Author: Patrick D’Entremont

This the title of a novel written by J.R.R Tolkien. I had started my morning routine normal as it could be, wake up, brush my teeth, wash my face, get dressed and grab some breakfast. I sat down afterwards and landed on the movie Unexpected Journey; I’ve seen the film plenty of times before but this morning I couldn’t help myself and selected the movie to watch aways.

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit of shire that lives quite an ordinary life, lives in a hole, same routine and pasture to explore every day, in term of hobbits at least. He was greeted by an older gentleman as he was smoking his pipe Infront of his abode. His name being Gandalf, a stranger of sorts with little connection other than seeing his firework displays in town from years past. Yet, Gandalf is quick to “inform the others” of Bilbo’s agreeance to host his comrades. In just a quick moment of conversation bilbo is thrusted into an unfamiliar situation to him, outside of his routine. Some would call it an unexpected journey.

The rest of town just went on with their ordinary life and daily tasks.

An older Bilbo in the very beginning of the movie was seen writing down this tale and making sure all the details were right. Additionally, Bilbo was also quite excited to hear from his old friend Gandalf and seemed reminiscent of their journey to together.

If life is always the same there would be no tale to tell, no journeys to a faraway land, no new communities that are every quality but the ones you are and nothing to look back on. I want to tell a tale so wild, so unimaginable, so intrepid and dauntless. No, it not that I “want to”, I NEED to and I am the person who will have countless stories that people dream of.

The first step before writing the story is to live it. Say yes to that Gandalf who proposes an adventure. Maybe the thought of not knowing what will happen causes anxiety, fear and uncertainty. These are the emotions that spike adrenaline and thrill. It creates brand new memories, experiences that are tied to these emotions. Build the confidence to say yes despite of risk. Fear is a motivator for reaction or non-action; it triggers fight or flight. Of course, everything psychological and chemically are limiting the boundaries of daily life to be stuck in routine. It keeps YOU safe and comfortable. However, in the modern world it keeps YOU trapped in a never-ending cycle of non-action on potential adventures. Break the loop and never look back, be certain on one thing by choosing to live each day to the fullest. Seek discomfort and keep stepping in that direction.

The true first step is action to uncertainty.

Habits are built on the foundations of identity. I am a runner, so I will go on daily runs. I am a gardener; I spend my free time gardening in the backyard. I am a Content Creator; I spend my time editing and filming videos. The identity that is chosen impacts the daily habits.

Without Identity, why do these habits and how could you realistically stick to them. Motivation is not all external influences such as goals or peers helping along the way. Identity is internal, Intrinsic motivation is powerful. The days that are hard, sluggish and dragging to get anything done, can be the most important. These days are a choice, is that your true identity or will you give up on it. Identity holds accountability to your actions and puts it at a much higher standard. I am the person who inspires and I do it daily. I am a person of my word, and I won’t be derailed and thrown off course. Life gives us many opportunities to give in, be off track and stumble off the road but we can decide to always get back on track. It might be tougher to do some days and others, it’s just a small rut in the road.

Diversify the identity, I am more than just one thing.

Being just tied to one identity can feel great for a while but it’s easy to fall into a pit of disappointment and despair. A fall so far off the road, you can’t see it through the dark fog. The light is still there, just distant and out of scope. An athlete is a common example of this spiral. Many college athletes feel this deep spiral away from the identity they clung to for many years. It creates a void that can’t be easily filled, as it consumed much of their time. The joy of the sport, the competition, the fuel and unstoppable desire to win just this year… All stopped in little notice, you thought you had years left but this chapter came to a close much sooner than expected. The world you built crumbles down, it seems cataclysmic and it shatters like a glass pane hitting on the corner. Just like that you have to start a new, new friends to support your journey, getting comfortable molding a new world of excitement. This time, it will be different, but it wasn’t. A foundation created a new, on the same formula, it all reacts the same and once again start a new but this time with more in mind. To be more than just one Identity, I am everything that Interests me and more. I appreciate everything, I am not just an athlete, but I am a competitor, I am a winner, I am great motivator, I am the person who shows up early, and I am simply all the attributes and qualities that makes me different and great at what I do. Nobody has put the pieces together like I have and that okay, in fact… it’s extremely rare, extraordinaire, it’s profound, all old ideas stacked again and again to create a new puzzle piece that is your own.

My Identity is diversified, unique and unquestionably me.

Be more than just one identity, I am more than just one thing, I am bigger and more capable than that.

I am capable of being more.

A wildfire spreads across the land in all directions and seems to have directionless pattern. The fire twists and turns, finding more fuel to the fire. It rages, in silence, in chaos, in darkness, and in light. Its determination is not wavered; it engulfs all in its path, only adding fuel to the fire. The burn is deepened, colorful, a blaze, unstoppable at times. The wildfire came from humble beginnings, a small stitch of friction, unacknowledged, forgotten, overlooked in a vast forest. A small spark of desire, among a world filled with bigger fires of more importance. Keep thy eye off the overlooked and soon it becomes a storm of destruction. Can’t help but notice the immense wildfire that is cast across acres of land. It grew in silence, unnoticed, unappreciated and yet it didn’t change the outcome. The fire rages on and on. Responders can do little against such a big flame, the only chance is to contain and deprive the fuel. What was once a trivial task, that a boot or bucket of water would have sufficed to extinguish a small spark of light. Grew to unimaginable heights that was only possible, when it was given time. The start sparked the first light and was sustained by its environment. It blazed so bright, it was without doubt the largest wildfire in sight, for miles and miles.

It only requires time, patience, a supporting environment and a small spark.

The wildfire so bright, so beautiful, so blithe, and so beaming with light.

What types of capital does everyone have access to?

Well, I describe it as Financial, Intellectual, Social, and Physical. Financial being the biggest objective point for many as soon as they turn into adult but it’s likely the least important.

For many years before this you were building your foundation on the other three pillars of capital. However, for many it is forgotten not long after leaving a structured learning environment.

The tools are present; they are known and should be used to build up the intellect, create social connections and build the body.

In tough financial times, you still have much more available to you. Work on these daily, make it routine, build habits to just get a little better each day at all of these skills.

Become balanced.

Ask yourself this, do you know when you’re in a flow state? What do you notice, is it just the positive or negative emotional states that you notice.

How do you react? Do you know what causes these reactions?

Learn, observe and notice.

The more you notice, the easier it is to react well. Your best version will show more and more.

I challenge you to notice and write down five things that cause a positive reaction and five that negative reaction over a week and why.

Noticing is the first step to adjusting towards a better outcome.

Do you let the world come to you or do get exactly what you want?

Choose.

It makes more than a difference in daily life; you must have intention with what makes your day and incorporate it into your daily routine.

If you do not choose to have intention, how do you know you’re going in the right direction? You might feel a lack of control of your own life, but you can change that with intention.

The ultimate sign of intelligence is a life designed by intention.

You choose exactly what you do by either letting it come to you or designing a plan.

Choose the plan that best works for you.

I noticed a major difference in my life as soon as I designed it. I stopped letting life deciding my actions by reacting. With intentional design I am much more prepared and already know my next step.

You can create structure to the chaos, discipline to your practice and choose when you let life come to you.

You do not lose the ability to be free, but you gain the ability of choice away from structure. An opportunity to grow towards your goals at a consistent pace and the choice of freedom away from the structure you built.

Gain control with intention.

Choose wisely on the opportunities outside of structure.

Grow without bounds of limitations.

Ever had an idea that you couldn’t stop thinking about? I bet you have and there could’ve been an excuse you gave yourself to not start it. Think back and remember why you never started that project. It could’ve simple like I don’t have the time, I don’t have resources to begin, I’m not the expert or I don’t have the cash. What do all of these statements have in common?

Self-Doubt.

It’s the killer of ambition and creative flow. You NEED to believe in yourself above all and certainly before others can believe in you. If you aren’t even able to think you can succeed, how can you start and create free flowing.

It’s simple you can’t.

You must believe in yourself, gain just that little bit of momentum from doing the little things, increase self-efficacy. Build up from the small things, build confidence, build more than yesterday and then you can build a community to uplift everyone.

Dream big, write those ideas down and start them even just in the smallest ways possible.

Even the smallest things can build to a mountain over time. All because you just started with what you could do.

Tire the body to clear the mind. This is my favorite way to bring my mind to an ultimate focus zone.

I feel free, relaxed, exhausted even but my mind is free flowing with a vast number of creative possibilities. All ready to flow out the gate once my body is first in the right space.

The mind and body are connected; one impacts the other and this connection flows both ways. Your body cannot perform at its highest capacity if the mind is weighted down.

A coach in athletics might have told you get your head in the game, but what does that really mean and how does it impact your performance? The body is fully capable of performing at all cylinders, barring injury, even with a distracted mind but it still can’t quite get up to full speed. The mind is a powerful tool and asset, when in focus. If unfocused it creates a wave a disaster that impacts the body’s ability to fully perform. Hence the reason trash talk can be impactful tactic in sports.

We can use this same principal as leverage in daily life. Use the body as a tool to focus the mind.

This can be done in a multitude of ways! Now the fun part picking what works for you. For myself, I am a runner, but I also love the gym. I often start my day with one of these options, but it can change and be free flowing.

You must pick the option that is most intriguing, exhilarating, and most importantly fun. You must have joy with this activity to be truly happy with this new routine. Let it come naturally, it could be pickle ball, golf, walking with a podcast on, playing the guitar outside and walking to that local park. This activity should make your body feel free and your mind should be filled with joy.

Get into your flow state, find joy in exhausting the body and then you can have clear mind.

A clear mind can help, with everyday decision making, when is the best time for that upcoming meeting, when to improve your intellectual capital, social communication and finding joy in the little things.

I thought was going to write just a little bit today, but the words just kept flowing, if you got this far thank you for reading my insights.

Keep it simple, exhaust the body to clear the mind. Only you know the best version of this for yourself.

Decide today and you’ll never regret feeling better than ever tomorrow.

It all starts in the first two or three hours of the day. Figure out the previous day, what you need to get done. What is the hardest thing on your list and do it first thing in the morning.

The first two hours of the day are likely the most productive parts for the majority, so capitalize on this momentum. Get the ball moving early and keep it moving with smaller more manageable tasks.

Win the day with the right start.

Plan, organize and win your day today.

Every Artist has a different style, but they all start with the same blank canvas. Don’t believe me check it out at any art gallery near you. It’s a great adventure in my story and tells the story of other perspectives in a moment of time. It’s quite a beautiful thing, once you realize how introspective a piece can be. Just because it’s a great adventure in my book doesn’t mean it applies to you.

Art describes our inner view on the world and much like art, we picture each day how we want it to be.

Art is everywhere and in everything, you just have to look a bit deeper to find it. Hone your artist eye and see the innovation around you.

I personally had to remove social media for a while to get back into my creative flow state. You might need a blank page and simply just start. You might already be there in your creative flow but overwhelmed with the possibilities to create.

I say to you, be intentional, be introspective, let it flow and start with one idea at a time. It makes it much easier to begin when the stakes are lower. Don’t pressure yourself and it all come naturally.

The canvas will be filled at the end of each day, with your choices and the decisions that you let life choose. Be intentional with each day, then each hour, your time is valuable.

Be in the mindset that you have already accomplished what you wanted and start the day by speaking into existence or writing it down to keep track. My preference is to use both methods to make my days intentional.

Start your day with this one phrase and it will change your life. I am BLANK, today was wonderful day, meeting, event, task, competition. This can be as specific or unspecified as you want, but you must say it and you will live it.

I am an artist and today was filled with wonderful adventures of life.