At one time I may have hated the video below, because I didn’t understand Muhammed Ali’s “big mouth,” I disliked fighting and I thought celebrating our own greatness was a form of arrogance.

I guess it could be, but today everything about this inspirational video speaks to me, especially where the fighter is baptized into death. What do you think? If You can’t see the video here – watch it here on youtube:

Audio clips from Muhammad Ali’s speech, Rocky, and Coach Carter.  Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson is read by Tony Robbins.  Still photography by Gabriel Stiritz and Lauren Herreid. Music from Transformers and Gladiator. Hanz Zimmer.
“This is a fan-made video.”

VIDEO SCRIPT/LYRICS:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, beyond measure.

Ima show you, how great I am.

Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom, hit the switch, and was in the bed before the room was dark.

Ima show you, how great I am.

Only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick, Im so mean I make medicine sick.

Ima show you, how great I am.

This kids gonna be the best kid in the world.
This kids gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew.

Ima show you, how great I am.

I have wrastled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale, I done handcuffed lightnin, thrown thunder in jail.

Ima show you, how great I am.

All you chumps are gonna bow when I whoop him, all of you, I know you got him, I know youve got him picked, but the mans in trouble, Ima show you how great I am.

But somewhere along the line you changed, you stopped being you.
You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you youre no good, and when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.
Let me tell you something you already know, the world aint all sunshine and rainbows, its a very mean and nasty place and I dont care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life; but it aint about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward.
That’s how winning is done!

‘Cause if you’re willin to go through all the battling you gotta go through to get to where you wanna get, whose got the right to stop you?
I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to somebody, something.
And you’re told no, even after you pay your dues. whose got the right to tell you that, who?

Nobody.
Its your right to listen to your gut, it aint nobodys right to say no, after you earn the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do.

Now if you know what youre worth, then go out and get what youre worth.
But youve gotta be willing to take the hits.
And not pointing fingers saying you aint where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody.
Cowards do that and that aint you!  Youre better than that!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

All you chumps are gonna bow when I whoop him, all of you, I know you got him, I know you’ve got him picked, but the mans in trouble, Ima show you how great I am.

What do you think?

Keep playing to win and enjoy your game!

I’m in your corner,

Gina

I read on FoxNews recently that the divorce rate among military couples is up 43% since the beginning of the Iraq/Afghanistan war. I also happen to know that on some military installations, like Ft. Campbell, the divorce rate is now a staggering 90%.

Really? We went to war and ended peace at home? Our military families face unique stressors (as I know firsthand) but whether you wear a uniform or not, I want to share 4 keys to peace at home. We live in a world filled with wars and rumors of wars – not just literally – but financially, emotionally and relationally.

I am convinced that all true success begins and ends with relationships – especially those inside your own home. What a perfect place to revel in peace on earth. Below are 5 steps to get you started:

P – Pursue personal growth. Take responsibility for your own ability to grow spiritually, mentally and physically. You can feel good, no matter how your spouse or kids are feeling.

E – Enrich your relationships. Make a point of spending time with friends who build you up and bring out the best in you. Look for ways to be a blessing to them. Then, bring your best self to your loved ones at home. Too often those closest to us get our leftovers, and our selfishness.

A – Accept the things you cannot change. What we resist persists, so the first step to overcoming frustration is to accept the things you can’t change, (like other people) and accept yourself in spite of all your emotions about it.

C – Cultivate a spirit of faith. Once you’ve accepted what you can’t change, you are able to look for the good in every situation. Life is 10% about what happens to us, and 90% about how we respond to it. Keep that switch of faith turned on and expect a positive outcome.

E – Express your gratitude. Never focus on what you don’t have, don’t know or can’t do! Instead focus on all you have to celebrate. When we are thankful for the good things in our life, we attract more good things. Gratitude is the healthiest of emotions – and leads to a life of inner peace and outer joy.

My prayer is that this year, no matter what goes on in this crazy world, your heart and your home will be filled with love, joy and peace. There is Love available to you that never fails. That love will enable you to walk in P E A C E that transcends understanding. In that place nothing is missing and nothing is broken. You are whole.

I believe in you!

The truth is, I actually ENJOY Christmas, but sometimes all the hoopla makes me painfully aware of those who find Christmastime to be downright agonizing. What if you are one of the dear ones who is dealing with deep loss this year? How do you just smile and say a jolly  “Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho!!”

Well, for one thing, you can skip the “ho, ho, ho!”  You have my permission.

Next, let’s talk about the range of jolly, merry, happy, jovial, drunken, festive, gluttonous, stupendous, magical, moments of wonder.

What if they all elude you? (except drunken and gluttonous of course.)

Well then, you certainly wouldn’t be alone. Millions of people will spend billions of dollars trying to grasp what eludes them.  But what if just for one Christmas,  things could be different. What if…

What if instead of seeing the heartache for a moment you see…

real angels bringing good news?

Too far fetched? Okay. Let’s try this:

What if instead of inner turmoil you sensed inner peace?

What if, instead of grief, you experienced profound comfort?

What if instead of lack, you had a glimpse of heaven?

What if instead of abandonment you were overcome with a spirit of adoption?

What if instead of loneliness, you realized that you’ve been loved this whole time?

What if instead of rejection, you felt unbelievable favor?

What if instead of sickness, you felt a wave of healing?

What if instead of sorrow, you were overwhelmed with gratitude?

What if instead of darkness, you were flooded with light?

What if instead of despair, you were filled with hope?

What if instead of doubt you were strengthened in your faith?

The tide will always come in and the tide will always go out. The sun will go down tonight

and it will come back up in the morning.

The winter will give way to spring, and then summer, then fall and more winter.

Your heartache will turn.

The thing that stays constant is undying love.

Love.

I have no three step solution to basking in love.

I have no magical formula.

I have no clever motivational speech.

I simply have my heart, filled with love from the heart of God.

I can’t fill it on my own. I am powerless that way.

Even more powerless is my ability to fill the hurting.

But God says he has a word to sustain the weary. His truth brings water to a thirsty soul.

He offers those with no money to come, buy and eat!

He satisfies your mouth with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

My Christmas wish for you is an abundance of love – manifested in a hundred different ways.

My wish is that you will see the unseen, and fix your heart on the eternal.

Merry Christmas, my friend. You may not know me, but I know the One who loves you.

His name is Emmanual – God With Us.

He longs to fill you, bless you, turn it around for you.

What if?  And then, why not?  Here’s to better days ahead – and to a Heaven that is more real than earth.

Until next time, this Christmas as always, I’ll be right here…

in your corner.

Gina

P.S. If you have or need a word of encouragement, feel free to comment below!

This morning I went on a walk. This is my daily “gratitude walk.” I highly recommend this – for mental and physical fitness.

While I raced along the few miles, I gave thanks for all the beautiful things that I noticed – the brightly colored leaves, the blue sky, the perfect weather,  and the three different friends who honked and hollered out my name, reminding me that there are worse things than living in a small town.

And then…as I was cruising along, thinking about all I have to do today, a turtle nearly tripped me. Yes, he was almost crossing the paved walking path. I picked him up and he tucked his head and legs into his shell faster than you could say, “slow and steady.” I did not know that turtles make a vacuuming sound when they do that. I must have stressed him.

I stared at his beauty and contemplated bringing him home. He could be my token reminder to slow down. I wondered if he belonged to the orthodontist, from whose multiple acres he was emerging. I considered a phone call:

“Hey Doc? I wondered if I could have this turtle in exchange for the five grand I  dropped on Firstborn’s already perfect teeth…” That could be fair.

But alas, I carefully placed my beautiful frightened buddy back on the huge lawn, and thought about his pace. Slow and steady, slow and steady.

Today, I take my lesson from the turtle. I will win the race. I will stay peaceful and diligent, and if I get stressed, I’ll vacuum!

How about you?

Did you take a gratitude walk today? If so, or even if not…let’s hear some things for which you are thankful! You can post right here.

Yours,

Gina

Recently week I read a book about a marvelous judge named Maxx Rosenn, of the US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. The tribute was written by one of his protégé’s, Dr. Mollie Marti, who is one of my mentors. The book was a masterful look at mentorship, excellence, and leaving a legacy.

As I read, I found myself captivated by a man who was so important, so busy and yet who seemed to move slowly, deliberately and with incredible productivity. Though physically slight, he was truly a man of stature.

One thing Mollie notes about her mentor is that he was a “master at the art of rejuvenation.”

What a lovely phrase.

It got me thinking about the way it’s easy to rush here and there and miss the beauty of life. How sad to miss a chance to be rejuvenated.

It seems we have a chance right now. So, let’s Rejuvenate, shall we?

What does that even mean? Re-ju-ven-ate: Verb: To make young again.

Here’s how to start:

1. Laugh out loud
   It’s been said that the average child laughs 400 times a day while the average adult laughs almost never! Look for the funny side of things, and let yourself laugh. There’s a reason the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to “such as these.”
2. Slow Down
   Try breathing slowly for a few moments and focus on feeling your body relax. Where ever you are right now – it’s a perfect place to be, on the inside. Stop and smell the roses.
3. Become Present
   Tune in to everything that you can glean right this moment through your senses. What can you see that is lovely? What sounds do you hear when you listen closely? Are there any fragrances in the air? What about taste and touch? Find delight through your senses.
4. Give Thanks
   The healthiest emotion you can cultivate is thankfulness. As you laugh, slow down and become present you will find yourself giving thanks. As you do, you open your life to so much more of the good things you desire.

That will make you age backwards! That is when you’ve mastered the art of rejuvenation.

Warning: this is not my typical kind of post…

Every where we look it seems that sex scandals rock the news. Today it’s Penn State and their legendary football coach Joe Paterno. How sad.

photo via the Huffington Post

You know I love the world of sports and sports performance. I spend a lot of energy now using sports psychology techniques to help people heal sexually. Perhaps I’ve never answered the question to my followers of, “Why?”

Watching the Joe Paterno drama unfold on the internet and the brief moments that I turn on the TV has me stirred to answer that question and make a point.

It MUST become too dangerous to have sex with children or to cover up for those who do. In staying silent about what he knew, Joe Paterno was wrong, and should indeed be dismissed from his seat of glory. Of course he would do things differently if he could. He is not a monster. It’s just that the issue is bigger than it seemed.

The reason I have poured myself into sex & relationship issues, is because my eyes were opened a few years ago to the prevalence of child sex trafficking that happens right here in our own country. In every American city, predators know just where to go to pay for sex with a child. This does not count all the other ways that predators get their sick “fix.” The average child molester will abuse more than 350 victims during his lifetime. Three hundred and fifty – innocent lives crushed! The average age of a child victim – eleven years old.

When the influence of such sickness rears its head on our top universities, and athletic programs, is it right to turn our heads just because football victories may be on the line? Surely not. The thought should nauseate us.

This is a hideous multi-billion dollar criminal industry and frankly, I can’t bring myself to look at it too closely.

That’s why in 2010, I teamed up with Stop Child Trafficking Now, the only organization that infiltrates, investigates and brings air-tight cases to law enforcement to collapse wicked trafficking rings. They employ retired Navy Seals who have dedicated the rest of their lives to use their amazing reconnaissance skills for justice. They work to make it too dangerous to exploit a child.

For my part, I finally built Winning At Romance so I could create something beautiful—healthy, sexy love lives—and use the funds to help stop something so hideous.

So far, I’ve only been able to give in the thousands to this organization, but my goal is six figures.

This is what drives me:

-An indignation over evil.

-The knowledge that the love inside my home is the kind of love craved everywhere.

-The conviction that together, we can truly change the world.

For this I will risk being misunderstood. I will endure ugly emails from those who don’t agree with my message or my methods. I’ll talk about sex on every radio & TV show that lets me, and I will continue to believe that Love is greater than evil, Healing is greater than brokenness, and Light will triumph over darkness. I know The Redeemer lives and relationships can be transformed.

So why else do I talk so much about stuff that no one else will touch? Because giving real, honest answers to people’s real honest pain is the only way I know to do my part.

Do I still offer regular Peak Performance coaching? ABSOLUTELY – and I still LOVE it. I just speak to more areas of a person’s performance now.

I know what compels me. My prayer for you is that you will know what compels you—and you will live in integrity to your calling. And of course, I hope you will join me in this cause to reclaim pure love in a world gone mad.

I believe in you!

Gina

P.S. If you would like to join me, here’s what to do:

Please go to my facebook page, hit “like” and fill in the form on the welcome page for regular updates. And then tell three friends to do the same.

www.facebook.com/WinningAtRomance

I stumbled upon this “love quote” from Lady Gaga recently:

“Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.”

Aaaah words from a Rock Star, “…remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.”

Lady Gaga was a child prodigy when it comes to music but to love, I’m not so sure. The problem is…

Lady G, gives us a false dichotomy – choose either love or a career. She relates choosing love to “following a man” instead of your dreams.

Hmmm. That can indeed be painful. I chose to follow my husband’s career all over the world. Some years, I got into a pity party, but that sure doesn’t mean that I have not pursued my dreams. Instead having a family and having a global influence was always a big part of my dream.

Still, I’m not sure how crazy I am at the thought that love means choosing to “follow” a man. I think it means choosing to do life together.

Is it true that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore?

Perhaps. Although in the case of someone like Lady Gaga, or Michael Jackson, or Jesus, history shows that the masses of fans can quickly turn into haters.

It’s more likely however, that we will wake up and say to our career, “I don’t love you anymore.” Sometimes, even when we appear very “successful.”

In the end we find out that whether we are seeking happiness from a person or from a career, neither one can truly satisfy. Those qualities we are all aching for are not met from the outside.

A study at Southern Methodist University revealed that ultimately everybody wants the same things in life. No matter what external goals people pursue, it seems what they really want is the feeling that those things will hopefully provide. Perhaps the number one desire of the heart seems to be a certain amount of wealth, a certain kind of relationship or even a certain level of health.

Unfortunately if that “certain” thing is attained, the realization is that it fails to satisfy. Ask Tom Brady, football sensation with his superbowl rings and supermodel wife. In a 60 minutes interview he admitted with honest puzzlement, “I get everything I’ve ever wanted and feel like, is this all there is?”

Those people who are the happiest in life and love and even sport and career have an interesting perspective. They found the happiness first. The external achievements, the fulfillments of their dreams, came as a result of the hard work they took in faith and certainty.

On the bright side, that is the beauty of happiness. It can be savored right this moment without one single external thing changing.

I have no guarantees that my career will love me tomorrow – or that I will love it. I do know that I am committed to the people I’m called to serve, and the God who called me. I also know that as long as its up to me, I’ll do so with that husband of mine by my side. That is my dream, and I get to live it right now.

Why am I so committed to my marriage? I’m not sure. Maybe because it’s not a Bad Romance.

If you’d like to know how to live happier than a rock star with your mate than be sure to invest in yourself with 10 experts, who have it figured out. Listen any time to the Love and Sex Summit at home:

www.SexySummit.com

Kristan came home from kindergarten one day and looked for her big brother Jordan, who was already an athlete in the 3^nd grade.

In her “Elmer Fudd” accent she expressed her dismay.

“Jowden, we played this game in P.E. today where they roll a ball to us and we’re ‘upposed to kick it!”

“You mean kickball?”

“Yeah, kickball,” she agreed. “But ‘cept  I couldn’t kick the ball!”

“Aw come on,” said the 8 year old, “Let’s go in the back yard and I’ll show you how.”

Fast forward 11 years.

As I write this, Kristan is the captain of her high school volleyball team, and she is playing a tournament in the town where Jordan goes to college.

“Please bring your whole baseball team to cheer for us!” She begged him.

I had to laugh.

Two thoughts crossed my mind:

1. Where in the WORLD did the years go?

2. Who would have guessed Kristan-the-bookworm would also become an athlete?

The thing is, she found HER game.

Some of us go our whole lives feeling like we are not athletic enough, talented enough, smart enough, or gifted enough to excel in anything.

How tragic.

The truth is, those who become champions have:

1.kept trying new things until they found what they love

and

2. They refused to quit when it got hard.

Today I hope you will cherish each moment of life, as the time goes by so quickly.

Also when you find your game – give it all you’ve got.

It’s never too late to find that thing that helps you express your strengths, challenge your weaknesses and grow up a little more.

It reminds me of the movie, The Legend of Baggar Vance, where Will Smith plays a simple but mysterious golf guru who appears to coach a down- on- his- game golfer,  back to greatness.

“You ain’t alone” he says,

“I’m right here with ya. I’ve been here all along. Now play the game, your game – the one that only you was meant to play -the one that was given to you when you came into this world. You ready?”

Your game has been here all along, waiting for you to claim it!

Keep playing to win.

I’m in your corner,

Gina

P.S. I will be one of the guest speakers in Chicago in 2 weeks at Make An Impact Live with Dr. Mollie Marti, Bob Burg, Michael Port, Carol Roth, John Morgan, Frank McKinney (Who are all NY Times Best Selling Authors,) and other life changers.

We will walk with you through a plan to unearth YOUR Big Game, Your Big Dream, and the Impact you are meant to make in the earth. You will walk away with a plan to see it come to pass.

Please check it out and reply to this email if you want to meet me there. I can get you a special price of 2 tickets for $495. That is a huge discount.

www.MakeAnImpactLive.com

“Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” By..Steve Jobs

How often do we set out to follow our heart, only to get cold feet?

We dream a dream, set a goal, make a plan. And then we stop.

We let ourselves shrink back because of the opinions of others. Worse yet, we somehow hold back because of what we think will be the opinions of others.

We tell ourselves, “They’ll laugh at me. They wouldn’t like me if they knew the real me. They won’t like my idea. Who am I to dream such a dream? Who am I to be a leader?”

Well, who are you not to?

The truth is, you and I will never be everything to everybody.
Or in the words of Brandi Snyder,

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

That person matters enough for you to be the real you, the you that trusts your heart and intuition, as Steve Jobs told us to do.

As we mourn the death of a visionary genius, we are stirred to follow our heart.

Take courage today.

Follow your heart.

Take courage today.

Follow your intuition.

Take time to get quiet and ask yourself this question:

If I knew I was going to die in 24 hours, what would be my 3 biggest regrets?

Then, starting right now – remove the regret. Get working on the most immediate goals. Take courage and do it.

Follow your heart and intuition today – not tomorrow. As you do you are becoming the person you were meant to be.

Everything else, is secondary.

August is “National Romance Awareness Month,” so in the spirit of Winning at Home, I have four tips to help you Rekindle the Romance.

Lighten Up and Laugh!

Getting all stressed-out kills the romance! Research proves
that couples that laugh together have more satisfying love lives, because laughter helps reduce stress and creates bonding. So look for some humor in life and love.

2. List Your Lover’s GOOD qualities

When our relationship gets stressed, we tend to focus on everything
our mate is doing badly! So write the list of all the things you’ve ever loved about
your lover and keep that list where you’ll see it.
Better yet – share the list with your loved one – by text, email or any way at all.

3. Learn Something New Together

Learning something new together lets you see your partner in a new light,
and that can be very arousing. So it could be a one night cooking class, or some
ballroom dancing lessons or how to shoot firearms!

4 Light Some Candles – even if you’re just eating fast food.

This tip is especially helpful for the gentlemen who sometimes
forget that they need to woo their woman throughout the day! So just the fact
that you are deliberately setting a mood goes a long way to kindling some romance.
Remember that romance is what makes a relationship feel special. If you have a special romance tip, feel free to share it below.

Check it Out:

Can you really “Text the Romance Back?”

I was going to teach you how to really use your cell phone to create some romance (since it is one of my FAVORITE ways my husband flirts with me)  but this guy Michael did a better job explaining it all than I could. In some ways his video drives me nuts, but the product is actually quite helpful. What do you think of his message?

Text the Romance Back

Until next time, keep playing to win and I’ll be here in your corner!

Gina

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