FEELING Uninspired.... THIS True Story Will ROCK Your WORLD....!!

 

Back in December of 2005, Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145, headed from Abuja to Port Harcourt, South Africa, crashed upon landing and killed 107 of the 109 passengers on board.  One of the two survivors is named Kechi Onwuchi.  The Nigerian-American was just 16 years young at the time of the horrific accident.  In what is no thing less than a Miracle of Cosmic proportions, Kechi was severely burned on over 65% of her body and lost part of her vision.  Her doctors gave her less than a 30% chance of survival.  But Kechi is more than just a "survivor."  She is the most powerful definition of the true power of being a SUPER HERO!

Out of the 60 students that were on board the doomed disaster, she was the lone survivor.  She describes the horrifying ordeal like this:

“Fifteen minutes to the end of the flight, the pilot announced that we were soon to land at the Port Harcourt airport. I remember I was sitting in an aisle seat, and my close friend Toke was on the aisle seat to my right. The ensuing turbulence was getting very frequent, but I didn’t think too much of it until someone from the back shouted ‘Is this plane trying to land?’ I couldn’t see out the window from my seat, but now I think about it that was probably for the best. Everything was so surreal in that moment. I turned to Toke, and we held hands, and I was like ‘Maybe we should pray?’ Before we could even start, there was this sudden shrill sound ringing in my ears, and next thing I knew, I was waking up in Milpark Hospital, South Africa. To this day I don’t remember the actual impact of the crash.”

In 2007, Kechi and her family moved to Texas so she could receive treatment at Shriner's Hospital for Children.  She had to endure over 100 surgeries to manage the extreme trauma her body had been exposed to.  Over 100 surgeries!  Unfathomable, isn't it?  "I lost muscle mass and surface skin on my legs, arms, head, and upper body," she told Health magazine.  "Doctors harvested skin from my torso for skin grafts, so I wouldn't be prone to infections and sepsis."  She was in a medically induced coma for over 5 weeks.  

And yet, she not only persevered through nightmarish pain and suffering, she found her CALLING in music.   "Lying down in the hospital bed with bandages from head to foot, music was my escape, and that's why it means so much to me." Her supportive mother would often spend nights singing to her while she recovered.  

Back in 2017, then a still extremely shy and confidence deprived 28 year old, Kechi auditioned for the NBC sensation America's Got Talent.  This Princess Warrior was brave enough to show her scars to the world while belting out a transcendent version of Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud."  To no one's surprise, she got a much appreciated and well deserved standing ovation.  She made it into the group of Top Ten finalists but finished in the bottom five. Still an amazing accomplishment on all fronts. Kechi explained, "America's Got Talent  gave me a platform to share my story and voice, and inspire others with my journey as a burn survivor.  I was exposed to burn communities I didn't know existed.  And I reached children who were struggling with what I went through.  I was able to give them hope, and let them see that it is possible to have any life you want after the burns."  WOW!   Talk about a ball of bliss filled INSPIRATION.

Last night, I was channel surfing and stopped dead in the dead tracks of my remote control upon seeing Kechi sitting on a sofa just before her second chance in that season's America's Got Talent's Champion's Edition.   Immediately, I became mesmerized by this woman's presence that bled through my flatscreen television's vista.  Instantly, the remote control was quickly tossed aside as I became fixated on this Living Miracle's story. 

The producers did an enthralling piece on Kechi that had tears following down my cheeks within minutes.  What a beautiful, magnificent SOUL!  And yet, I had NO IDEA what was in store when she graced her presence on stage.  Dressed in a brilliant sequined outfit, this soon to be world wide sensation took her precious time before hitting the first note of her audition.  The voice that soon burst from the lungs of this "Dynamic Diva" hit my heart oh so very hard.  It was a moment I will never forget.  And neither will the millions of viewers who were fortunate enough to tune into that evening's program.  

She belted out a deeply heartfelt and emotionally charged version of Calum Scott's "You Are The Reason."  Here are the lyrics:

You Are the Reason

Calum Scott, Leona Lewis, Ilse DeLange

There goes my heart beating
'Cause you are the reason
I'm losing my sleep
Please come back now

There goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing
I'm hopeless now

I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
Oh, 'cause I need you to see
That you are the reason

There goes my hand shaking
And you are the reason
My heart keeps bleeding
I need you now

If I could turn back the clock
I'd make sure the light defeated the dark
I'd spend every hour, of every day
Keeping you safe

And I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
Oh, 'cause I need you to see
That you are the reason, oh
(I don't wanna fight no more)
(I don't wanna hurt no more)
(I don't wanna cry no more)
(Come back, I need you to hold me closer now)
You are the reason, oh
(Just a little closer now)
(Come a little closer now)
(I need you to hold me tonight)

I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
'Cause I need you to see
That you are the reason

And when the light's faded to black, I felt like I had just witnessed the face of GOD!  Tears wept down my face as I sat silent, basking in the feelings of theONENESS we all share.  Talk about transformational, this was pure transcendence.  The audience gave her a tear stained standing ovation which understandably overwhelmed this gorgeous woman.

Curmudgeonly judge Simon Cowell surprised a stunned audience by telling her he didn't really "like" her rendition of "You Are The Reason."  Only to pause before bursting out, "I LOVED IT!"  He then preceded to hit the 'golden buzzer' that sent Kechi straight into the show's finals.  What a moment to remember for all of us who were blessed enough to witness this real life 'Wonder Woman.' 

I have since learned that Kechi is not just a singing sensation.  Her brilliant mind has earned her numerous high school awards and she finished her undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas.  She is currently enrolled as a graduate student there earning her MBA in Economics.   When not deep in studying mode, Kechi performs for audiences all over the United States.  


SUPER HEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS

Kechi Onwuchi is a powerful example to never let any of your life's "situations" define you.  She is a shining star who shows what can be achieved once you allow yourself to live from the space of your Super Heroic Higher Self!  Skies NOT the limit.  For you have NO limits.  You are SO much stronger than anything life will throw at you.  Being a victim to your circumstances is an insult to GOD!  Truly.  It's akin to sending back all your gifts to the North Pole.  Rather than GRATITUDE, your vibrational offering becomes a grievance. Remember that the next time you start to feel sorry for yourself.  Please!  For that aching pain that settles into your core beingness when you do so is actually your SOUL weeping.  For your Inner Hero LOVES YOU; silly quirks and all.  And your Spirit never wants to experience any form of disconnection from the Grand Creator.  You know that feeling you get when saying 'goodbye' to someone you adore?  Well that's what your SOUL experiences when you forget WHO YOU REALLY ARE.  Get me?  

You are only as strong as your greatest adversity.  For it helped forge you into a Miracle Makin' Machine.  The bigger your mess, the more you've been blessed.  Easy to hear? HELL NO! But is it the truth; HELL YES! Everything that's ever come your way has been nothing short of an opulent opportunity to learn and grow.  A gift from the ONE GOD MIND.  The quicker you can learn to process your "situation" through acceptance the better.  For what you resist, always persists.  And what you are brave enough to accept will melt away and be rebirthed as a bounty of blessings.  I promise you!  

So the next time a hardship lands on your doorstep, allow this story of punching through adversity until you find your purpose might serve you well!  Just remember the story of Kechi Onwuchi.  For she is a mentor to us all.  She threw away the word IMPOSSIBLE years ago.  She understands it spells out I'M POSSIBLE.  Because every Superhero's favorite space to play is within the "Playground of Possibility."
If she can do anything, why can't YOU?  

BE SUPER HEROIC!

BE LOVE -SERVE -INSPIRE

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

HERE Is THE Biggest SECRET To A LIFE Filled With SUPER SUCCESS ....!

 

The power of inspiration, on the other hand, comes from Knowledge. It cannot be influenced. It is immune to this kind of persuasion. Even a Greater Community set of skills used against an individual strong with Knowledge would not be effective in changing their perception, their understanding or their experience. The influence would be felt, but it would be recognized as a perpetration from the outside.

Marshall Vian Summers

A couple of years after I moved to Los Angeles, CA, I began attending Wednesday night services at a non-denominational dojo of pure divine dynamite known as AGAPE.  Agape is Greek for "unconditional love."  And boy was LOVE dispersed there like cotton candy at a local town fair!  This harmonious haven is led by Dr. Michael Beckwith from the movie The Secret.  They truly smashed the proverbial bowl when The Grand Creator went and blew him off a cloud in heaven.  He has some of the most infectious energy I have ever been around.  And when he really starts channeling "spirit" he starts to sound just like Chris Rock.  Wanna see for yourself?  Go check out one of his many videos on YouTube.  I am quite sure you will be super glad you did!  

One particular evening while I was studying with a group of like minded friends at this temple, a young woman in the small crowd raised her hand. Dr. Beckwith was in the middle of a sermon on how to manifest more in your life.  With great zealous enthusiasm she jumped up out of her seat and asked the following question, "So what do you do if you really, really like fresh squeezed orange juice?"  (Small giggle from the rest of us)  To which Dr. Beckwith responded, "Well then you go buy the fresh squeezed orange juice."  She bounced back with, "But the fresh squeezed orange juice is three times more expensive than the non squeezed.  And I am on a tight budget being an actress in training."  Dr. Beckwith's reply was a wild and wicked declaration, "Well then, you better KNOW, that you KNOW, what you KNOW!"  (Bursts of laughter from the crowd)

It actually took me a few years to completely understand exactly what he meant. He was casting out to us the importance of understanding that KNOWINGNESS is the most important part of our collective creative prowess. It's the state of unwavering GRATITUDE that comes from truly believing that whatever it is we have "asked for" is already on its way!  And thus learning to be thankful for it even before you can SEE it.  For seeing is NOT believing.  LOL  Believing FIRST is the key to unlocking the bounty of blessings that are our very birthright.  See the difference..  ;0)  In that very moment, he was trying to enlighten this woman to the idea it would be in her best interest to KNOW that more money was coming before buying that orange juice.  As long as she completely believed that fact, and was read to co-create with the Universe through ACTION, than why not go ahead and get the best orange juice out there?!

And just as mastering the art of KNOWINGNESS is crucial in our growth process, so is the attainment of KNOW_LEDGE.  As the old saying goes, true power comes from our repertoire of all from which we KNOW. And that's why the typical millionaire reads two to three books each and every month.  Yes, even after they've seemingly "done it all." ESPECIALLY after they have! For they understand what got them to that state of abundance in all its forms.  It was their KNOW-LEDGE. And then putting that knowledge into daily action with complete knowingness.  For the answers to all that you seek to manifest into your earthly experience lies within that simple formula!  Always has been that way, and it will NEVER change.  Capiche?!

That's why I tell all of my clients the process I will coach them through is actually quite simple. Deep. But simple. The work we do on the "inside" is very similar in vein to the work we do on the outside.  With our physical bodies.  It's learning to shift the energy within you from CATABOLIC (destructive) to ANABOLIC (Empowering and expansive) in nature. Presto, chango!  Nothin up my sleeve. Ta da!  I'll be here till Thursday.  Don't forget to tip your waitresses! LOL

Unfortunately our educational system is set up in such a manner that the great majority of our "learning" happens by the time we finish college.  Such a travesty, isn't it?  The secret sauce between those who thrive in life and those who simply eek out a meager survival is their KNOW-LEDGE base. You may be thinking, "Aw come on now Jeffrey!  Some people were just born with a silver spoon in their mouth.  That's why the rich just keep on getting richer and the poor poorer."  But the reality is that during and after "The Great Depression," the true pioneers of our time were mostly self made men who acquired and developed the KNOW-LEDGE others did not. Then the few who actually put that KNOW-LEDGE into well thought out plans and daily action steps became the iconoclasts of our time! Napoleon Hill's entire life's work proved this to be true. Please read his amazing book, Think and Grow Rich, to get inspired to this truth!

SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS:

Here are some of my favorite quotes on the importance of KNOW-LEDGE:

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” 
― Albert Einstein

“To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” 
― Lao Tse

"Read in the name of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is Most Honorable, Who taught (to write) with the pen. Taught man what he knew not.” 
― Anonymous, Qurʾan / القرآن الكريم

“Never regard study as a duty but as an enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy and to the profit of the community to which your later works belong."

~Albert Einstein

"The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge."

- Napoleon Hill

So what exactly is KNOW-LEDGE?!  Let's break up the word into two halves. The first part being KNOW.  To "know" is to be of absolute certainty.  No doubts. BOOM!  But are you aware that the meaning of LEDGE is to extend? So, by very definition, KNOW-LEGDE means to "extend KNOWINGNESS" out into the Universe!  The greater your personal KNOW-LEDGE, the more powerful your vibrational energetic offerings.  The more you KNOW, the more your soul filled consciousness GROWS.  And by knowing YOU and the Universe are indeed ONE, that means as the Universe expands, so does your personal energetic essence.  It's the most perfect symbiotic relationship imaginable.  And we all know how much we are possible of imagining! But you can only extend that which you already have within you. So, doesn't it make simple sense to try and acquire as much KNOW-LEDGE as possible each and every day?  I'd sure as hell say so! 

SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TIPS:

Here are some supreme suggestions on how to further expand your own KNOW-LEDGE:

1. Start creating a book list. Perhaps begin by asking people who have had an inspirational influence upon you what books they would recommend.  Re-member success leaves a trail.  Become a hound dog and sniff those trails out for yourself!

2. Join MentorBox. For just 10 bucks month, you can join one of the leading online book clubs in the world. I joined two years ago and I LOVE IT! Their proprietary system allows you to fully customize the manner in which you digest all the material of the books they have in their massive collection. They even have the books broken down into video based segments done from the authors themselves. It's basically an electronic "cliff notes" for the too busy to read set. 

They are constantly adding new books into their collection too.

They even send you e-mails whenever they are having live Master Classes with authors.

Super cool stuff!

3. Become aware of FB and Instagram advertisements produced by authors who are literally giving their new books away.  All you have to do is pay for shipping and handling. (typically 5-7 bucks) Yes, you may have to click through a "funnel system" as they incite you to add more products to your order, but you simply press NO to each request.  Easy peezy!

4. Look to join local book clubs.  My sister is in one here in Northern Virginia and adores her time spent there each month.  And she has made some terrific new friends ta boot!

5.  Check out MindValley.  They are an online "Global School" whose goal it is to transform the world through KNOW_LEDGE!  They offer a gi-normous amount of completely free master class trainings on every subject you can think of.  It's a great new place for you mind to call home. 

And since I am always asked about my own personal favorite selection of know-ledge filled tombs, I'd like to give you my top 25 list of the tomes that have made the biggest impact on my life.  I urge you to check out any that "jump out" at you!

So here is my list of the TOP 25 titles (all available on Amazon) that I believe would make excellent additions to any New Age Nerd's bookshelf:

1)  Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh

2)  Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

3)  Beyond the Secret by Dr. Lisa Love

4)  Callings by Gregg Levoy

5)  Pathway to Bliss  by Joseph Campbell

6)  The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

7)  A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

8)  Power vs Force by David Hawkins

9)  The Four Desires by Rod Stryker

10)  Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel

11) The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

12) The Secrets to the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

13) God I AM by Peter O Erbe

14) Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

15) A Course in Miracles by The Foundation for Inner Pece

16) Bringers of the Dawn by Barbara Marciniak

17) The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

18) Manifesting Change by Mike Dooley

19) The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

20) The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer

21) Soulshaping by Jeff Brown

22) The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

23) The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida

24) Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

25)  The Magic of Believing by Nido Qubein

Of course, if you are religious, Scripture is oh so very sacred.  So best not skimp out on the knowledge they toss out in treasure troves of prose!

I was once watching an episode of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Live from NY.  And Melinda Gates (Bill Gate's wife) was a guest.  She said other than health care, the most important thing we lack in this world is equal opportunities of education.  She stressed how important KNOW-LEDGE is to creating a world in which everyone is treated as equal.  PREACH,  Mrs. Gates!

So what are you waiting for?  That boob tube can be used as a powerful tool for further education, but what would it feel like to know that you are expanding both yourself and the Universe as a whole by searching out vessels for your own advancement in all things KNOW-LEDGE? I strongly urge you to not only drink a gallon of water a day for your body.  But please do not forget to "water your mind" everyday by stretching your capacity to learn!  Gotta scoot.  Tons of books are calling my name.....................

BE SUPER HEROIC!

BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS

Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

OPEN The FLOOD Gates To MAGIC And MIRACLES Through AWE And ASTONISHMENT..!

 

When I was five years old, my first childhood fascination became MAGIC!  I remember watching a David Copperfield special on our 19 inch black and white television.  Little did he know that while he was seemingly manipulating the laws of physics right before my wide open eyes, the real magic being performed was within my own imagination.   For the first time, I saw life through a different spectrum. A technicolor lens of AWE and AMAZEMENT! Suddenly, anything seemed possible.  And this once fearful young lad was suddenly given a platform to perform within.  A grand stage built upon a woven tapestry where the only limitations were in what you were willing to believe! 

I began to read books on magic and even asked The Magic Maker King himself, Santa Claus, for a top of the line magic kit that very Christmas.  Every visitor to our home became a chance to awe and amaze with my newfound magical prowess!  And I made sure never to disappoint a member of my audience.  So I built up a smorgasbord of various tricks and slight of hand habits to call upon in very short notice.  My mom has told me stories about how my fervently held beliefs caused me to utter the phrase with a whispered hint of a Spanish dialect, "It's Mah-gic!" to pair up with anything that fit the bill of unexplained circumstance!  

And thankfully, I still carry that overwhelming sense of awe and astonishment about life and all its magical moments to this very day!  And boy is doing so a real game changer.  Why do you think the Harry Potter books and movie franchise created such a powerful paradigm shift in our cultural zeitgeist?!  It's because WE ALL DESIRE OUR LIVES TO BE FILLED WITH MAGIC! Don't we?  Life feels so much better when its infused with bursts of stardust and the magic of daily miracles! Not to mention the unexpected surprises from synchronistic experiences from every aspect of your life. Chance meetings with old friends feel majestic in nature. Receiving a phone call soon after fondly thinking of a family member actually tickles! The weather man's promise of a chilly, rain soaked Saturday morning, transforms into a white blanket of pristine snow. That check comes in the mail a week earlier then expected. Just as you were in a disheveled mess about bills needed to be paid that day.   

I believe that we are all born with a keen bent toward the belief in magic, miracles, and the Awe and Amazement they conjure up.  Sadly, we often unlearn these feelings as we progress through the stages of our Superhero's Journey.  As they say, 'It is what it is!'  And where we once had the ability to witness the wonder and wisdom of the Universe expressing itself all around us, eerie and irksome events that begin to 'pile up' around us, over time, dampen our senses.  That technicolor lens turns back to being just black and white.  And magic quickly turns into misery.

However, that spark from Spirit never leaves us.  It can't!  For our human bodies are the temple upon which it lives while we are here, NOW.  It's our very essence.  The Super Heroic Higher Self that is the real you.  While you may have forgotten about your authentic self, it remains stead fast and serenely resting within you.  It desires nothing more than for you to awaken from your slumber so that you may reunite as partners in unconscious crime.   And that's why it is constantly sending you Forget Me Nots.  You are its forever Valentine!  

Even if those around you have completely lost their ability to experience Awe and Amazement in life, does not mean that you have to do the same.  In fact, I highly suggest you begin to strip away the dirt and dust that has collected over time on your senses.   So that you can once again begin to see clearly without the need for spiritual prescription lenses.  

When we are in allowance of Awe and Amazement in our life, we become bathed in the power of Infinite Intelligence.  A realignment occurs that puts us at ONE with SOURCE energy! We get a VIP pass to pull back the illusionary veil of separation.  Where there was once a fear of lack, we begin to see that all life offers is abundance!  Rather than live in a constant state of competition with others, we stand in the light of their brilliance.  Not in the shadows of their accomplishments.  In complete AWE of their magnificence.  Because their power now shines a light of remembrance in what we are capable of conjuring in this world!  Which is absolutely anything and everything we desire!  JUST LIKE MAGIC!

When our gazes are mesmerized by the magic all around us, there is much less room for anger and fear.  The Oneness of life seeks to UNITE.  Not to disassemble and destroy!  And living within this powerful vibration, shifts our understanding back toward LOVE. And GRATITUDE!  For where we are in full allowance of the Holy Spirit, we bask in our platitude of differences; and conflicts transform into compassion.   Our sensibilities become heart centered and soulfully enriched. We become grateful for all 'the little things.'  Where there was once sorrow, there will be joy.  And PEACE will be with you, as it is with me!

As Pastor Scott Kramer says, "Amazement and astonishment are signs of the Holy Spirit's power and presence.  Where there is awe there is less likelihood of fear and suspicion, anger, hatred and all those emotions that are often associated with differences and with conflict."

SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TIPS

So how exactly do we shift our energy back toward forms of awe and amazement?!  I have two suggestions that I would love to impart to all you New Age Nerds:

1. Incorporate the power of gratitude towards nature into your daily experiences.  Don't just 'stop and smell the roses.'  Gently touch and caress them.  Look deeply into their essence. See the rich colors and contours of their vein lined leaves.  Admire their arched stems.  And the carved edges of their outstretched vines. And the contrast of the soil just beneaththeir glory! And then begin to look at ALL THINGS this way! Your life will begin to slow down and within this new space in time, you will begin to see miracles all around you........

The former legendary college football coach Frosty Westering was a master at motivating his players though the power of the Natural Order.  His final coaching stop was at Pacific Lutheran University.  Where he NEVER had a losing record and is ninth all time in college wins for a head football coach.  In the middle of his practices, he was often known to blow his whistle.  He would instruct his players toward the view of majestic Mt Rainier in the distance.  He would have them all cheer in unison: "Attaway, Mt. Rainier!"   It was his way of keeping his players in a state of awe of the Natural World. He was fully aware of its power on the minds of his team.  Awe instills a sense of possibility and gratitude!!  And it obviously worked!

2.  Become more childlike in nature!  Kids still have their knack for knowing that anything is possible.  They still love to use the power of their imagination.  Their levels of astonishment are off the charts high!  Their sense of wonder is still fully in tact. Their hearts have yet to be hardened by life's hardships. And there is SO MUCH we can all learn from their blissful nature! So commit to spending either more time with your own children;  especially during their playtime.  Or find ways to be in the energetic field of children at play when given the opportunity.  Watch, listen, and learn from them.  You may even be surprised at how much fun the experience turns out to be!

Obviously, that does mean to act immature or inappropriate.  Act child like, NOT childish; big difference! I am simply suggesting you stray away from erroneous thinking that we must leave our natural, childlike wonder behind as we become adults.  For no thing could be farther from the truth.  We become much less creative as we age.  Our imaginations become withered from lack of use.  And we begin to lose belief in our own Super Heroic Powers.  

It's time to reignite our sense of Awe and Amazement!  Allow yourself to be astonished by at least ONE THING each day!   And watch your life turn back into a Technicolor of Daily Dreams...

BE SUPER HEROIC!
BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS


Nerdmaste,

Jeffrey Louis Martinez

Interested In LEARNING THE SECRETS To Borrowing The WISDOM Of Your HEROES.... ?

Those of you who ardently follow my blog (and a big ole' bear hug to you all) are fully aware that I have suffered from several bouts of deep depression throughout my life.  Thankfully, through various counseling and coaching programs,  I continue to learn how to allow it to affect me in more peaceful manners!  Blessed BE!  Back in 2012, I had one of the "darkest nights of my soul."  The pouch that was constructed to act as a pseudo colon due to severe Crohn's disease (it was completely removed back in 1997) had become severely inflamed.  A condition called "pouchitis." NO FUN!!!    

I was running to the bathroom 20 to 25 times each and every day. My buttocks became so raw, I continuously prayed to GOD  to relieve the punishing pain that I was forced to confront for weeks on end.  It got so bad that I had to leave my job.  And lost my health insurance as a result. The shots I required to keep the Crohn's dis-ease at bay were $3,000 a pop! Crazy, I know. So I applied for disability. After a six month waiting period in which you cannot work, I got the official letter of complete denial.  

Believe it or not, things only got even more challenging. My little pup Nacho started peeing around the house like he was a firefighter in training. A trip to the vet revealed he had become diabetic and was going to need two insulin shots a day to live; and I can't stand needles.  Aye dios mio! To top it all off, a job I had really desired, and went through an extensive interview process for, completely fell through at the last moment. And if one more person tried to cheer me up with ‘This will all pass, Jeff,’ I thought I was going to go ballistic!  FYI, telling someone everything they are going through will ‘pass’ when they are still smack dab in the middle of a storm should be saved for stomach and gargantuan gas attacks. NOT a complete life meltdown!! Yes, this too shall pass is eventually a wonderful epithet to pronounce, but please be respectful of the dignity of all others process. Just sayin'.  LOL

Slowly, my heart started to sink and my faith completely crumbled. Every facet of my life was a total disaster and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see a way out. Until one morning, 'Uncle D' (my not so affectionate name for full blown Depression) showed up at the front door, his bags in tow, giving me no signs of how long he planned on visiting this time. 

One late night, just a few days later, I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed, racked with an aching heart and soul.  The type of pain that makes it hard to breathe. I didn't feel like a failure, because that word didn't seem large enough to encompass the full wrath of frustration and pain circling my mind's current narrative. My mind raced from one insanely torturous thought to another. All I knew for sure was that something had to change, or Uncle D would be taking me back home with him at the end of this stay.  Cue the downtrodden violin strings..........

As tears began to flow, I prayed to God to have mercy on me.  I needed a sign that life was still worth living. I needed....anything.

A box of tissues were sitting on the top of a cabinet full of books next to the bed. I stood up to grab a handful, when the pristinely white jacket cover of ONE book on the shelf grabbed my attention with such an immediate intensity that it nearly started to lightly glow. With over 400 like minded tomes in my collection, this phenomenon of a book 'calling' to me was not new. But never before was it quite this consuming.

As I bent down for a closer examination, I saw the book's title was Pathways to Bliss by Joseph Campbell. Despite devouring books like this with a fervent passion over the previous 20 years, I had ironically never actually read anything by this author. I had bought the book on sale at Borders several years earlier, after seeing an interview with George Lucas in which he talked about how much Campbell's work had influenced him to write Star Wars. Little did I know how much this book was about to change my life.

As I began to dry my tear stained cheeks, I pulled the book from its resting place and brought it with me back to the edge of the bed. Miraculously, my mind stopped its racing, and I was able to focus on the words I was reading. He wrote about the attainment of Bliss, and how ‘the privilege of a lifetime is being who YOU are.’  


But what absolutely struck at the heart and soul was his explanation of what he termed ‘The Hero's Journey’.  And how everything that life brings us is no thing short of EXACTLY what we need in order to fulfill our CALLING here on Earth. Of course I had heard of the Hero's Journey during my previous travels. But this time, I REALLY HEARD IT. Truly understood its meaning with a ferocity of acceptance and purposeful enlightenment. I wasn't a failure. In fact, ‘just the opposite’, I thought. If I had gone through THIS much suffering and pain so far in my life, then my own Hero's Journey must be pretty big. I had always believed I was here to be a guide to assist others on their warriors path, but now, I KNEW IT. Big difference!!  

Earlier that year, the final chapter of director Christopher Nolan's brilliant Batman trilogy had hit theaters. And The Dark Knight had become my spiritual totem. Just as I finished this book that further proves Mr. Campbell's deep connection with the "Power of Myth," 
it was as if I got a tip tap touch on my shoulder. And I truly felt the energetic essence of The Batman himself! It was as if he was attempting to BE in full allowance of me  "BORROWING HIS BELIEF." His strength and perseverance. His gritty guts. His slavish confidence in himself! I recalled the now iconic quote from Batman Begins. "Why do we fall Bruce.  So we can learn to pick ourselves back up." TRUTH! Hi ho cheery oh.  And "holy guacamole robin."  ;0)  

He literally transformed his own ardent BELIEF SYSTEM into MY OWN! I became filled with a KNOWINGNESS of my own super powers. And I instantly resonated with the 1977 super smash of a song from Chuck Mangione, "It Feels So Good." (quick side note.  Mr. Mangione actually created a Number 1 hit on the Billboard charts with nothing but a fugal horn. Proof in the proverbial pudding that literally ANYTHING is possible!) ;0)

It was then that I realized the magnificent and disruptive power of creating a "Master Mind Group." For wherever two or more gather, MIRACLES will be birthed!

And I have been borrowing not only the power of belief, but all of the many filled wondrous super powers from others ever since. And my life has never been the same! Not easy, mind you. But life isn't meant to be easy. It's meant to be meaningful, filled with hard earned wisdom and a powerful sense of purpose shared with all!


SUPERHEROES IN TRAINING TAKEAWAYS:

Perhaps the most effective manner in which to harness the "Power of Borrowed Belief'," 
is through the use of a Master Mind group. This concept was first introduced to me about 20 years ago from a man in which I have a gi-normous bromance with; none other than Napoleon Hill. He stole my headstrong heart soon after devouring his absolute masterpiece in the personal growth world, Think and Grow Rich. (Mandatory reading for all my New Age Nerds!)  You may thank me later. ;0) Although it was in 2012 that I began incorporating this into my own self actualization paradigm.

In the 13th chapter of his "piece de resistance,' he fleshes out the very clear 
instructional guidance of which to co-create a Master Mind group. And my strong suggestion is to incorporate his teachings into your own self realization practices ASAP!  

Hill explains in this chapter the exact manner in which he first started incorporating and harnessing the "Power of Borrowing Others Belief."  

While I was passing though the age of "hero worship" I found myself trying to imitate those whom I most admired.  Moreover I discovered that the element of faith, with which I endeavored to imitate my idols, gave me great capacity to do so quite successfully.  

Long before I had ever written a line for publication, or endeared to deliver a speech in public, I followed the habit of reshaping my own character by trying to imitate the nine men whose lives and life works had been most impressive to me.  These nine men were Emerson, Paine, Edison, Darwin, Lincoln, Burbank, Napoleon, Ford and Carnegie.  Every night, over a long period of years, I held an imaginary council meeting with this  group  whom I called my "Invisible Counselors."  

The procedure was this.  Just before going to sleep that night, I would shut my eyes and see, in my imagination, this group of men seated with me around my council table.  Here I had not only the opportunity to sit among those whom I considered to be great, but I actually dominated the group serving as the Chairman.  

Hill goes on to explain how during these "imaginary" meetings, he would call upon all the nine men, harnessing from them their specialized knowledge and precise intellect. The very qualities that skyrocketed them as true iconoclasts in their chosen fields of being/doing ness.
These requisite super powers included:

Inspiration from Napoleon
The ability to harness and harmonize "The Laws of Nature" from Burbank
The patience and ability to study cause and effect from Darwin
Lincoln's keen sense of justice
The conviction that helped to define the mark made by Paine
The ability to harness magic from the illusionary aspect of Nature from Emerson
Ford's persistence and perseverance
And Edison's unwavering faith

Hill goes on to write, "After some months of this nightly procedure , I was astounded by the discovery that these imaginary figures, became, apparently, real."

Hill continued to add further members to these nightly nebulas of meetings. Until the number climbed well past 50! The culmination of Hill infusing his nights with these "Invisible Council" meetings was a late night meeting with 'Lincoln.' Lincoln informed him of how crucial it was from Hill to finally take his work out into the world. A world that Lincoln pronounced needed his findings and wicked wisdom.

Now, while Hill stresses the magic turned MIRACLES that derived from these imaginary encounters, he equally impresses on his readers the critical importance of developing a Master Mind group "in the flesh." It is a scientifically proven fact that the five individuals that you include in your own Master Mind-Inner Circle will be the biggest factor in determining your success and happiness! Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that you will be the average in health, wealth, friends, education, and personal relationships s the five people you spend the most time with. BAM!  Let that sink in for a minute or ... an hour !  LOL

In fact, I have my own two sets of Master Mind groups. One is of the imaginary ilk. (although imaginary to me means 'in image' of True Perception - meaning this image 
in it's truest form) And one in the earthly flesh. Wanna know who is in my True Perception group?! Thought so! My current list of Super Iconoclasts includes (although this list continues to evolve over time):

My father
Jesus The Christ
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Joseph Campbell
Albert Einstein
Stanley Kubrick

Richard Pryor

Elvis Presley

Carl Jung

Friedrich Nietzsche

Jackie Robinson

Chadwick Boseman

The Batman
Carl Sagan

Abraham Lincoln
George Washington
Napoleon Hill
Gandhi
Chiron
Wayne Dyer
Kobe Bryant

Bruce Lee
Thomas Jefferson
The Three Elders
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Walt Whitman
Mother Theresa
Superman
Stan Lee
Benjamin Franklin 
Fred Rogers 
Freddie Mercury
Henry David Thoreau
John Denver
Michael Jackson
William Shakespeare
Socrates
Muhammed Ali
Prince 
Dr. Strange

Gandalf The Great
Yoda

I convene with them whenever I am seeking any form of instructional guidance.  Inspiration. Strength. And 'boy oh boy' do we co-create some tantalizing transcendental TRUTH! My suggestion is for all you New Age Nerds to take some time to ruminate on who YOU would desire to call forth into your own "Board of Bliss." And then begin to have your very own coaching sessions with all of your chosen Spiritual Spinsters. I think in time, it will infuse you with a whispered wave of wisdom unlike anything you have experienced before in this earthly experience!

And same goes for creating a Master Mind group of the "Close Encounter" variety.

There are many ways to BE/DO this. If you are fortunate enough to have a TRIBE of very like minded friends, choose which of them you feel energetically drawn to invite into you inner circle. But PLEASE choose very wisely! For once again - I cannot emphasize this enough - the individuals that YOU call forth into your Master Mind/Inner Circle will be the most potent part of the ingredients that will co-create your happiness and abundance in all its forms into your experience! This has been studied and scientifically proven for decades. For example, if the sum average of yearly fiscal abundance of your group is $40,000, then you will inherently average making $40,000 too! And there is obviously absolutely nothing wrong with that. For me, it's more about what your prioritize in your life. So, hopefully, that information will further guide you in your decision making process. 

Other areas you can leverage to find members for this group is Facebook, (there are Master Mind groups to be harvested there) as well as simply Googling Master Mind - and then the area in which you reside - and such groups will pop up for you to further investigate!

Incorporating these practices of "Borrowing Belief" from the power that is generated from SOURCE whenever two or more is gathered is life altering.  Again, it is NOT just BELIEF that you will be sharing with one another.  It is the totality of abundance in all its forms that will be co-created.  Please have the KNOWINGNESS that I deeply care and LOVE each and everyone of you.  And I BELIEVE in you more than you may currently comprehend.  So please feel free to "Borrow My Belief-Knowingness" in you ALWAYS! May these suggestions serve the highest good of all concerned in your own precious inner circle...........


BE SUPER HEROIC!
BE LOVE - SERVE ALL - INSPIRE ALWAYS

Nerdmaste,

Jeffery Louis Martinez