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Identity — we all have one, yet many of us find it challenging to recognize, change, adapt, and grow with it. Some of us create false identities and use them as a shell for the world to see, appreciate, and interact with. This cover is more about how the world wants to see us than about who we really are. And when you’re living with a mask, you lose a sense of your true self.
But how do we get out of this vicious cycle of shutting ourselves down to please the world? How can we get comfortable with our true selves and live a life of abundance and fulfillment?
Carl Sagan once said, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality, it is a profound sense of spirituality.” And Anais Nin said, “The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.”
What do these quotes have to do with our identities? It’s simple — spirituality is the key to liberating yourself from your own inhibitions and finding a deeper connection to your being. You can channel your curiosity to unlock doors that earlier were not visible in your life.
Today’s guest is the perfect example of someone who has mastered the ability to understand his identity. He has traveled to 75 countries and inspired millions of people. He is an acclaimed author, speaker, and life coach. I am excited to introduce my friend, Tim Storey, to The School of Greatness.
In this episode of the podcast, Tim and I talk about his personal experiences and how we can use spirituality to understand our identities. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Tim Storey is one of the most revolutionary motivational speakers out there. He truly helps people create the future that they desire. He is an inspiration to many — from underprivileged children of third-world countries to celebrities and professional athletes. He has touched the lives of millions of people from all corners of the world.
On days when he is not speaking somewhere or conducting private life-coaching sessions, Tim hosts spiritually motivating sessions across the world called The Study, where leaders come together and participate in the community.
Tim has also been featured as a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday that aired on Easter Sunday in 2015 and has been a speaker for Super Soul Sessions live from UCLA since then. In addition, Tim has also hosted an exclusive Saturday morning series on SiriusXM radio and has been part of many coveted conferences, including the 2015 PTTOW conference in Palos Altos, California.
In his most recent book, The Miracle Mentality: Tap into the Source of Magical Transformation in Your Life, Tim talks about transforming your life through spiritual healing and the right mindset. Inside, you’ll find a few tips and tricks for managing your relationships and strengthening your perspective.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had Tim on The School of Greatness, and it’s not going to be the last. Let’s dig right into this incredible conversation and take a step towards improving your wellbeing through Tim’s wisdom and knowledge.
Tim talks about three things that are common to everyone living on this planet — the recovery from your past, what you are dealing with in the present, and the discovery of the magical moments in life.
“One of [my] biggest recoveries [was from] disappointment. When you think that something is going to work and then it doesn’t … (it could be a relationship that you thought was going to work, … or maybe a show that [you didn’t get]) … discovery [can be you realizing] that your decisions didn’t work. … [In the midst of all this], a divine door could open and take [you] into a [better] arena.” – Tim Storey
You decide some things in life, and then there are those things that you discover. Tim has always been more of a decision guy, but when faced with challenges, he realized that some of his decisions don’t work, which is when he opens himself up to the Universe or some divine doorway to discover the right path for himself.
“[Sometimes,] the divine door [that] opens … [may] take [you] into another arena that is better for [you]. – Tim Storey
When things don’t go your way, it’s easy to give in to a negative mindset and stop trying. However, Tim’s mindset is all about embracing everything that happens to you — including pain — as a way to find the life you are meant for. This mindset is hard to achieve, but Tim gave us some helpful tips on how to instill this in ourselves:
“The mindset truly [comes from] where you set your mind; it becomes your perspective. … [And] I believe in renewing my mind, … [and a part of the process] is to unlearn a lot of what I have learned, … and relearn other things to change my mindset. Because wherever I set my mind, my mindset creates the mood.” – Tim Storey
Every person has the power to respond positively to a negative moment and inspire those around them. Tim’s philosophy is one of overcoming — that no matter what he faces, he knows that some way he will get through it. His mindset gave him the tools to realize his identity, allowing him to influence people to bring a positive change in their lives.
Understanding our identity is the key to pursuing our purpose in life, but how can being confused about our identity hold us back from greatness? Tim shared his understanding from experience:
“If [you] don’t know who you are, you [will end up] chasing [after] your identity your whole life. … And when you find out where you come from and what your purpose is, you cannot be stopped.” – Tim Storey
Tim’s challenge was that he had grown up with a false identity, which he realized at the age of 12 when he found out that he was biracial — half Spanish and half Black. Finding a way to embrace his new-found identity was in itself a challenge, but with patience and time, Tim achieved his goal.
“Three words — education, observation, and conversation. … The education [allowed] me to [learn] more about Black leaders. … Observation [let me] hear Black leaders speak in college, [which sometimes led to a conversation with them] about Spanish culture, myths, and stories, … that I had no clue of. … [This] started to really bring out my identity.” – Tim Storey
Even though we are in the same world, each of us has our own unique identity and different perspectives on the same things. Your hunger for knowledge and compassion allows you to understand not just your perspective but also the perspectives of those around you. This, in turn, helps you grow along with your community and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Many times during our conversation, Tim mentioned spirituality and how studying spirituality helped him understand how to curate his mental health. Essentially, he learned that our souls are the centers of our being and that forgiveness, gratitude, and goodness all come from within our souls.
“It starts in the spirit. [When you do something that you love], you start feeding your soul. … And if you don’t feed your soul, then no matter how strong your mind is, there is going to be conflict. … A double-minded person is unstable in all his ways.” – Tim Storey
There are both religious and non-religious people in the world who want to be spiritual and to have a connection with something greater than themselves. By doing so, they hope to find a good and fulfilling life.
“One [way of doing it] is by going to the beautiful parts of creation, [and spending time] in nature, … where your soul just starts being fed. … Go away where there isn’t a lot of concrete, and where [it feels like] the earth is breathing, and [observe] how [content] you feel.” – Tim Storey
The source of spirituality is a calm mind, and nature is magical in producing those emotions. It allows you to find a place that heals, refreshes, and soothes your mind. In order to positively influence the lives of those around us, we must achieve this sense of spiritual calm so we can offer wisdom, respond constructively to difficult situations, and inspire others to find fulfillment.
In addition to talking about spirituality, Tim and I also touched on the subject of parenthood and how to be a smart, loving parent to your children.
I’m not a parent, but I know that being a parent can’t be easy. You may have the best interests for your children at heart, but at times, I’d imagine it’s easy to pressure them to fulfill expectations that we couldn’t live up to ourselves. Tim explained how this sets the wrong precedent for your child and may have a significant impact on them.
“As parents, we always think that we have to decide [everything, but there are] some things that we need to discover. … One of the biggest mistakes that parents make is that they don’t let their kids try something because they [feel it will end in failure]. … [But even if your child fails], they will still learn something.” – Tim Storey
There is nothing wrong with wanting your children to do well — no parent wants their child to suffer. But letting go of your expectations as a parent may be something that you need to work on so that they can realize their own identity.
“If you feel like you have trained your children in a good way, with character and morals that allow them to be strong, then [be assured] that [your kids] will figure their way out [in life].” – Tim Storey
As parents, you should let your children have suitable space to discover themselves by giving them structure and organization while keeping away from any form of pressure.
And if you aren’t a parent, this type of progressive mindset is really applicable for everyone — form an environment that allows your community to evolve and prosper. This enables you to tackle any situation with wisdom and calm, including a global pandemic or even a personal loss.
Don’t we all feel relaxed when we take time off from our usual back-breaking days and rest for a change? It gives us the space to calm our minds and approach life with clarity and purpose. Tim had never spoken publicly about his father before, but a timeout at the right time allowed him to make a decision that transformed his life.
“There are times when there needs to be a timeout; we need to come to the sideline and … re-group. That’s what the pandemic has done for [my] story, [it gave me a timeout]. And that’s when I decided to [open up about my life and talk about my father]. This is where I have gotten so much peace … and joy in my life.” – Tim Storey
Tim found a safe place to acknowledge and accept the truth of his story. This gave him the strength to share the most intimate moments from his childhood with the world.
“The one reason I am more open about my life nowadays is that [it makes me] feel undone. … I think we all have something that’s slightly hanging out, where there is some kind of [pain] in us. And so, by telling my story it liberated me [from my pain].” – Tim Storey
Confront your shame, embrace it, and learn to let it go. You don’t have to hold on to an identity that isn’t supporting you anymore and that isn’t true to yourself.
Tim’s life was reshaped after sharing his story with the world and embracing his true identity. You too have to find something that liberates you from your pain. Tim’s pandemic story shows us how persistence, a positive mindset, and a timeout can benefit us and reveal a path to discovering our inner peace.
This episode with Tim Storey was highly inspiring — I could only capture a fraction of the conversation in this post, so I urge you all to go and check out the whole episode right now. There is so much more we can learn, so much more we can improve, and so much more we can do to serve those around us.
Follow Tim Storey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get your daily dose of inspiration. And if you want to know all about Tim and learn from his remarkable life, then check out his website. If you enjoyed this episode of The School of Greatness and feel that it can help someone, share this episode with them.
Don’t forget to tag Tim, @timstoreyofficial, and me, @lewishowes, on Instagram with a screenshot of this episode and your most significant takeaways from it!
Friends, one of the reasons I continue to do this show (and why I LOVE doing it) is because it forces me to reflect and learn from people by hearing their stories. I don’t think I would have been here without the desire to learn and be curious, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, meet new people, and be open to lessons you may learn from them.
To Greatness,
Music Credit:
Kaibu by Killercats
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