Down From The Mountain
I have a confession to make. In May of 2003, I decided to become a motivational speaker and start sharing my personal story and telling others about the Power of Mortality™. It was an agonizing decision! I was VERY concerned that I wasn’t an “expert” and that people wouldn’t listen to my message because I wasn’t “somebody”.
I was constantly comparing myself to “experts” in the self-help and personal development fields and questioning why people would listen to me. I was second-guessing myself at every turn.
So, I decided to simply turn myself into an expert! After all, no one else was talking about harnessing mortality as a motivating force. “Oh sure, there are lots of ‘survivor stories’ out there,” I would tell myself. “But my message is different.”
In May of 2003, I made a decision to put myself up on a mountain top and hang out a sign saying “Caution: Guru At Work”
Well, it’s time to come down from the mountain.
I want to be crystal clear about something. I have never lied about my story or embellished it in any way. What I have done, is spend an inordinate amount of time concerning myself with how I was being perceived. And somewhere along the way, I began to get caught up in the ego drama. It might have been the first time I walked into a bookstore and saw my face on the shelf beside Dr. Phil. It might have been some of the profound and moving feedback I’ve received from people who’ve seen me speak or read my book. While their stories have touched my heart, they also fed my head. I was operating from a position of pure ego.
All of this has recently come roaring to the foreground for me because I’ve been going through a rather challenging time for the last year, but I’ve taken great pains to hide it from people for fear of harming my status as a “self-appointed guru”.
No more!
I now realize that it is, and always has been, my story about facing my own mortality that helps people. My public image might contribute to how likely people are to listen to the story in the first place, but in the end it is the message that must shine through. I have also come to realize that my story is an evolving one. One that is made up of ups and downs and if I’m serious about helping others, I need to be serious about sharing myself with them.
In the past, when I have been deciding whether or not to share some part of my life with others, my number one question has always been: “How will this make me look?” Today, I want to pledge to you that my new number one question will be “Will others find this helpful in their own life journeys?”
Stay tuned… big things are coming!
ENJOY NOW!
My name is Patrick Mathieu and I'm a speaker, author and coach. I developed The Power of Mortality™ and I've been featured in a full-length documentary film and appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including an hour-long interview with Dr. Oz on Oprah & Friends where we discussed my first book and my 
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Dear Patrick,
Bravo!
Allan
Patrick what you express comes to us in the same form in many instances in life..that questioning thing..how can we know..how can we be the expert..how can we offer hope to others? I speak from the heart here when I say I know that you have helped me in many instances.
I too recently began questioning myself as being a good parent. Three grown daughters and have I done right by them? have I given them enough example and guidance, will they carry forward all the lessons I have taught them? Most of all will they remember the unconditional love with which they were raised and always remember it is still there?
After much angst I decided it is no longer my problem. I have done the best job I can do and now I must sit back and watch them. They have learned things through example and guidance and the trust we have instilled. Now they may have to use trial and error too but will hopefully return to the mainstay of what we as parents tried to instill.
Never give up that “top of the mountain feeling”. That is the feeling that makes the bumps along the way a whole lot smoother. God bless. Debbie
What I am learning is that to fear is to be human. I think that showing this very human vulnerable side of yourself will only attract more people to your message.
It is not important to be “fearless”. It is important to feel fear and yet “do it anyway”. “It” will, of course, be different for each of us.
Susan
Way to go Patrick!