"No matter where you're at or what you're going through, it's important to keep moving, keep your head up and keep going."Hey, guys! Welcome back to ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio). In this podcast, we explore the body, mind, and soul of the creative entrepreneur. It’s my goal to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. I’m so glad you’re joining me on this journey!

2018 was a bit of a dark year. I had a really hard time personally because there were a lot of things that I was going through with business, relationships, and everything in between. 

But I believe that through difficulty, we have the ability to transform into more complete and true versions of ourselves. We can do this every day through  Identity Alchemy. 

Now that it’s 2019 and the first episode of this year, I'm excited about bringing you guys some awesome guests and elevating more things over here with the podcast.

But before that, let me share with you what I learned from last year and hopefully it resonates with you and helps you where you're at. Let’s get started.#1: Keep MovingAs I said, 2018 has been a very hard year for me. But I also realized that no matter where you're at, no matter what you're going through, it's important to move, keep your head up, and continue forward. Sometimes, things get hard and dark, but knowing that you're going to get through it can help you get the courage to just move forward. 

More importantly, though, I think it’s important to know that there’s no need to rush. You’ve just got to take one step at a time. But if you don’t and choose to stay still, you stay stagnant, and you won’t live your life to its full potential. #2: Create Something Every dayI bought a bath mat that has this saying on it, “Create something every day even if it sucks.” So every time I get up in the morning and take a shower, I look at this mat, and I’m reminded of its truth. Sometimes, even if you just don't feel like creating and making anything, you've just got to go through the process. 

The good thing about this is you're going to get better and better if you just keep creating. Creating something is a hundred times better than creating nothing at all.#3: Don't Let the Scroll Get YouIn 2018, I noticed that I got caught in the endless Instagram and the social media scroll. I think that it’s important to become mindful of the people that you put in your feed and how they make you feel. Follow people that are inspiring to you and don’t make you feel bad about yourself. 

It can be easy to get into a negative space of comparing yourself to others, especially on social media. You gotta be careful not to fall into that emotional trap. If you notice yourself doing that, maybe take a break from screens for a while, or transform social media into a great tool by following people that inspire you to create better art and do bigger things in life. Personally, I've curated my feed to that.#4: Dive Inward and Do the WorkIt's definitely not easy, but personal development lets you explore a lot about yourself. Personally, I had to dive in and do the work  —whether it's therapy, meditation, reading books, or going on a plant medicine journey. 

I believe that in order to truly alchemize your life, you have to dive in and work on yourself from the inside out. This is especially true when you're going through a hard time and you're feeling depressed. It isn’t a pleasant experience but it’s a crucial process in Identity Alchemy. Keep in mind, though, that it's important to see the end of your journey. Have that silent confidence that you'll get through it.#5: Prioritize Your HealthThe older I get, the more I want to take care of myself, both mentally and physically. Some of the things I started working on are...

I started working out every day or at least four or five days a week. It helped me stay healthy and feel better about myself and stay on top of things.