“Be delusional. Believe that you have the ability to make it work no matter what. Believe that regardless of what happens, it’ll all work out in the end because that’s what it takes. Anything and everything else leads to self-sabotage and failure. If you don’t believe you have what it takes, then your subconscious will do everything it can to prove that you’re right. You don’t need to be special or talented; you don’t need all the support in the world. All you need is to believe with every...
1 day ago • 1 min read
It’s that time of year when self-help podcasts, articles, and videos proliferate as people plan to make improvements in the new year. As you begin to consume this well-intentioned content (well, most of it is well-intentioned) remember that the expert or guru sharing information is doing so from the perspective of their lived experience–my Self included. Many experts speak as if their way is the only way—that they have access to knowledge that applies to everyone; the truth is, they don’t. I...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Yesterday, I finished up a post on my AlignedLife blog to bring my December trip to Baltimore to a close–it closed the loop on a great trip and even greater conversation. The post highlighted a few post-chat things I wish I had said or expanded upon in the moment. One of these I continue to think about, “the current system isn’t fair and hasn’t been fair.” I often worry that the privileges, both real and assumed, I have been afforded in my life run counter to my belief that everyone has the...
3 days ago • 2 min read
“Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.” - Buddha See you tomorrow and keep pursuing, JC
4 days ago • 1 min read
Maybe it’s because the Authentic Life has become so important to me, but I keep seeing “authenticity” everywhere. Yesterday, I saw a leader in the financial planning community encouraging everyone to try to be more authentic in the new year. I also read a post on Substack that claimed authenticity was fake–that it wasn’t possible to be authentic because we wear different masks depending on who we are with and where we are. The author also questioned whether past versions of our Self were more...
5 days ago • 1 min read
It can be scary to bring chapters in our lives to an end. But, in 2026, commit to allowing chapters that need to conclude to do so. You don’t need to start a new chapter today, just because it’s January 1st. Your new chapter may not need to begin until March, July, or even December. The only “when” that matters for your new chapter(s) is when it is right for you. Yesterday, my wife, Ang, announced that a twelve-year chapter of her life would be ending at the end of January. In the fall of...
6 days ago • 2 min read
“We are always getting ready to live, but never living.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson As we head into the new year, make it a focus to start living in 2026. No more preparing.No more planning.No more procrastinating. Just living and experiencing life. And if you’re going to start living, you might as well start living your Authentic Life and leave the life prescribed to you by others behind. I’m heading into ‘26 with tons of momentum, a new level of confidence, and a level of excitement I can’t...
7 days ago • 1 min read
“Your own self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world.” -Ramana Maharshi I spoke about this on a new episode of AlignedLife recorded just yesterday, and I can't wait to share it with you. I have this belief that if we all were able to live our Authentic Lives, the world would become a perfect place–heaven on earth. I know that is not possible for several reasons, but that doesn’t mean we, on an individual level, can’t strive to do our part to move the world one person...
8 days ago • 1 min read
I was inspired by Chris Williamson’s Christmas episode of Modern Wisdom, where he and a few friends share their favorite “hacks” from the year. While I was listening, I started making my own list in my head, then decided to write it out and even record a video, hoping to put you on to at least one new company or idea for the new year. Apple Podcasts Spotify None of these recommendations are sponsored by the companies–I’m not “big” enough to have sponsorships, lol. I’m making these...
9 days ago • 11 min read