This blog post is about removing the lies that we carry around which help to sabotage our experience of a rich and full life. I have carried around an idea, a false belief that things should work according to a plan. The idea goes that anything that deviates from the plan is not good. This past week, I had an experience that was completely off plan, but I would not have changed a thing. Life, well lived, gets messy. I am learning to live with the mess. In fact, I am learning to embrace and honor the mess. Often the mess is an opportunity for creative brilliance.
I was out at a nightclub in Laos. The time was 11PM. I had to be up at 3:30 AM to get on the phone and talk to about a dozen clients, all in short 15 minute bursts. I have to do my calls at his god-forsaken hour because that is the time that most Americans have available for the sessions. My daytime in Thailand is America’s nighttime. I was out with the 2 Jeffs (see 2 Jeff’s Blog Post) and by this time, we had each drank about 5 beers. Young Jeff had also merged our table with another table and 3 beautiful Laotian women. So what do you think I did?
I said “fuck it” and had a few more drinks, talked it up with our group of 6, and did not get back to my room until 1AM. Sleep came fast and hard, but the sound of my Iphone5 putting out Bob Marley’s Redemption Song at 3:30 AM came even faster. I dragged myself up, and got right in the shower, and sobered up and woke up, and made all my calls. I finished at 8:30. I crawled back into bed, closed the blinds, and slept from 9AM to Noon. I woke up feeling amazing. Bring on the day.
Why share all this? I remember hearing Tony Robbins talk about how when he wakes up, the first thing he does is shock his body into action with hot and cold water. The lesson here being that we give our bodies way too much leverage in determining how we feel. If the body is the ship, we are the captains, and this detail is often overlooked, ignored or forgotten. I came away from this experience feeling empowered. I felt my own personal horizon of experiences expanded. The rules I have used to manage my life may have actually inhibited me from living a full and expansive life. Maybe I do need 8 hours of sleep, on average, but those hours don’t have to be in one unbroken session. Lesson learned.
So let’s party like there’s no tomorrow. We only live once. I enjoyed my time at the nightclub overlooking the Mekong River in Vientiane Laos. I don’t know many people who can say they had a red bull and vodka at a nightclub with three beautiful Laotian women. There was a point in my life where I would have not gone to the club, and instead returned to my hotel to get some sleep in preparation for work. Now I know I can go out, take that rich experience and knowledge gleaned from a night out, and use it to more powerfully achieve my work and life goals. Sleep can wait. I will sleep when I can. I suppose this is another take on “Drink, Don’t Think!” It is good advice that bears repeating.
If God were to speak to me on this topic, I think he would say something like this: “Jay, Live Your Damned Life! I can’t wait to hear all the stories when you get back…”
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
