🎙️ Spartan Up Podcast Co-Host Johnny Waite offers a motivational tale of how positive psychology changed his life and a lesson of gratitude in which happiness comes from the simple things.
🎧 DESCRIPTION
Spartan Race Canadian Operations Manager Johnny Waite recalls the time when his Life shifted. From a cozy and bountiful existence, Johnny’s life took an unexpected turn which led to business failure, divorce and sleeping in the back of a truck.
The Psychology graduate at McMaster University used this opportunity to reflect on the ways he could improve as a better human being. Engaging in new endeavours, Johnny Waite remembers crying while running a marathon. Tears weren’t motivated by sadness, though, but by the overwhelming emotional processing of his recent Life events. Johnny had just discovered the beneficial introspection forced by endurance sports.
In 2011, Johnny Waite tackled the most extreme race on the Planet: the Spartan/Peak Races Death Race. Preparing for the event, he focused on training “uncomfortability”: doing stuff that he hated, performing things that would make him want to quit, experimenting with extreme weather, etc. A few months later, the he was one of the 30 racers – out of 200 participants – who finished the event, despite ravaged shoulders and a broken foot.
Catching the eye of Spartan CEO Joe DeSena, Johnny Waite went from racer to Spartan International Quality Manager and traveled the world for 3 years. Grateful for any opportunity he could get within the organization, he later became a Race Director of Spartan’s races in Canada.
Reflecting on his past, Johnny Waite discovered that he was as happy – if not happier – sleeping in the back of his truck, than living in his former luxurious house. Life coach at Alter Ego Life Adventures, Johnny explains why happiness is a choice. According to him, to focus on what we don’t have keeps us from experiencing bliss: that is why gratitude will change your life.
Johnny states that people often feel in deficit by design. Abiding by our prominent culture of consumerism, we should realize what we do have much more than we actually essentially need. Will minimalism make me happy ? Johnny answers the question by suggesting that anything above being alive puts us in surplus.
💡 3 ways to achieve happiness and success
1️⃣ | Sensei says: Trajectory Over Velocity
Listening to Johnny, I understand that we should take the time to properly identify what we really want in Life, which will become our trajectory. From that point on, it’s hard work and patience. Instead of wanting things to happen immediately (velocity), we should focus on a worthwhile goal, which is the definition of the pursuit of happiness.
2️⃣ | Sensei says: Gratitude
Following Johnny Waite’s words, I agree that we should appreciate more the true value of what we have. If there’s is something that we do want, we should put our efforts in producing it. Rather than being a consumer of things, we could be a producer and create something that has value for others. That is why gratitude is important and can create happiness in Life.
3️⃣ | Sensei says: It’s Not About You
Learning from Johnny’s wisdom, I found that we ought to step out of our egocentric vision of the World. Consequently, considering our place in relation to others and focusing on who we are as a human being are beneficial to our humility. As Life is ephemeral, it’s ultimately about what we do for the World. Giving to others is key to genuine happiness.
📣 What's YOUR definition of happiness ? How did you - or intend to - find inner peace ? Please, share to other Seïtos ! ⬇️
Osu ! 🙏
- Sensei Pascal 🥋| https://twitter.com/senseipascal
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🎙️ WHO AM I ?
I’m Sensei Pascal, former radio personality on XM Satellite Radio, passionate martial artist, relentless entrepreneur, enthusiastic adventurer, inspired essayist (Oxford Brookes University), motivated fitness coach, aspiring comedian and insatiable student of the human experience.
Master of Kenpo Karate, WKC World Championships silver medallist and survivor of multiple extreme endurance races, I dedicate myself to the betterment of others. My humble vocation is to support and guide people on their path to self realization.
Read my full bio here: https://senseisays.link/sensei
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