The Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power

by Brendon Burchard

From this simple metaphor we can draw much wisdom for improving our lives. Those who are unhappy with the current story of their life are those who have not been directing its scenes and characters. They lacked a plan for their story. They wandered in and out of situations in their lives without any real intent. They focused on the wrong things, often zooming in on the negative aspects of life while missing the beautiful or interesting.

Will our character be strong or weak, noble or selfish, stressed or peaceful, flighty or grounded? Will each of our days say something about who we are, and if so, what? What will we demonstrate and become in the next scene of our lives?

What shall our life’s story be and how can we direct our thoughts and actions to make that vision a reality?

easily. We should be conscious of the information entering our minds. If we set out to learn something, let us be purposeful about the source, seeking to feed our brain with positive, empowering information that moves our lives forward. If we want to be entertained, let us choose the form of entertainment that would truly enliven us—that would bring a depth of understanding or appreciation into our lives. In all cases, let us remain at our post as the protector of a healthy and vital mind. What we see and hear and allow into our brains shapes our personality and our destiny.

It is up to us to be fierce guardians of our happiness and humanity in life. This often requires direct communication, to tell others to leave, to adjust their attitude, to be kinder and more supportive. It requires being more assertive and demanding. No one likes to do this kind of work. But we must protect ourselves from sour humans. By

“How hard am I really working toward my dream? Am I letting little obstacles stop my progress, or am I battling through them on a consistent basis?

I doing what I must to prepare my mind, body, and soul for victory? Am I acting with real conviction and commitment in life, or simply trudging through? Have I struggled to succeed in any area of my life because I’ve failed to sacrifice or commit?”

The essence of the warrior spirit is readiness—a bias toward action.

let us write down all the things we’ve been waiting to do, along with all our excuses for not doing them. Let us contemplate where we are being weak in our lives or progressing too slowly. Then let us get recommitted and decide that tomorrow, no matter what, we will march with courage toward our dreams regardless of the obstacles in our way. Let us be obsessive and fierce about our progress once more. Warriors are stubborn and strict, clear about what they fight for and committed to every discipline required to win the next battle. For the fate of our dreams and for the security and abundance of our families, let our character be so solid.

Think of all the wrecked relationships that could have been saved with just a few more minutes’ worth of time, attention, and affection. Witness

a modern world plagued by distraction, our greatest work in becoming better lovers is in reconnecting with those who have already given us their hearts. We have to finally stop all the looking about and once more peer into the eyes of those we adore. We have to ask them more questions. How was their day, really? What are they struggling with? What would make them feel more alive and happy? How can we connect with and care for them better? Is there a way we can demonstrate even more affection and appreciation for them?

HUMAN NATURE STEERS US TOWARD SELF-RELIANCE and freedom. Nothing burns more fiercely in our soul than the desire to be ourselves and pursue our dreams. And so the great joys in life come when we are spontaneous and authentic each day while engaging in activities that we care about.

Did you use the time I gifted you each day to be a purposeful being? Did you follow your own path and make your time count? How faithfully did you tend to the dream I sowed in your soul?

Quit the dispassionate work and seek out what will make our soul sing.

But we all know that the seeds of greatness grow faster in the hearts of those doing work they love than in the bitter hearts of those enslaved by work they despise.

What am I really after in life? What do I truly want to create and contribute? What kind of person do I want to show the world each day?

What types of persons shall I love and enjoy life with? What great cause will keep me going when I feel weak or distracted? What shall be my ultimate legacy? What steps must I take to begin and sustain these efforts? What will I orient my days to accomplishing this week? This month? This year?

For most, not knowing how to say no is where their lives decline into a thicket of stress and unhappiness.

Doubt wakes up when we strive for anything new or better. It recognizes that in those moments when our ambition rises, its very existence is in peril—for should we rise to accomplish our goals with confidence again and again, then it might be destroyed.

So tonight, in the stillness and magic of the last hours, let us grab our journals and write all the reasons we have to believe in ourselves and this world once more. What have we already done in life that we didn’t know we could? What reasons can we find to believe that tomorrow we will be better and the world will open up to us? Why will we continue to believe in ourselves and our dreams even amid difficult days? Yes, let us write these things. Let us force ourselves to do this seemingly simple activity now. For in writing our beliefs, Faith itself is strengthened. Then, the next time Doubt rears its ugly head, remember what was written.

We now know Defiance and its three serpent heads: Doubt questions our worth and course of action. Delay breeds indolence. Division closes the mind and heart.

And we must know all that we need is accessible in the Now—there is abundance in this world to be had, and everything we need to begin the great quest toward a free and fulfilling life is already within us.

It is reckless to try something that has never been done, to move against convention, to begin before all conditions are good and preparations are perfected. But the bold know that to win, one must first begin.

Let us decide to take our first steps without knowing how the journey will turn out. If that defines us as reckless and crazy, then let us accept that fate and celebrate the fact that we shall not be cowards. Let us declare: We Shall Advance with Abandon.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR REALITY. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT OF THE WORLD AND GO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Theirs is a life of endless contemplation, of waiting for total knowledge and perfect conditions, neither of which ever happen. Thus, they are forever destined to be observers, not masters. Without making the actual attempt, without trial and strife, there can be no true knowledge, no progress, no high achievement, and no legend.

The successes of this world are often people who started from scratch. Although they had limited resources, they started anyway. They built businesses and careers not because they were lucky, but because they believed that everything they needed to succeed would ultimately intersect with their actions. They

And so let the notion of scarcity leave us completely. All that we need is abundantly within, and all good things will be attracted as we act in accordance with our dreams. It is but our own vision, will, resourcefulness, and discipline that is needed to begin—these will never be in scarce supply unless we choose to abandon them.

Let us remember that with progress comes power and, with power, the greater possibility to enjoy life and serve others less fortunate. We can choose to use our success to change the world.

The social contagion of negativity spreads quickly because the human mind is susceptible. We are wired to sense and mirror the emotional energy around us. Seeing fear on someone’s face can trigger a state of fear. Such emotional contagion had primitive benefits once. It was a blessing in times of grave danger.

Without predators on the hunt for our flesh, with little to fear but fear itself, and in a world full of bored, fearful, sullen people, this mirroring impulse can ruin our lives. The energy of the masses is, at best, a low-tier energy, an emotionally bleak space created by a confused yet cynical people operating on little sleep, high stress, and a frenetic desire to be somewhere else, with someone else, doing something else. We must ask ourselves: “Should I conform to their energy? And what of their thoughts and language?”

joy is the jewel of life, gratitude the gold.

The joyous are simply more conscious and consistent in their attempts to sense and generate joy and gratitude. They try harder, making joy a practice, a habit, a consistent condition of their character, an enduring social art amid glum and boring times.

Those who perfect bringing joy to every day of their lives are not unlike any other master—they work so hard at something that it soon becomes play. The greatest artists and athletes, the highest-achieving executives and entrepreneurs, the happiest laborers and the most respected leaders all lose themselves in their work with great zeal and enthusiasm. Their efforts are like a game. They immerse themselves cheerfully as if

Let us pray that we may find the will and strength to learn such things, to practice such things, to become such masters.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how much joy and gratitude am I bringing to this moment?”

To find our answer to such daunting questions, it is helpful to consider the qualities we desire in three separate areas of our lives: our character, our connections, and our contributions.

Who is important to me and why? How shall I interact with them so that they are appreciated and experience the best of who I am? What kind of person should I become so that I am happy with how I treat others?

This chasm between knowing and doing is the dark pit where people lose themselves.

The second practice of integrity is to never commit to anything where we lack passion. We must stop saying yes to everything, as many of our failures occurred because we began something with half-heartedness.

The third practice is to keep our word. If we say we will meet our lover at noon, then we must arrive at or before

The sixth practice is to always favor action. If we stand doubtful and delayed on the sidelines of life, it as if we stood at the edge of a river and did not wade in to save a drowning child.

Should we dream of beginning a new career but never take action, regret will ultimately consume us. When our mind wants something for good and meaningful reasons and we do not pursue it, this is like dismissing our own self. The less we act, the less integrity we have with our own heart and mind. The less we trust ourselves, know ourselves, love ourselves. So let us remember that integrity is found in taking actions that support our genuine desires and values.

None of these six practices require anything extraordinary—they are all natural impulses. But it is our day-to-day failures in maintaining them that cause most of our human suffering. The more of these practices we enact, the more we experience human happiness.

By now, we should all know that we can easily lose integrity when we are feeling or reacting to any of these things: impatience, disappointment, desperation, aggression, hurt, loyalty, and power. Those are the Seven Temptations.

Free and conscious people develop a high degree of emotional intelligence that alerts them when they become too hurried, impatient, or irritable. Through practice and discipline, they condition their mind to issue an early warning system that says, “I am panicked and likely to make a bad decision. I must take a breath and slow down. It would be more intelligent and responsible to calm down now, to overcome the stress of this moment,