Awaken the Giant Within – by Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins is a very big papa and one of the most influential people on the planet. Today we review his book Awaken the Giant Within, which is all about releasing the incredible force we have inside us to put a dent in the world. This book essentially has the same content as his ‘Date With Destiny’ seminar, which costs about 10K to go to – so if you can actively read the book and do the exercises – you’re likely to get plenty of value.

Awaken the Giant Within Summary

Ten years from now – you will surely arrive. The question is …. Where? Who will you become how will you live? What will you contribute? Now is the time to design the next ten years of your life.

  “Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life aroused and put into action” – Orison Swett Marden

   We all have dreams – we all want to believe deep down in our souls that we have a special gift, that we can make a difference, that we can touch others in a special way, and that we can make the world a better place. At one time in our lives, we all had a vision for the quality of life that we desire and deserve, yet for many of us those dreams have become shrouded in the frustrations and daily routines of life that we no longer even make an effort to accomplish them. For far too many the dream has dissipated – and with it the will to shape our destinies.

    Decisions

  Tony believes it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.

There is a difference between being interested in, or being committed to something. If you truly decide you can do almost anything. The problem is that most of use “decision” so loosely that it’s come to describe something like a wish list. Instead of making decisions, we keep stating preferences. Making a true decision, unlike saying “I’d like to quit smoking” is cutting off any other possibility. Making a true decision means true commitment to achieving a result and then cutting yourself off from any other possibility.

  It is in your moments of decision, that your destiny is shaped. Decide to commit yourself to long term results, rather than short term fixes. This is the most important decision you can make in your lifetime

  Pain, Pleasure and Failure

  Tony learnt one of his greatest lessons when he was young and asked his mum for straight whisky. She argued it wasn’t good for him, but Tony was convinced it was the next step in his personal growth. “OK you want to drink beer just like your dad? Then you need  to drink an entire six pack”. After the first couple Tony started throwing up over the basement.  This experienced linked beer to vomit and a horrible experience. He had a gut-level neuro association that would guide his future decisions and has never drank beer since!

  The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life control’s you. We can use this understanding to harness the force of pain and pleasure to change virtually anything in our lives.

  Change Your Beliefs

  There was once a bitter and cruel drug addict who went to jail for murder of a liquor store cashier who “got in his way”. He has two sons:

Son 1 – grew up just like his dad, a drug addict who lived by stealing and threatening others, until he too was put into jail for murder

Son 2 – A different story, enjoys a good marriage, has three kids, very happy and regional manager for a major company, physically fit  and has no addiction

  How do they end up so differently? Both were asked privately, and they both provided the same answer “What else would I have become growing up with a father like that”

  It’s never the environment, it’s never the events, it’s the meaning we attach to all events that shape who we are today and what we will become tomorrow. Once you believe something, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

  A belief is really just a feeling of certainty about something. If you say “I believe I’m intelligent”, you are saying “I feel certain that I’m intelligent”, it’s the feeling of certainty that allows you to tap into resources that allow you to produce intelligent results. Beliefs aren’t rigid, you just need ‘references’ to support them. Like supporting a table, we can develop beliefs about anything if we just find enough legs to build it up.  People develop limiting beliefs about who they are and what they’re capable of. They they haven’t succeeded in the past, they won’t be able to succeed in the future. 

  All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in belief. To change one we need to associate massive main to the belief we’re looking to change. Think: how is the belief ridiculous or absurd, what is the cost of this belief physically, what is the cost financially, what is the cost emotionally – if you don’t let go of this belief.  Your beliefs will be significantly weakened under the scrutiny of these questions, like the table, the legs will get knocked out and the belief will fall.

  Most beliefs are formed by words, and can be changed by words as well. We make unconscious choices about the words we choose, we sleepwalk our way through the maze of possibilities around us. Realize now the power that your words command, so choose your words wisely. 

  “A powerful agent is the right word. Whenever we come upon one of those intensely right words.. The resulting effect if physical as well as spiritual and electrically prompt” – Mark Twain

   Many people in life know what they should do, but they never do it. The reason is because of the lack of compelling future they provide themselves. 

  How do you want to be remembered? As a giant amongst men? Start acting that way now!