Change The Rhythm Of Your Life

Can you remember the last time you did something spontaneous and had fun doing it? Something without a plan - it just happened. You had no time to think and to strategize an outcome, the only time you did have was used to dive into the experience. And because you did not have a strategy the only thing you could do was enjoy the experience as it unfolded. The memory is so vivid in your mind that it puts a smile on your face. What does that memory feel like? Close your eyes and experience the feeling as if it were happening all over again.


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Open your eyes. Welcome back!

Take some time and reflect on your memory. Write in a journal what you felt during that experience. Try to articulate the emotions and feelings more than the experience itself. Use descriptive adjectives to capture the essence of your emotions.

Have fun today. Change the rhythm of your life. Step away from your thoughts and allow your joyful, happy attitude to dominate your day.

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Change The Rhythm Of Your Life

A Fairy Tale Fantasy Life

Imagine for a moment living a fantasy life. Everything in your life is looked after for you. The roof over your head, the food you eat and your day-to-day expenses are all looked after. Life is nothing more than fantasy – a fairy tale.

What’s a fantasy without a dream, nothing right? So your dream is to become a rap singer. You write your own songs, you even go as far as recording an album. You meet music executives and exchange business cards only to never hear from them again. You even meet with a celebrity music executive who said, “The chances of you becoming a professional singer are slim to none.”

The pursuit of your fantasy has come at a cost. You’re divorced and have no relationship with your grown children. You’re sad and lonely and realize that you are not getting any younger. But, because you never took responsibility for your life, you simply don’t know how to and you can’t accept that it is challenging. You believe anything but a fantasy life is too difficult to achieve. So you continue to live your fantasy life, believing there is nothing to worry about - you still have a roof over your head, food to nourish you, and a singing career ahead of you.

You must be clueless or completely oblivious. To never stop to think about what will happen if whoever is supporting you decides to all of a sudden cut you off. What if he or she finds another person to support, someone that is half your age and that is more attractive, and doesn’t have the baggage that you do? What if your singing career never takes off? What if you don’t have what it takes to be a professional singer?

What will you do, what is your plan B? And don't forget that you are 45?

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

A Fairy Tale Fantasy Life

Loved, Safe and Secure -A Place of Belonging

Love is a strong affection towards a person, place or thing. It generates a variety of different feelings. Love is a euphoric state of being. It is a simple pleasure such as a meal or something decadent. It is also an intense attraction to a person. Love is an extremely powerful emotion with diverse meaning that makes it difficult to define. When combined with the variety of complex feelings involved, everyone will have a different definition and expectation of love.

At the core of every human being is love. Everyone has love in them, but not everyone knows how to receive or express love. Everyone seeks and needs love from the moment their born up until their final moment, and yet it is the one emotion people will also run from.

Children require unconditional love. They must always feel that they are loved and safe no matter what. They need to feel confident with their looks and secure with their feelings. They need to receive encouragement and praise for their accomplishments. They need to know everything will be okay even when they make a mistake. But most of all, children need to feel like they belong even if how they appear form the outside is not how they feel from the inside.

Children know deep within their soul when something doesn’t feel right. When everything is obscure and confusing - when nothing fits the feelings. They question their feelings with confusion and will feel like they don’t belong if they do not feel loved, safe and secure. And those that don’t feel like they belong will seek someone that does fit the feelings in hopes of receiving the love they long for.

Children who develop into adults that never accept how they feel from the inside and never learned what love, safe and secure means will continue to seek love until they find it. In the name of love converting into someone they’re not is effortless, but living it day and night is. So it is just a matter of time before the feelings don’t fit anymore and the search for love continues.

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Loved, Safe and Secure -A Place of Belonging

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

A colleague asked for my thoughts about Michael Jackson. I said I’m not surprised But I haven’t given it much thought either. They thought MJ is interesting blog material for me. Image writing about Michael Jackson, how long do you think that would take me? Too long to try and keep my thoughts together. But I did give it more thought and here I am writing about Michael Jackson.

I grew up with Michael Jackson. It was hard not to. Everyone listened to his music. The girls screamed and shouted his name and lined their bedroom walls with his poster. It was hard to miss the craze. I was never a big fan of his. Although, I do appreciate his music and his extraordinary talent, back then I didn’t have any interest in any artist.

It is no secret that Michael Jackson’s childhood was everything but a childhood. He openly admitted his father physically and mentally abused him on Oprah. He was whipped, beaten and traumatized throughout his childhood. His father sat on a chair with a belt during rehearsals – there were consequences to pay if it was not rehearsed the right way. Rehearsals were ridiculously incessant with no time for MJ to go outside and play with the other young boys. MJ often cried from loneliness and would sometime get sick and start to vomit upon seeing his father.

Who Michael Jackson became as an adult was due largely because of his childhood. I’m no psychologist but I do know if any child were traumatized to the extent that he was they would require extensive therapy to heal the wounds within the soul. And if they could never get to that place of total acceptance and forgiveness, their body would be riddled with extreme levels of anxiety for almost every scenario dealing with human interaction. However in today’s society, we have a pill for every ailment including mental and behavioral illnesses.

Not to get off topics but something to consider. If we are only learning today the capacity of the brain, how it functions and how it is put together, then how is it possible to already have developed and manufactured medicine to control the brain? Too many unanswered questions in my world to pop pills effecting brain control. It’s out of my realm of comprehension.

Unfortunately, as many already suspect, Michael Jackson was taking a lot of medication to cope with his anxiety among other mental illnesses because of his sever childhood trauma caused by physical and mental abuse. MJ had to become Michael Jackson to protect himself from further abuse. He had no choice but to become him. He took on his identity because his life relied upon it at a very young age.

I’m not surprised it ended the way it did for Michael Jackson. It saddens me that in this day in age we resort to pills that evidentially do not work. Some pills are to suppress emotions stemming from thoughts that cannot be forgotten, some are for performance anxiety and sleeping, and some pills are to make you feel happy and alert. And then there is the pill to fix the damage caused by all the other pills. And by the way, they don’t know the long term affects of damage control pill either.

I could only begin to imagine what Michael Jackson went through throughout his life. The detachment and conflict he felt each time he looked in the mirror. He had everything but happiness. He even believed he was being selfish for being unhappy with all that he had and punished himself more. His inner child wanted to play but playing is forbidden at his age. Michael Jackson had everything and was being selfish –or that is what he believed. Instead of looking in the mirror and loving himself, validating the little boy the one he felt lived inside of him, all he saw was Michael Jackson, the man he had to become.

RIP Michael Jackson 1958 to 2009

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

Perez Hilton, Get a Life! Coach

If you can understand how and why you behave the way you do, you can modify your behavior so to create a new and different outcome. Different than from what you’re used to.

To create a new outcome isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve. There’s enjoyment in repeating the same outcome. To some level you feel good plus it’s comfortable to have the same outcome play over. Anything different would not be normal and would possibly scare you. So it's easier to just stick with the status que, guilty pleasure.

Life, as you already know is confusing enough for the average person. Everyone has some sort of issue. Anger, passive aggression, bouts of depression, mistrust, guilt, anxiety, fear - you name it and someone you know or you yourself is dealing with it right now. You might be aware of your issue but unable to control it. You could be aware of it but not care to change it, or you could be hiding behind a mask and projecting your issues onto others.

Image you growing up in a dysfunctional home. Everyone in your household yelled and screamed, called each other names, and fought with one another. Now add bullies into your environment, a few fights, some teasing and name-calling. Support and encourage are just two words in the dictionary, and if someone hurts you, you have the right to defend yourself and cry bloody murder. You grow into a teenager searching for a place to call home. Sex, drugs and alcohol make you feel right at home. I bet if I do a little of this and little of that they might like me enough that they will come back, and should someone stick around longer than any before, hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more… Did I hear you say you’re gay?

So, what does this all mean for you the adult? It could mean that you are highly pissed off and angry at the world. Insecure comes to mind and that you have a need for some level of validation.

“Violence is never the answer”

How many altercations have you been involved in where violence did not solve your issue, and what was it about?

“I know I say things that really upset people, that is not a reason to hit anyone. I never had someone attach me like this”

Sometimes when you project your issues onto others someone will enable your behavior and attack you. Why are you surprised that this even happened to you, isn’t it common?

“Coward, Disgusting human being for lying – I would never lie”

I find that hard to believe.

“I don’t need press publicity – I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t deserve this”

Then why did you create a video and make it public over the internet?

“I like to write about other people’s drama, I don’t like drama in my own life.”

Isn’t this the second time in recent months you created drama in your life?

“Fuck you, you fucking lied, you fucking mother fucker- You know very well, I know very well, God knows it wasn’t a random fan. You’re a fucking liar”

And this is what you call professional?

“I took to twitter for help” and for validation. “My very public cry for help – all those people who expressed concern and called the police, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am a human being and nobody deserves to be treated that way. Violence is never the answer, Fuck you Will I am for lying. Furgie you’re an ugly bitch.

I bet if I do a little of this and little of that they might like me enough that they will come back for more.

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Perez Hilton, Get a Life! Coach

We Stand United For Freedom

I have another busy day ahead of me, two meetings and three clients. My first meeting is downtown Toronto at 10:00am. Then I’m back into my car, up the Don Valley Parkway towards Richmond Hill. I will stop and grab a bite before my first scheduled life-coaching client. The rest of my afternoon will be back-to-back meetings before my day is over.

I promised myself I wouldn’t watch or listen to the news today. I would like to keep my focus on clients rather than the number of people dying in the name of freedom in Iran. It is difficult for me to turn a blind eye because at the core of what I believe and practice is freedom. This is why in the past few days I took part in disseminating information coming out of Iran via twitter. I want to do my part to show my support for the people of Iran.

I do have the luxury of getting into my car and driving to my meetings. I don’t have to worry about being shot by a sniper because I’m exercising my democratic right to be free. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Iran. People are being shot and killed everyday because they want freedom; something we in the Western World are given as a Right. Millions of people are taking to the streets in Iran and around the world in protest against the Iranian government and the supreme leader.

To show your support for the Iranian people fighting for freedom, stop and observe a moment of silence at 3:00pm EST.

Show Your Support!

We Stand United For Freedom

We Stand United For Freedom

Freedom - A Right or Privilage?

Over the weekend I played beach volleyball again. Each week I play I meet new people and learn something new about someone. Sometimes someone divulges a little more than I care to learn. I play in the intermediate group. Six-on-six, setting, spiking and blocking is the name of the game in this group. There are approximately 30 players from all different walks of life. In total, including the beginners and advanced groups there are over 100 players and climbing.

As the morning hours passed on by the number of bodies on the beach climbed. People spread along the beach sunbathing and skidoos skidding across the lake. Kids played in the sand, building sand castles. The boardwalk filled with people; people walking their dog, jogging and riding their bike. Roller blader’s bladed by, and onlookers watched and cheered the countless volleyball players. Everyone was free to do as they wished. And then it hit me. While I was out playing beach volleyball, free, the people of Iran are fighting for their freedom.

You can follow the events as they unfold in Iran at twitter.com topic #iranelection, #tehran, #canadafail, and show your support by changing your avatar / profile image to green across your social network. I am thankful for my freedom and hope I never take freedom for granted.


Coming up this week:

I’m working on a new episode of Style By Jury. This episode promises to be a juicy one. Zack Warner, one of judges from Canadian Idol, makes a guest appearance. Does the subject get motivation and encouragement, or does she get a dose of reality?

Sign up for my telecoaching call. I designed this call for participants to ask me questions on any topic or method to achieve goals or to change behaviors. There is no charge for this call. If you are interested in learning more about my telecoaching call, sign-up at my website http://www.brunologreco.com. Enter your name and email address in the e-newsletter box on the left panel.

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Freedom - A Right or Privilage?

Awareness To Thoughts, Beliefs and Emotions

I was just a young boy when I first learned to protect me. I was different then the rest of my family and friends. Even the kids at school were different. I quietly observed the people around me and how they interacted. I learned quickly what kind of behavior was and was not accepted. I also saw the consequences for unacceptable behavior.

I tested and measured my every thought and movement to ensure my safety. I had to protect me from the harshest environment that exists in life: society, culture, religious beliefs, and ignorance. I had become someone other than myself so I could protect me from everyone – nobody could be trusted. The consequences were too severe and too deep to trust anyone. Detached from self, I took on a new identity and soon after I had forgotten who I am.

To some degree even you protected yourself throughout your childhood. Perhaps you are that girl that grew up in a strict household, born to immigrant parents that did not want the neighbors to think their daughter is a slut. The presence of any boy followed verbal abuse and shouts of scandalous shame. You’re called every name in the book and reminded of the consequences that will follow should you act on your desires. “I promise I will never let them hurt you again.”

Maybe you’re that kid whose parents worked around the clock to make ends meet. You had lots of toys and cool gadgets but nobody to play with. When anyone was home they were too tired to play with you. Be a good boy and go play over there with your toys. “I wonder if they would even notice if I was gone.”

You’re that kid that got picked on at school, all the time. They laughed at you; they called you names and made you feel like you didn’t exist. You walked through the school hallways preying to make it to your next class before anyone sees you. They made you feel like something was wrong with you, like you were some contagious wart. You had to change. There was no other choice but to change your appearance to become one of them, to gain acceptance among your peers.

Along my journey I began to feel disconnected from my soul; who I am on the inside was not who I was on the outside. Slowly but surely my protective layers that I had built over the years started to fall off. As I became more self-aware and self-accepting, the layers seemingly fell off with ease.

Without the extra weight on my back I was able to see the world around me from a different perspective. From my viewpoint I see that it’s nobody's fault. The immigrant parents were new to North America. In their home country a woman needed to be pure at marriage, anything less would bring shame to the family. The boy’s parents who worked around the clock to make ends meet, if you look closely you will learn the parents grew-up with very little. So sure they wanted more for their child but were not aware of the cost. Even the bully's at school, they became bully's to protect his or her self from what was happening at home.

Awareness of thoughts, beliefs and emotions, opens life to new possibilities. You control your mind instead of your mind controlling you. You begin to see life from a different viewpoint; you see the truth, you see reality. Without the additional weight of the protective gear, you are able to see reality and not an illusion of what you want to see.

Are you ready to stop protecting yourself?

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Awareness To Thoughts, Beliefs and Emotions

Life's Building Blocks

Life is a journey. When you think you got it you find out you are still missing pieces. You don’t realize you’re missing anything until you get there. One experience connects to the next and what you learn from it takes you to the next experience, until the end. It’s like building a skyscraper - one brick at a time. You build the first level before the second, and the second before the third, and so on.

From the moment you are born into this world, and even before, you begin to develop the tools that are needed to cope with life’s harsh environment. The first coping behavior you learn is trust and mistrust, followed by autonomy and then how to explore and discover new things. The outcome to each building block develops the behaviors that you come to see in adults. What you learned in your early development phase paved the road to who you are today.

Countless motivational speakers, life coaches and authors such as Eckhart Tolle and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, speak about self-awareness. Self-acceptance to strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. It is to live a life with no judgment to what is. This state of being is a difficult state to arrive to but not impossible. Only a small percentage of the population is self-aware, but the rest can be taught if there is a desire to learn. Unfortunately, to live a life with awareness means learning the most difficult and sometimes the most painful lessons life has to offer. It is a scary place to go to but well worth the journey for those whom dare.

The journey never ends and when it does life will seize to exist, as you know it. You only stand to gain from being self-aware. If life is the never-ending journey until the end, then all that is left for you to do to continue on with your journey is lay the building blocks - one block at a time all the way to the end.

When you have many unanswered questions that you are not aware of, yet, you will find it difficult to not judge or to have racing thoughts of what will come next. To learn to live in the moment and to accept reality for what it is, you must fill your skyscraper holes with your building blocks. Unanswered questions leave holes in your skyscraper. Too many unanswered question and your skyscraper could collapse.

Why do you believe the next person you meet will give you the love you are searching for? Why am I going from one person to the next searching for the perfect love, what am I searching for?

Why do you believe the next purchase you make will make you feel better? How long do you feel better for? Why do I believe if I buy something it will make me feel better? What am I searching for?

Why do you believe if he or she would just tell you the truth everything would be better? Even if they do tell you the truth you wouldn’t believe them anyway… Why do I doubt what people say?

When you add social factors like culture and sexuality to each developmental phase, the questions now take on a new meaning based on your life experience.

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Life's Building Blocks

Beach Volleyball, A Source Of Inspiration For a Life Coach

I took a breather at the beginning of the summer with blogging and writing. Past summers were filled with activities like beach volleyball, dragon boating, roller blading followed by afternoon drinks on a patio. Over the years I lost sight of the things that made me happy. I created a new life for myself, which did not include the most important things that bring me instant happiness; rather I spent a lot of time writing, learning and building my business even when I know balance is one of the main ingredients to a happy and fulfilled life.

My work as a life coach sometimes does not feel like work, as such I work many hours without any thought to balance. The reality is, life coaching is work. All work and no play will create a life that lacks inspiration, even for me as a life coach. I draw from inspiration to work with clients. Inspiration stimulates my mind to think and to create new possibilities. It creates those “Aha” moments you here people speak about which catapult them to success. Inspiration can come at a rare moment in an otherwise dull experience. Inspiration is what inspires me to inspire other people to be their best.

Ever since I started playing beach volleyball and exposing myself to new personalities, I’m inspired to write on new subject matter. The new material is very interesting and definitely thought provoking. It’s about Human behavior, cultures, sexuality and a lot more.

So take some time over the next couple of days and figure out what activities make you happy. When you figure out what makes you happy, make time in your busy schedule and incorporate your activity into your daily routine. You will feel better about yourself and those around you will appreciate you so much more. You just might inspire someone along the way.

Happy Monday!

Bruno LoGreco Life Coach & Mentor

Beach Volleyball, A Source Of Inspiration For a Life Coach