work daily, not knowing if or when the results will show up is hard. This is one of the reasons I see many people fail to reach their goals. What has happened in my life is, I am seeing the pieces come together for things that I have prayed and worked for over many years. When you can see the fruit of your prayers and work, your faith and hope grow stronger.

If you have followed along with OnAscent Radio over the last couple of years, you have more than likely listened to the episode entitled "The First Monday". Today's episode is only fitting because of the nature of where I was in my life on the First Monday, November 4th, 2022, after I moved out of my home of 17 years and into an apartment, preparing to head down a dark road. August 2nd, 2024, I moved into a new home, and I woke up on Monday morning this week, and it felt like the Second Monday. This Monday had an entirely different feeling than the First Monday. Rather than being down in the pit, lost, alone, and not wanting to live anymore, I've shifted to what's possible, new beginnings, and love in my heart. I share this with you in the hopes that if you are going through a challenging time or situation in your life, that you too can overcome. It takes time, focused action, and belief... and a law that can't be broken: don't ever quit.

A rare interview episode! You won't want to miss Nate's awesome story and all we can learn from it. Check it out!

The Earth has a rhythm: the days have a rhythm, the week's have a rhythm, the years have a rhythm. I found this very interesting as I have examined my life. People, including myself, talk, train, and teach on building habits, and these habits become part of the rhythm of our lives. Think about someone banging on the drums with no rhythm: it sounds like noise. But as soon as you add rhythm, you have something musical. The same applies to your life in all domains: A rhythm in your faith, by establishing a time to spend in prayer, meditation, writing. In your family, by spending time with your loved ones. In your fitness, by establishing a cadence to your workout schedule and foods you eat. And in your business and career too. A rhythm to your life. Without it, it's noise, chaos, and wandering.

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought to yourself, "Is this pain ever going to end?" or "Is this what my life is supposed to look like?" One of the biggest challenges I've had to face and work my way through is finding purpose in the pain... but it has been crucial for getting through the tough times and coming out stronger.

If you don't like where you're at, do something about it. Be radically responsible for your life. Today, I'm sharing the 12 key points for how to take personal responsibility.

Letting go does not mean you have given up. It does not mean that you no longer care. It means that you are releasing the attachments of the past that get in the way of your happiness and mental clarity. Letting go and unshackling is the process of removing oneself from old patterns of behavior that lead to unnecessary worry and mental tension. When you can be okay with things not having gone a certain way, life can begin again. Making peace with the past opens you up to love and adventure and allows you to apply the lessons you have learned with new calmness.

Today I'm diving into the often debilitating world of perfectionism. I'm exploring what perfectionism is, its causes, the impact it has on our lives, and most importantly, how to overcome it. I'm sharing personal stories and practical tips to help you navigate your own struggles with perfectionism and hopefully triumph over it.

To see your hidden patterns, you need to intentionally build self-awareness. Question your perception. A mantra that I have adopted in my life is, "Change your story, change your life." What does that mean? It means that much of the way we think, see, and operate as individuals is based off a story. The question then becomes, "Is the story that I'm telling myself true?" If you answer yes, then prove it! With facts... not perception, half-truths, or lies. Build compassionate and honest dialogue. Dig deeper into what your real motivations are, and have humility to know you can learn more. Self-awareness combined with action opens the door to real change.

What does it means to believe in yourself? Self-belief is the confidence in your own abilities and judgment. It's not about being arrogant or dismissing others' input, but rather having faith that you are capable of handling life's challenges and making decisions that lead to your personal growth. "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." This famous quote by Henry Ford captures the essence of self-belief. Your mindset shapes your reality. If you believe you can achieve something, you're more likely to put in the effort and perseverance needed to make it happen. So, how do you overcome self-doubt, have strong, positive self-beliefs, grow, and achieve your goals? That's what today's episode is all about.

As we venture deeper into ourselves, we may encounter a challenging barrier within our own thoughts, like a dense layer of sediment that has been hardened by conditioning. When we shed our emotional armor, it can be a painful process. We often feel the impact of the release in our personal lives: the storms of yesterday, the heaviness of the past moments rising to the surface. Opening ourselves up to unlearned beliefs and behaviors can create a feeling of unease and instability, as if we are on the verge of turbulence and disharmony. Real growth is recognizing these moments and treating ourselves gently as the storms pass.

It's ok to not have the answer. I believe one of the bravest things you can do is boldly embrace the unknown. Accept your fears. All fear is manageable. When fear is not managed and tuned into fuel and fire, it leads to doubt, hesitation, and procrastination. Fear will play tricks on you and make you think that you're not ready. Courageous people feel fear too; they just embrace it and use it to fuel them. Fear is contagious, but so is courage. Continue to move forward. A clear mission does not always have a clear path.

We all go through difficult times in our lives, and no one's experiences and pain should be compared with others. With these dark times come thoughts and actions that are not to be overlooked. Today, I'm bearing my soul a bit so that you can know you are not alone, you are valued, and you can get through this and get to brighter days.

I am joined on the show today by Carl Allen, a world-class entrepreneur, investor, and corporate dealmaker who has worked on more than 330 transactions worth close to $48 billion. In his 30-year career, Carl has analyzed thousands of businesses, big and small, in 17 different countries and across nearly every business sector, including technology, pharmaceuticals, transportation & logistics, engineering, manufacturing, business services, retail, professional services, finance, packaging, and corporate clothing. He started on Wall Street working for Bank of America, Hewlett-Packard, Forrester, and Gartner. He advised some of the world's largest corporations on investments, mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and restructuring... until he almost missed the birth of his second son. Carl then quit the rat race and began brokering businesses for himself. Today he is considered one of the world's premier experts on small business acquisitions. He is the founder of Dealmaker Wealth Society, where he offers his knowledge and wisdom to others. Don't miss this fascinating and valuable episode! Get Carl's free Business Buying Blueprint here: http://trainwithcarl.com/facts  Visit my website for more info on my coaching and other services: https://www.onascent.com 

Often, I have found the three most challenging words to speak are, "I need help." But I will have you consider the possibility of a life filled with people willing to help, lend support, motivate you, and believe in who you are as a human being, as well as having even more people in your life that are just rooting for you and want the best for you. Receiving the help and boost from all of these people in your life begins with willingness to let your ego rest, be humbled, swallow your pride, and say the words: I need help.

Why is determination essential for success? Simple, no one's coming to save you. Life doesn't stop for you. It keeps coming at you, day after day after day. You have a simple decision to make. Live a life of truth, or live a life of lies. Honesty is what is needed to go after what you want. Once the truth is told, determination is required to go get it.

There is a strong connection between all the primary domains in your life: faith, family, fitness, and finances. When one of those domains is weak, it affects all the other areas.

Last week, I took one of the biggest steps I've taken in my life in a long time. I took a trip on my own for a few days. This may seem like something insignificant. No big deal. However, I'm coming to you from a place of permission: giving myself full permission to be all of me. I can't think of a specific time in my life when I fully embraced this lesson. The question is, why? Why is it so hard to be your true, authentic self? To embrace it. Live it. Be it. What I found on my trip was that it's in the moments and experiences that we create and embody that we are exposed to another version of ourselves. Now the challenge comes: am I willing to embrace this lesson not only on trips like these but each day?

Healing is possible. Change not only happens around all of us, but it happens within us. As I keep going and moving forward, I feel certain this is the way, because it is the only real option I have; it's the only real option for any of us, unless we just want to give up and die. We just have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, step by step. Everything keeps changing. I will keep changing. You will keep changing... and that is natural; that is good; that is LIFE.

Every time you love yourself better, build your self-awareness, understand your patterns, improve your ability to communicate, or expand your compassion for others, the future of humanity grows brighter. You not only impact your own life, but you impact the world.

Men face a variety of challenges that are often not openly discussed due to societal expectations, gender norms, and stigmas. Today, I want to tackle 10 of the biggest challenges facing men today.

You know healing is real when you find more joy in unexpected places. You were built for redemption. We were all born into imperfection and live it daily. But just as we can make mistakes, we can also learn and improve. With enough conviction, we can understand where we went wrong and not keep making the same mistakes. Break free from the past. Learn better, kinder ways of existing. The most powerful change you can make in this world is to know yourself.

As you grow, you level up... but operating at a higher level does not mean that things get easier. On the contrary, they often get more difficult because the standards are now higher, and it takes more work to clear a higher bar. As we continually improve and level up, we must accept each new level of difficulty and rise to meet it, not only in expectations, but also overall mindset, discipline, and determination.

Do you struggle with feeling drained, not just physically, but also emotionally or mentally? I definitely do, but I have developed three ways to get my energy up despite speedbumps and keep it strong. Today I'm sharing them with you.

We understand intellectually that everything is fundamentally governed by change. But when life throws its challenges at us, we deeply crave for things to stay the same. Change is so predominant in the structure of reality that being absent-minded of it will inevitably result in dissatisfaction, stress, and suffering. The greatest adversity of the ego is change. The ego arises out of the craving to survive, which means it will attempt to control and keep things the same. The acceptance of change not only opens the door to inner peace, but it welcomes you into deeper insights that ultimately lead to liberation.

Determination is a crucial quality to develop in life. It is the unwavering resolve to pursue your goals and dreams, even in the face of obstacles or setbacks. At some point, you must make a firm decision and declare to yourself and others, "I'm going to move in this new direction, and no person or circumstance will deter me." Developing determination requires inner strength, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. It means pushing through challenges, staying focused on your vision, and refusing to give up. With determination, you can overcome any adversity that comes your way and achieve the success and fulfillment you desire. So, cultivate determination within yourself, and let it propel you forward on your journey towards greatness. Great transformations need a beginning.

There are 7 key characteristics that I believe make a powerful leader. Today, I want to share them with you. I hope they will help you in your journey of self-improvement.

If I don't like the results I have in my body, it's up to me to figure out a solution to get the result I desire. That being said, it's also up to me to understand the balance between my expectations and the reality that results take time. They take a level of commitment. They take a level of consistency. They are not instant, and perfection is not possible. If I believe I have to be perfect in all I do, then I will sabotage my self-confidence.

I got injured last week. This doesn't happen to me much, so it was a big setback for me. Today I'm discussing how I overcame this, first mentally, and then by taking the right course of action. I hope my journey will help you with your own thought processes and actions as well.

You are not always going to get it right. Sometimes the reaction is going to be strong, and it will pull you into saying and doing things that are counterproductive. Even if you have grown immensely, you are not perfect; you are not flawless. This is why growth is nonlinear. The journey of self-development and personal growth is not about developing an attachment to perfection; it's about recognizing the moments when you are moving in the opposite direction from your long-term goals and building awareness around what you can do differently next time. Recognizing when you "get it wrong" is not an invitation to be hard on yourself. In fact, this is a sign of victory. This is the power of imperfection.

This topic is a hard one for me and I spent a lot of time thinking about this. The topic came to me multiple times over this last week. Rather than reacting because others are not seeing things the way I do, I need to take a breath, take a step back, and try to see things the way they do and understand.  

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first episode of 2024. Perhaps you're feeling anxious. If you're like me, you're good at planning, but you're uncomfortable because it's now time for doing. What I've realized is, it's in doing that I grow the most–not in doing the same things repeatedly, but in doing the uncomfortable things when I do not feel like it; that's where the real growth happens: seeking that out, feeling discomfort, battling through the mental blocks. Well, now it's time. It's time to do it. Will you join me?  

Why does my journey matter? Why does your journey matter? Time to answer this question and begin the new year motivated to make it count.  

Today we are discussing personal commitments (or resolutions) going into the new year. In the last couple episodes, we have laid the foundations for accountability and goal-setting, so now it is time to commit to specific goals for the upcoming year.  

There are three levels of targets that I like to set for myself each year: Reasonable - Good results that aren't super difficult or excessive; logical, moderate results. (1-2x growth) Radical - Extreme results that surpass reasonable, logical, or moderate expectations. (4-5x growth) Impossible - Utterly not possible in your mind right now; probably incapable of being true or happening. (10x growth) Once the facts are in place and you set targets across all four domains (Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finance), you create a gap between where you are today and where you want to be 12-13 months from now. And now the impossible game begins. It's called the impossible game not because of the magnitude of the targets but the combination of the targets set and all four domains rising at 10x levels at the same time. Most people are lucky to have one of the four domains 10x in a year, let alone all four. This is the game. With a ruthless commitment to results, you can achieve the unthinkable for 2024 and become the version of yourself that you know is possible.

It's time to review and reflect on the year. 2023 is coming to an end quickly, and there's no better time than to take an honest look back at the plans you had in place for this year and examine where you have ended up. I've adopted this practice over the last seven years, and I can tell you this is not easy. I spent the better part of my weekend in my office with papers, plans, maps, and notes that I had compiled over 2023, going through them all, checking boxes for whether I did what I said I was going to do. The reality is, the facts don't lie. You either did the work required or you didn't. In some areas, I nailed it. In others, not even close! With the facts in place and nothing to hide, a new possibility arises: the possibility to create a life on purpose. Are you ready to build your 2024? Let's make 2024 the year you look back on and say, "I did it!"

The judgment of others is largely informed by a combination of their old conditioning and current emotion. Once you realize this and begin to see it as it is, you will have the freedom to genuinely be yourself.  

How do you build a good life for yourself? In this episode, I want to share with you six key components to answering this question that I have learned in my journey.  

In the world that we live in today, speed is glorified: big leaps forward and meteoric rises... but reality usually moves at a slower pace, especially when it comes to personal transformation. Not every day needs to involve a "big win" for you to end up in a thriving and beautiful place. Transformation isn't a smooth process: cloudy, dark days are going to hit you. Setbacks are normal. Down moments are to be expected often. At times, it feels like you are moving against a strong current of old conditioning. But with time and repetition, this resistance will soften, and the new you will emerge. The task, as we develop new ways of living, is to embrace the idea that small, daily accomplishments are more valuable than fast results. This is how you build momentum for the long journey. Remember, happiness is not achieved overnight. Peace takes time to build. A healthy mind and body requires slow and consistent tending.

Everyone does time in the Pit. This episode, I'm spending a little time reflecting on the past year, the hardest year of my life thus far, and all the time I've spent in the Pit. Time in the pit above all else is what distinguishes top performers by their persistence in the face of failure and setbacks. The Pit is where you learn things about yourself that you can't learn anywhere else. When you fail or experience major setbacks, you end up in the Pit. If you use your time there wisely, learn, grow, and take action based on your new knowledge, then you will be a top performer.

This episode is going to be a little different than the others in the past. I want to not only take you on a journey, but I also want you to come out of listening to this episode with an experience that you will continue to come back to and make it a part of your life going forward. Listen to the full episode to receive this powerful message.

Not letting yourself be who you are is the great lie you are telling yourself. It's the same lie I was telling myself for years, and even today a bit. Who are you? What a powerful question that is, a question that can be one's life's work. Once you figure that out, can you allow yourself to be you? All of you? For yourself and no one else?

Last week, I hit on the topic of stress and meditation: using the tool of meditation to increase your capacity and power to deal with the stresses that come into your life. Today, I want to talk about how to train the spiritual mind and body. The willingness to sit in silence in the world we live in today is incredibly difficult to muster. It's uncomfortable, it feels foolish at times, and we live in a world of noise and distractions. What meditation will do for you is help calm the parasympathetic nervous system which controls the body's ability to relax. This system works in conjunction with the sympathetic nervous system which controls the flight or fight response. Meditation is vital for training your body and mind to deal with stress in a healthy way that does not damage you or shorten your life. Tune in to hear me talk about how it has helped me, how it can help you, and one of my favorite meditation exercises.

Stress is non-negotiable. It's everywhere and shows up in our lives in many different capacities, like physical stress, emotional stress, and environmental stress. The sources are also different: some stress is self-induced, such as a hard workout. Some stress is not. However, the one thing that is inevitable is that to grow in all areas of our lives, stress is non-negotiable. Many see stress as an enemy; however, stress can also be used as a weapon. The difference between two people experiencing the same level of stress is how they deal with it. Many choose to sedate or avoid and replace one feeling for another. When sedation is used as the form of handling stress, growth and expansion won't occur. The other side of dealing with stress is turning it into a weapon of growth and expansion with meditation or mindfulness. Using these techniques, you can increase your power and enhance your ability to deal with stress. With this, you begin to master yourself, increase in power and self-mastery, and everything in your world grows and expands.