Have you ever questioned the efficacy of New Year's resolutions? Join me as I reveal a personal ritual I've honored for 17 years—celebrating my birthday not with cake and candles, but with pen and paper. On the Magnificent Ones podcast, I'm sharing my unique tradition of setting annual goals from birthday to birthday, rather than following the crowd each January. It's a method that's reshaped my outlook on success and allowed me to consistently accomplish my aspirations. This isn't just about goals; it's about forging a path of self-reflection and growth that's tailored to the rhythm of your life.
This year's birthday marks a moment of introspection and candid self-conversation. I unbox the intimate contents of my annual birthday letter, exposing the core of my humanity across the roles that define me—from grandson to warrior. We walk through the corridors of truth, love, and peace, weighing the anchors of pain against the buoyancy of forgiveness. There's no guest beside me, just the raw, unfiltered musings on life's transient nature, the richness of the soul, and the potency of kindness. Witness as I dissect past challenges and triumphs, offering up hard-earned wisdom, and inviting you to craft your own narrative of authenticity and resilience.
Have you ever questioned the efficacy of New Year's resolutions? Join me as I reveal a personal ritual I've honored for 17 years—celebrating my birthday not with cake and candles, but with pen and paper. On the Magnificent Ones podcast, I'm sharing my unique tradition of setting annual goals from birthday to birthday, rather than following the crowd each January. It's a method that's reshaped my outlook on success and allowed me to consistently accomplish my aspirations. This isn't just about goals; it's about forging a path of self-reflection and growth that's tailored to the rhythm of your life.
This year's birthday marks a moment of introspection and candid self-conversation. I unbox the intimate contents of my annual birthday letter, exposing the core of my humanity across the roles that define me—from grandson to warrior. We walk through the corridors of truth, love, and peace, weighing the anchors of pain against the buoyancy of forgiveness. There's no guest beside me, just the raw, unfiltered musings on life's transient nature, the richness of the soul, and the potency of kindness. Witness as I dissect past challenges and triumphs, offering up hard-earned wisdom, and inviting you to craft your own narrative of authenticity and resilience.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Take a breath, let's dive in. Hello and welcome to the Magnificent Ones podcast. Today's episode is going to be a little bit different than the others, because today is my birthday. I was born on April 2nd 1993, 31 years ago today, and I'm very happy to be able to share one of my traditions with all of you.
Speaker 1:
Each year since the age of 14, I always wrote a letter to myself on my birthday, and that became the tradition of how I would set my goals. I would base my goals on one year after my birthday, as opposed to January 1st, to January 1st. I always believed that when everyone sets their goals or resolutions on the 1st of January, everyone else is doing the same thing. And if everyone's setting their goals and you're constantly seeing that people aren't achieving their goals, then psychologically all you're seeing is failure. However, if you were to measure your goals simply from your birthday to the next birthday, then you're measuring your goals on a different metric. You already tell yourself things that you can't do this, you can't do that. So by watching everyone else fail and watching everyone saying they're not going to meet their goals, that has a negative psychological effect on you. And so I found that when I started to base my goals from my birthday, as opposed to the January 1st New Year's resolution way of doing things, I started to achieve my goals quite frequently. And because I was measuring my goals, you know, in my own way, I never had to worry about the stress of not necessarily achieving my goals, but I got to take the time to just analyze and assess. You know where I was like throughout the year. And then I would say to myself okay, if it's January 1st, I have roughly three months until I get to set my goals. So I had a, you know, while everyone else was setting their goals, I had three months to prepare for my goals. So sometimes you have to create the playing of your own playing field and play, you know, by your own rules, and that's where that comes in. So thank you for joining today and if you're new, you know, please like and subscribe. And I just want to say thank you for tuning in and let's dive into my birthday letter.
Speaker 1:
I am Invictus. Truth, love and Peace, for all that I seek. I will not always be happy, and for these seasons I shall endure, for in pain true strength is revealed. There is a calm before every storm, but there is also a calm after. I am grandson, son, husband, father and warrior. I am also very much human too. I have hurt, for I too have been hurt, but these things do not define me. Riches are only temporary, so do not chase them. But true wealth is in the heart and in the mind, and a truly wealthy person does not need material things to showcase wealth.
Speaker 1:
Always be grounded and be humble enough to understand that you are not always right. Your own ears can deceive you and your own eyes can fool you. It is important to understand that forgiveness is a freedom and hatred is a burden that imprisons you. Stay in the company of those who know who you are and also those who can remind you of who you are and the times that you forget. There will be times where you can lose your way and you will always need a reminder. But regardless, take time to know and have the strength to be you. There is only one of you, so be true to you. You won't always be right and you most certainly won't always be wrong. Take a time to enjoy victories. Take the time to reflect on the losses and know that in defeat, so long as you learn a lesson you've already won Anger and hatred are like a sword that cuts both ways.
Speaker 1:
It harms you and it also harms your enemy. That cuts both ways it harms you and it also harms your enemy. Kindness is also a weapon, because only through kindness can you truly conquer hate. Life is not always ideal. There is feast and there is famine. We do not chase the material, because that will pass. We chase what is ahead, and we do so knowing that the things that are behind us can either hinder us or propel us forward. There is strength in understanding, and so long as you choose truth, there's always going to be a better tomorrow. Endure, be strong and remember who you are. I am Invictus, I am Imperator and I am me, and today I turn 31. If you enjoyed today's content, please like and subscribe for more.