Become an Expert at Reinventing Yourself — Your Life Depends on It

What I learned after leaving my mafia marriage . . .

When I was 16, I was married to a government Mob Man. In this marriage I had 3 children by the time I was 21 — my son was killed and 2 homes burned to the ground. —

During this marriage, I was not allowed to work, learn, or better myself in any way. However, I had been with the best deal makers out there, so this became my education.

It took six years to gain the will to leave. When I was able to get a divorce, I left for freedom, not money. I had no foundation or plan.

I ran for two decades all around the world, becoming an over-achiever.

I went on to win 4 Gold Medals in extreme sports to starting entrepreneurial ideas and projects across 15 countries. It became both my lifestyle and my exit.

I failed often.

I had to reinvent myself often as I searched for meaning and my way forward. Practicing change became a lifestyle regime.

Over time, I learned to reinvent myself with power and thought. My knowledge evolved to where now, my focus is to stay ahead of change before it happens.

It’s become a normal operational part of my life.

It’s like I formed a F — — k You account that is full of Plans A’s, B’s, and C’s, so no matter what happens, I have ideas to mold into something new.

Here are some key points of what I do that may help you —

Do not get ready forever when you are going to make a change

Overthinking a situation for months makes change become more difficult because you start creating more obstacles.

Once you make a move, it is the law of power that your energy will rise to the level you need.

Photo by Maria Camille — A cabin in the mountains where I took a Monk Break

Find your Power Place and take a Monk Break

The mountains are my Power Place. There is something about going into a serene wild place. The solitude will bring you forward.

Your Power Place needs to feel comfortable and be like a Safe House.

I believe Monk Breaks are mandatory. It’s where you go to quiet your soul before moving into the unknown. It’s where you’ll find the teacherless learning and creativity to plan a new path.

You need to go alone with no one watching or talking. This is when you connect with the deeper aspects of yourself.

When alone, you can imagine anything you want, make mistakes, and cry in fear — no one will know.

Once you can go it alone and pass the solitude test, you gain new confidence. When you can pass the solitude test, there is nothing that will break you.

It’s about giving up your current identity, where you may be living a false truth. New space gives you time to develop into something more.

Because our lives are so busy and noisy, taking a quiet Monk Break will feel like a crisis. That’s why it works.

Your demons will seek you out. This cultivation is a battle of self — for a lifetime.

You will feel you have to recuperate from your recuperation.

But you will be reinventing yourself with new ideas and concepts that come from this opening of space.

Reinventing yourself can be a challenge if you do not practice. Practicing change as a regime is challenging because we fear the unknown.

But fear is not final. It can be outwitted because fear is more of a misunderstood focus.

Take a Journal on your Monk Break

In my journal, I write random short ideas as my mind spits out new brilliance. There is no writing plan; I just take notes as special thoughts come to me.

It’s amazing what you discover when looking back through the journal after you get home. There are so many cool new ideas, inner feelings, and new discoveries.

Writing down random thoughts is an everyday process now. The ideas add up over time and unfold new ways to reinvent Me. The ideas are cued up for when I need them.

Handwriting is a key point.

Don’t put a computer or other technology between your head and hands. It’s about getting back to a pure mind-body function.

By writing out your thoughts, you grow awareness.

Practice taking Risks

Today everyone needs to be like an entrepreneur — no matter their vocation.

Entrepreneurs are like mercenaries — they’re out front where no one else goes — not afraid to fail — not afraid of what people think.

This is Personal Power.

Write your own Constitution

Writing your Constitution is about what you will accept in life and what you will not.

It’s your Code.

This is what you will live by. It’s about the courage to declare.

Your declaration has to come from the heart.

Do not be small-minded. When you write and declare your new purpose, the intention becomes dependent on your claim.

Aim for an expansive and infinite new path to walk. Why be miserly?

Go Big!

It’s hard-earned wisdom.