Mar 22, 2021
Michael-David Riley is a big believer in mantras.
Specifically, he believes in using mantras and language to shift our internal narratives and own what we visualize and internalize in life. These visualizations and internalizations, he says, feed directly into the decisions we make — and when the average person makes 35,000 decisions a day, the impact adds up.
“When you really own everything — the good, bad, and ugly and the victories — now you’re controlling the outcomes of your life because you’re no longer allowing conditions and others to control your emotional reactions,” he says. “When you’re finally taking ownership of decisions — all 35,000 — and being mentally aware of everything you’re doing, you start to realize your habits change, your actions change and your outcomes change.”
But Michael-David didn’t always have this level of ownership in life. Growing up as a “highly abused kid,” he found solace and escape in cycling. It helped him handle the emotional chaos at home, and it also introduced him to an athlete’s approach to forming the intention and taking action. Years later, he was training to make the Barcelona Olympic cycling team when an injury sustained in the gym left him unable to stand up straight, literally, for the next five years. He was losing control of his life. Until he chose to make the mindset shift that would eventually become the 35K Decisions A Day mission.
In this episode of the Working For a Dream Podcast, Patrick and Michael-David talk about why now, at age 48, Michael-David has “never felt more in control of his life.”
What You’ll Learn:
Favorite Quote:
“As I wallowed — ‘why me, poor me, why did this happen to me — I had this moment. For everything in your life, you’re the common thread. If you want a different outcome and a different life, you have to start making different decisions.”
— Michael-David Riley
How to Get Involved:
Connect with Michael-David:
Connect with Patrick: