My life changed the day that I made FEAR my friend. My biggest fear has always been related to money, you know the ugly and nagging monster of not enough. I grew up on a farm in Northeastern Colorado, an upbringing that I will always treasure. We were poor, (yet rich in so many ways) so poor that I can still remember days when my parents would not eat so that my brothers and I could have something to eat. When I reflect back on those days I realize that my young head didn’t know we were poor, but my young heart did. I did not want to fall prey to the human conditioning of not enough, but I didn’t know how to NOT be poor. Over time I have managed to create and keep my financial world in good order, but fear does raise its ugly head now and then.

In the Lines In The Sand class that I teach, I share a philosophy that I have developed over the years. I call it “keep your ass in the saddle”. This means to stay present and not focus on the past or the future. The only power you have is in the now, right here, right now. Wandering off into the weeds of your past or future oftentimes gives rise to havoc and poor choices. Dwelling in the past keeps you stuck on thoughts and emotions that do not serve you.   Getting too far out in front of yourself thinking about the future can bring on worrisome thoughts and knee-jerk decisions.

This is why I have made fear my friend. Fear reminds me to get back in the saddle. It reminds me that I am headed for the ditch if I don’t choose better thoughts. Fear reminds me that I have a choice; a choice of love over fear, peace over chaos, ease over struggle, and abundance over not enough. Fear ruthlessly pushes me to see things for what they are and to get outside of myself to where the freedom is, to where the joy is. So I have set a place at the table for fear. I have allowed it to be in my life in a way that bolsters me up and keeps me present in each moment.

I want to share this video with you. In it, Tony Robbins explains that you must acknowledge your favorite flavor of suffering and then you must make the most important decision of your life, and that is to decide if you are committed to living in a beautiful state even when things don’t go your way. Tony also tells you how to get out of suffering and increase your level of joy. So my friends, enjoy this sage advice from Tony and do yourself a favor; KEEP YOUR ASS IN THE SADDLE.

Note: Tony Robbins is an American businessman, author, and philanthropist. Robbins has written three best-selling books: Unlimited Power, Awaken the Giant Within, and Money: Master the Game. Tony’s most recent book is Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook.

Stay true and be you —

Annie