Hey Reader,

For the first 25 years of my life, I bounced from thing to thing without asking myself what I really wanted to do.

Two of my sisters play trumpet? I'll play it too.

One goes to Sam Houston State University? I'll go there too.

Study accounting? What the hell, why not?

I followed the easy route until I no longer had a role model.

When I stepped into entrepreneurship, I didn't have any friends or family who could relate. It felt like someone dropped me off in a city I'd never seen before. Each step felt like a burst of excitement followed by a hint of hopelessness.

All I knew was that the 9-5 wasn't for me. I'll never forget the moment I landed this interview during my last semester in college. It was for a Financial Advisor position. I showed up in my suit and tie, eager to see how things would turn out.

As soon as I parked my car in the garage, something didn't feel right. The whole time, I felt like I was in the wrong place acting like somebody I wasn't.

When I left, I knew I wasn't stepping any further down this path.

I'm either gonna figure this shit out or I'm gonna figure this shit out.

What helped was running away from this painful thought:

If I don't take agency over my future, someone else will. And it's a good chance I won't like the way that picture looks on my deathbed. That's why it's important for me to pick up the pen and rewrite my story.

When you're the author, you control the resolutions for the conflicts. You decide where to guide the future. You dictate how the story ends.

I see so many people avoid their past because of the pain. I get it.

But reflecting has so many benefits:

• Discover purpose
• Raise your awareness
• Unlock your full potential
• Gain clarity on your future
• Break negative thought-patterns
• Turn your mess into your message

So, you tell me… which is more painful?

Subconsciously allowing stories to repeat themselves...

OR

...creating space to unpack the difficult stuff?

​

The Bad-Breakup

Let’s say you've experienced a bad breakup in the past, but you don’t want to acknowledge what happened. Your ex-girlfriend cheated on you, so the pain is too heavy. What do you do?

Avoid it and continue life as if nothing happened.

A few months pass and you find yourself walking into a nearby Deli. As you're removing your sunglasses, you accidentally bump shoulders with a stranger.

She catches you off-guard with her beauty and personality, and thankfully, she's lighthearted enough to laugh it off with you. After your apology, something inspires you to ask her on a date.

Her name is Alissa, and she says yes.

You leave the Deli feeling pumped with excitement. Two months ago, you thought your love life was over. Now, you're meeting someone new and amazing.

Fast forward to your big date and your expectations are blown away. Nothing could have gone better.

You mutually decide to commit to each other. It's a beautiful journey. Life is great. But after half a year, the honeymoon phase is over and your lifestyle returns to baseline.

One day, Alissa pulls an unexpected move. You see her texting another guy. You feel emotions spiral. "This cannot be..." you think to yourself. Your heart rate accelerates.

“It’s just a classmate, Reader… it’s not like that. I promise.”

Thing is, your ex said the same exact thing.

*POW* 🔫

There goes your trigger – you loop back to your previous relationship. The present-you is aware of how that ended. Out of fear, you act in a way you wish your past-self did. So you leave the relationship on a wimb before you experience anymore pain.

It's not like you're intentionally looking to self-sabotage. It's in your nature to protect yourself. The only difference is that your impulsive reaction clouds your reality.

Since you seek what's familiar, you act out of fear based on the experience with your ex. Your ex cheated, so Alissa has to be cheating too, right?

Not exactly.

Because what if Alissa is actually telling you the truth? What a waste of goodwill. And a beautiful relationship. All because of a story that is subconsciously replaying in your mind without you realizing.

​

Don't Let History Repeat Itself (Unless It Serves You)

I grew up in a family obsessed with discounts and coupons. It was normal to eavesdrop on stressful conversations and stories about money.

How much this was, how much that was...

The highlight of someone's day being a $15 savings at the grocery store.

During my early twenties, I was a cheapo with money. I felt like resources were scarce. I'd feel irresponsible for spending money on new clothes (something I'm still working on), because I felt boujee for not appreciating what I had.

I was repeating the stories I heard in my past: I should save grocery money, not buy new clothes. Eventually, all this did was make me feel like shit.

Stepping out of a vicious cycle starts with identifying the trigger. Once I gained awareness, I had control over how I responded. When fear arose, I'd nurture myself with the thought that there's plenty of money for everyone.

Don't let a history that's not serving you repeat itself or it will hinder your growth and prevent you from fulfilling your potential. Energy is your most valuable resource. If you spend all of it in worry, you'll never move the needle forward. You'll never attract abundance. All you'll care about are what coupons are where and how many.

I've had to train myself to believe that resources are abundant. It's been a process. But I knew I wanted to live a life of abundance where there's plenty for everyone. Enough resources to provide for my family and my community and those in need. I don't see myself living life any other way.

Of course, not everyone needs to think like this. But you should consider what life you want for yourself, then write your story in a way that serves you. If you don't design it, who will?

​

Why?

The more you can ask, "Why?" the better. This one-word question changed my life and it could change yours, too.

You attract what you internalize. If you believe in abundance, you'll attract abundance. If you believe in scarcity, you'll attract scarcity.

When we self-sabotage, what we're really doing is seeking comfort through old ideas and behaviors.

Building your future requires you to step out of that pattern and reinvent yourself. It starts with processing your story, and the best way to do that is through solitude and reflection.

I don't suggest spending your entire day in meditation. But if you understand the power of reflection, it can change your life. It's like walking through a forest with a blank map. As you search new territory, you connect the missing pieces.

(If you've ever played Grand Theft Auto, this should hit home for you.)

Reflection is the key to breaking negative patterns and reinforcing positive ones. Practice mindfulness. You deserve it.

​

Rewrite Your Story to Design A Meaningful Future

Searching for healing? Unpack your story.

Looking for a vision for your future? Unpack your story.

Don't know how you can make an impact? Unpack your story.

Whoever wrote your past, snatch the pen away and become the author of your own Book of Life.

[Here are some prompts for unpacking your story for you intentional folks. Feel free to dive deeper on this topic inside the Storytelling module here]

It might be scary and daunting at first, but I promise you’ll walk out feeling a profound transformation. One that will give you the conviction to travel through your unique path with confidence.

I heard a therapist say that most people think that healing their traumas has to be a long, drawn-out process. But why?

“When I break my arm and go to the hospital, I don’t want the process of healing to be drawn out. I want to feel better, fast."

Things don’t have to be that way. But allow it to take time if you need. Don't rush or overcomplicate the process. The intention alone will set you forward.

A great story doesn't exist without conflict. It's how we relate to the main character.

The same applies to yourself.

If you're the main character, facing your own conflicts allows you to connect deeper with yourself. Don't avoid your conflicts or else you'll rob yourself of the beautiful resolution that makes your story worth it all.

Be the author. Be the writer. Be the captain.

Only then can you step into your true potential and design a lifestyle you love.

​

Cheers,

Ashton

P.S. I have a confession to make...​