55: Erwin B. Valencia - NBA Wellness Expert, the "Godfather of Gratitude," Non-Profit & Web3 Founder on the Power of Gratitude and Much More

0:01 Is there a Tagalog? Equivalent of fomo? And if so, how can we practice mindfulness to overcome it? How good martial arts? Teach us to strike a balance between aggressiveness and Stillness. And as Bruce Lee, once stated flow like water, how can teams leverage this? Ethos to improve performance in the NBA which is typically very adrenaline and fight or flight driven? How can starting our day with gratitude. Help maximize the 4ps positivity, peace, passion and purpose, each and every day. Day and what is the purpose of gratitude gang and grasshopper project and how is the quote Godfather of gratitude leveraging? These and other web three initiatives to inspire at least 1 million Filipinos and achieved many other incredible outcomes. In the next five years stay tuned as we touch on these and many other topics on this week's episode of untether your life. Well, I'm to untether your life, Michelle that empowers you to own your own health and break free of templates for managing physical and mental wellness.

1:06 And looks at Key issues, impacting the South Asian diaspora. I am your host to Kilt or Scar and I'm passionate about the power of conversation to catalyze change the term polymath gets thrown around quite a bit. These days with many people positioning themselves as experts in XYZ. However, a lot of times, it's as they say, all hat and no cattle and then there's Irwin be Valencia, who despite wearing many hats It's both literally and figuratively. Truly embodies the term Irwin or e as he's commonly known as a professional polymath. Well there's expert high-performance Sports clinician life. Coach Community nurturer nonprofit. Founder mentor and dance ninja. He served as the medical and performance lead for the New York Knicks and recently shifted his role to focus on the team's wellness and Rehabilitation, he initiated the team's mindfulness, program and started the first ever in season daily breastwork.

1:59 And in Ancient setting program, the NBA he brings a truly holistic approach to professional sports colliding, Sports Science, with clinical expertise with mindfulness, with positive, psychology to athlete, wellness, and Care. He's The First Filipino raised and educated in the Philippines to be hired full-time on medical staff of any us sports team and succeeded in doing it. Both in Major League Baseball and the NBA, his 501, c, 3 non-profit mentorship program, grasshopper project brings true mentorship possibilities too many. In the health wellness and performance Industries. Otherwise left without guidance to succeed and help them become changemakers and thought leaders in the space. He has recently emerged as a web three thought leader with gratitude gang hacking the way we give back. Gratitude gang is also in the process of becoming a 501, c, 3, non-profit.

2:48 And with that, let's get untethered. So Erwin, it's a sincere pleasure to have you on the show, man, on the kill, thanks for having me, dude. I've listened to some of the episodes you have with my boy, Jay G. And Our Soma breath brother and it was very cool. I like the flow of how you did things and I was like, you know, you know I have some time today with us to do it now. Yeah. Yeah. Where else are also will be like a couple of months. There's also the Power of Now, it can't be overstated. So yeah, let's go ahead and do this. Is there anything else? You'd like to add an addition to what? I had just laid out there. I guess one of the things is to clarify when I was first brought into the NBA was, which is my dream. I was brought in as a team physical therapist and then for three years, I became the head of medicine and Performance for the team, under the tutelage of Phil Jackson and then afterwards with the pandemic happening and changes happening in the organization.

3:40 I find myself back to being a team Vizio, but more importantly, now the wellness lead of the team allowing me to really do most of the stuff that I do today. And to be able to bring things like mindfulness by hacking and things, we've learned, ironically through Mindvalley into the high-performance Sports World, which is a rarity nowadays. So, Lucky to be considered some sort of a weird unicorn in the World of Sport and I'm proud of it. I mean I wear many hats. Yeah. Right. I think you were saying on one podcast someone asked you, if that's it so Zoom background but that's a 90 know, it's real. Yeah. And you hear all? Yeah. I guess I want to talk obviously let's kind of go outside in. What is your exact title with currently? In my current title now is is I'm a team physical therapist and wellness.

4:29 Lead for the New York Knicks basketball team, okay? My date, and when people think about sports there's this what you'd call like a militaristic raw added to where it's just about. I think in one of your interviews to talk about kind of like a gladiator mindset where it's like, you know, let's go into battle, let's fight to the death, obviously basketball is not as it's not quite MMA, it's not quite as physical as some of these other sports, but there is, you know, there is quite a bit of aggression. It's very adrenaline-fueled, but you as you know, given your background You take a little bit of a different mindset. If you could talk to me about that, sort of what's the mindset and Ethos, you're trying to cultivate both for yourself, as well as the players that you work with, for me.

5:10 I patterned after my own experiences, I think martial arts, which was my entry point into mindset, practice, and my entry point into meditation and mindfulness showed me that there's a possible way to not only be aggressive, but also find Stillness. And I started learning about meditation as a related. Martial arts. When I was seven years old. And by the time I was 12 as a black belt, I started teaching that and I think I was always fascinated. How martial arts have always combined this aggression, but this peacefulness as well. I mean early history of books of, but samurais and ninjas they come from the hacha scenes for speak, but the fighting monks, which Blended a sense of Stillness, artistic Ness creativity, but also can kick ass.

5:57 So I think was always fascinated. About the duality of this. And so being able to be that and embody it completely being trained at that is very different from, let's say being trained as a monk. You know, like the straight straight monk. So to speak. I think that's why I fit perfectly. If there's one place for me to fit perfectly and it's in sport, I think it's all about performing at a high level, but also finding peace and Stillness within that chaos allowing yourself to be the best versions of yourselves as much as possible. I love that mindset because you're obviously we want to win but we don't want to kind of win at all costs because there's a lot of literature, there's a lot of research about the whole fight or flight response and I think that you will get that temporary burst of energy will get that temporary gain but that can be short-lived and it takes a toll on the body.

6:50 You know when you're stressed out the amount of cortisol that's running through your veins, it can have really long term effects. And so I think if you take that sort of that Long View, Try to harness your energy through things like prawn. I am through breath, work, etc. That can be really effective. I'd love to hear more about, maybe if we could drill down a little bit more deeply about some of the practices you have in terms of meditation and then also in line with that I think I'd seen I don't know if this is on your business card per se but you're you know you're known as The Godfather of gratitude on. So I'm sure that will interweave in terms of how gratitude fits into that and teaching meditation and maintaining that That sense of Stillness that you talked about for me, my practice, it begins and ends with gratitude. And with that brings the positivity of who I am and the energy that I can harness positivity is where it starts from me.

7:44 And then from there, that positivity allows me to then have peace. And then at peace will then allow me to determine from the quietness of what my passion is and whatever things are passionate about and then in turn allow me to. Then find my purpose and You work on the purpose itself and I think those four peas strangely enough. I said that really leads to the fact that it will always begin for me by waking up each morning and being thankful that I can merely take a breath and be alive to then be able to then impact more people in this day. Then have that for another day. I think it became really more evident for me when a few years ago, I made a commitment.

8:29 It meant to make sure that I was clear with my mission, which was to impact and Inspire, at least, 1 million, Filipinos directly and personally in the next five years. And so it's important then to begin from that and to know what your bigger purpose is and then what are the steps that you can take in a smaller aspect of things to then get you there. One is to be able to have great self-awareness and what do you need when you're tired, you need to thicken up and take. Up. If what sets you grounded each day, it's for me, it's the meditate. I have to start my day with not only taking a breath and being grateful that I'm alive, but also going through my gratitude hacks and what are the things I do in order to say?

9:11 Okay, now I'm set now my my cup is full. Now my battery levels are optimized to 100. So now I can continue to give not only am I a servant to athletes and all those I work with but also I'm a bigger servant to the generations. That have either a come before. Or me or the generations that are coming after me, who have dreams, whether their migrant kids or whether their first Generations, or maybe they're coming from more challenging situations, where all they need is to see that there's a possibility and they can latch on that possibility, find their passion and then know that there's a purpose behind it. And I think for me it starts with gratitude and so by doing that it gives me that sense of okay.

9:56 Now I know where I'm going to go and I know because I Have this, that's within me and then I can then boom expand this everywhere. And that's why I think it's funny. And I reminded earlier I mentioned here, though, everyone asked me, the question took word, you have all the energy you do so much, take care of so many people, where do you get the energy? And for me, when I get asked that question it weirdly simple, it comes from being grateful, it's comes from the fact that I'm thankful that I have another chance to impact the world and and I take it by the horns and let's go, let's do this. If I can impact one person. Person. Then I'm happy if I can't get back, 10, cool. If I can impact 100 within one day, that's Legacy. You know, I count my blessings every day and I know that, you know, some of us are more blessed than others and because I am blessed, then, how can I use that fact that I am blessed to change the world now, that's really powerful.

10:46 And this is not something that's just pie in the sky and just like some idealistic woowoo stuff. There are scientific studies that show the benefits of gratitude. When they talk about performance and I think more Fortune 500, These are making it more of a practice for their employees with holistic. Strategies for mental Wellness, whether it's meditation, breath, work. And then gratitude Journal, if that's become just as commonplace in Suburban, moms has a cup of Starbucks latte or Tioga Pass. True. What do not diminish it but you know, I know it's it is taking on like wildfire for sure, it is, but unfortunately, also there's almost a dark side of gratitude. There's toxic positivity where because it Is such a thing as you talked about the Starbucks moms and stuff like that. No, no shade on Starbucks.

11:34 It's a loving this job. I got my cup right, come on, I think sometimes people use gratitude as a cop-out instead of Mel Robbins you would say that. Sometimes people use gratitude as a jackhammer into things, they can't fulfill in life rather than the springboard that allows them to go in further to the to what they're really meant to do. I think that's what happens sometimes, but because now it's popular to think to say it's like, Go online, take a selfie. So what are you grateful for what you're grateful for? But then that goes in and goes out, there's nothing that binds it. And I think it's important to ask the question, why you're grateful? And I know you asked me before about the word accountability and gratitude and I think this is where this takes the place of where if you are grateful for something, why are you grateful for that?

12:21 And when you do that, and you question that and then you have the answer that question, then you make it real, it becomes a solid thing that you're holding on to because now, Nobody else who maybe has seen. Let's see if it's a post that you had or maybe you're sharing the Gratitude with some guests or even just saying to yourself. It's like you're holding yourself accountable. I'm grateful today because I'm taking another breath because I can create impact on this world. So I'm holding myself accountable for that. I don't need to share it with everyone else but when I do that it makes it real its becomes a goal. And I think it's important for people to remember that if they are grateful for something that they make it a real situation rather than a fleeting And which doesn't really hold ground for anything. There's only the beautiful thing about gratitude and practice of gratitude in its true sense.

13:07 Is that gratitude out of every emotion or variable or feeling that we get or just seeing that we do as human beings is one of the only things that has no negative polarity you can be happy but you can still be sad. You can be joyous but have anger when you with this Joy of yours but when you're in the state of gratitude is no other emotion that comes into your system. I mean it's like You can't be grateful. You can't be grateful, but then ungrateful. The same time is physically, emotionally and neurologically impossible. The only thing that comes close to that is being in a true state of mindfulness is not even flow. It's just being in the state of now, like lodging now.

13:47 And so going back to the term gratitude and obviously, you're literally wearing it on your sleeve or your address. Fuck. Yeah, sweatshirt. Tell me more about some of these initiatives. You really exemplify the hyphenate, ethos, Which is, you know, obviously your day job is being a trainer for the next but also you're doing so many things with like web 3 and some of these nonprofits. So if we could start with gratitude gang and if we could go into other initiatives or what, I'd love to hear more about that. Yeah. Gratitude gang with the raft again for life. So, grab the gang started as my community on clubhouse when Clubhouse is popular in 2020. I was an early adopter, the clubhouse. And as I was one of the first, if you don't mind me asking her when what Lee. I mean because is it something similar to Twitter spaces? Or is that kind of what?

14:34 Yeah, so Clubhouse was the original Twitter spaces, okay? Kind of like the OG of it will, G of audio and visual audio is the way. And during the time where people couldn't have face-to-face conversations in real time, it became a source for people to have community and very blessed to and lucky to find out about it at such an early time that then start to things. Even though technically you weren't really allowed to start to clubs I managed to do it. For some strange reason, one was the by okubo club which is the first-ever Filipino Club on clubhouse and the largest one, you know, we have about eight 9,000 members the grown here and we were like the O Gog of all the Filipino clubs and then started growing all the Filipino clubs and then after that and then the simultaneously I started gratitude gang where I felt like it was an opportunity for me to grow a community of people that were Were passionate about gratitude and to be able to say what they're grateful for and why on a daily basis was something that I wanted to hear from people and hold them accountable. And sure, you know, I did it every almost every day for a year straight and it was interesting. The story is and we grew to me in the club now is almost 50,000 people.

15:48 So and so what I did is like okay maybe as people are now opening up and meeting people in real life and so you know, social audio was kind of going down and the big thing was coming up was the web Three world inanity. And I said, well, how can I Channel my community that I grew in clubhouse to be able to create an impact on this world? And it was ironically December of 2021 when a massive typhoon hit the Philippines, decimating, a number of islands that were some of the top islands in the world that period of time. And so I have always given back to the Philippines to every year that I go home. I try to do an initiative and this hit close to heart. I said, I don't just keep on buying. Or creating GoFundMe page has to buy sardines and rice and ramen noodles and give them the government can do that. I mean, this is food that you'll get every Supply, but how can we make it more sustainable?

16:40 That provides maybe jobs or opportunities for other people to be part of a bigger community? And so I switch from Greg to gang, the clubhouse Community to gravity gang. The web three project by hiring a creative director and artists to come from the Philippines. I hired a whole team from the Philippines from my community manager, to my marketing head. To, and every Filipino that I met maybe through Clubhouse and Beyond to say, how can I support you guys with the challenges that you're having posts? Pandemic of maybe not getting jobs or not being able to do things in person? And so let's do this. But for the purpose of rebuilding schools that were decimated by this massive typhoon back in the Philippines and to be able to provide Mental Health Services and and initially, I was just got really excited about this and I said who's the one person I I can ask the maybe can help guide me to at least understanding of what to do and how to begin.

17:35 And I was very lucky enough that one of the alphas as they call it at that time and still is is a guy named Gary vaynerchuk and Gary Gloria. Yeah, somebody I've known since 2000 and I don't care. He's in 2015 and the 2015-16 early 16 and so he's always been somewhat of a mentor to me. Not officially, but every time I've asked about stuff you always introduce me to guys won. He introduced me to this young guy that he said was pretty popular on YouTube, not knowing that, that guy was, is now the most famous YouTuber in the planet named mr. Beast and so many opportunities like that. And he always guided me. If I needed to do something, he was fascinated by it.

18:15 And because web 3 indemnities for the big thing I asked him and he said, I like that idea. Let's do it. Let's set up meetings and let's brainstorm this. I just the one thing you do is get a team together and within a week from that moment in December after the week after the Hurricane, or the typhoon that hit the Philippines had a team by December 20 21, right? Create officially created a, you know, a team and a company that then launch this one of the first ever social impact and of T projects in the history of web 30. So it's that was granted gang. And then grabbed the gang and then we were going heavy, we're moving up and then the right when we launched the Ukrainian War happened. And so imagine all of that and suddenly drop that came down after that.

18:56 Well, why do we need to invest in these things? When things in this World and freaking value human tents area and then also somebody that believe in social impact and me too. I said, why don't need to put time in this when that's a bigger, the people actually dying. And yes, you know, it is something to be to help the Philippines because that's where I'm from. But that was caused by a natural disaster that was that is now being healed. This is still happening or just happening and so it was a tough time, you know, a tough time and things got even worse with the crypto winter that we've just experienced and So what I did towards the end of the leader of last year, I said, how can I make this so that it's more permanent and it's more understandable for more than just the web three population so I turn it to a full nonprofit. So now, gratitude gang, which was once the community in clubhouse which then became a web 3 and if the project is now on its way to get its 501 c 3.

19:50 So in a couple weeks we'll be officially a 501 c 3 and so that is something which still with the initiative and the mission to remote schools, hit by natural. In the Philippines. And then afterwards provide the mental health services which sometimes we forget that these kids who go through a trauma, even natural disaster, trauma, they need support and yeah. Well, forget that other kids. They're resilient they can handle it resilient. Yeah, I hate when people say that I mean it's like, just because a kid is still, you know, they've gone through trauma and they're performing well in school and they have friends, I mean this stuff, manifest, it later in life. I mean, there's a book. I think it's called the body keeps score. Yes, the body. And or yeah, my wife is like, she's just Just absolute barred.

20:30 My daughter bought it for her for her birthday and it's funny every podcast were on. We talk about that book and it seems like everyone's either ready. Have you read that book then to about the last? Yeah, it's spot on because it's just like, there's so much trauma. Then this is common with immigrants where we're spending 20 plates. And we're doing so amazing on paper, but then boo mental health kind of takes whole. That was my journey personally where it was like, I had everything. And then with not addressing mental health issues, it literally almost destroyed my life. Unfortunately, I had an amazing partner who was able to get me out of that, what's been your experience with mental health, in terms of what has worked for you. Because, you know, you're a very positive person. You're very lot of sunshine coming from those hats head, brimming. Pardon the pun with with positive them aren't dead, Joko ads, go dive.

21:18 I have three kids. So, I'm entitled, but yeah, tell me more when, because the reason I'm asking is, you know, our this podcast is very focused on chattering the stigma. Of mental health within the South Asian diaspora because it's a very taboo topic. Something that? Because of denial, because of Shame. It's something that we didn't really focus on until it was too late. And fortunately got a second chance much gratitude for that. But I'd love to hear more about your journey with mental health. What, what has been effective for you? For four major mental health. Obviously, we talk about gratitude but maybe she could share some other things that it was for training and during that period of time where we Were slated to have this massive launch and then the drop that came with it like a roller, right? It was mopping the first time in my life. After a very long time, that I actually went through about of true depression of fear of anxiety. And even though I still had an, I still have some one of the most amazing jobs in the world.

22:21 I felt like I was stuck in limbo somewhere because this had my heart and soul because this was going to support kids in. The Philippines and and people didn't get it. I just understand what people didn't get it. You know, in the end to two things that really helped me was one my team saying, hey look, you need to take care of yourself first, dude, if you can't be mr. Positive mr. Gratitude. How can people number one follow you and number two by your nft, you know it's like you are the end of T is the Sunflower is you and of the sunflower doesn't exist without you being the sunflower. And so when my team said you need to do you for We'll handle it, you know for a little bit that gave me permission after like two weeks or so to say okay not let me get back to my gratitude practice let me get back to my meditation the morning instead of focusing on this craziness that's happening right now of answering all these questions on this cord from The Madness of the memberships and so being given permission and giving yourself, permission is the key to begin the healing. And I think most people forget that that needs to happen. First people like it's almost almost counterintuitive And I need to fix myself, I need to fix something, but when you do that, you're literally hitting a wall, you have to give permission.

23:35 First the door will open so you can walk through. I think people forget that. And so you remember, I'm your given permission then you give yourself permission and then the process of Healing Begins, number two, I think it's important to find a place and people that ground you for me, whether it's like an old best friend that I've known forever, that maybe I haven't spoken to in a while from Country that lives in another country now, or you know, somebody that like just knows me for who I am or calling my friend Philippines. Are we just going somewhere where it reminds me of home? I think it's important to know where that Safe Haven of yours is. And some of the things I teach some of my athletes and those I work with is always, what is this one place? That is your safe place.

24:22 What is your Paradise? What is your ultimate vision of what home is, or what you get grounded in? And whether it's real I'll or whether it's something you create in your mind as long as it's something, you know, and then they can feel with every bone in your body. Hold that and make that your space, you don't even have to tell anybody it's yours. If you have a real place then even better because then if you can go there, then you can find yourself being more grounded and then sit and Stillness there, look around and be like, okay, is this where I'm happy? It's my happy place. If you can't, or you been there a long time ago, and it's still on your head and keep it there, but it's yours. It's yours to have as your safety. Spots. And I think it's important to have that, and I think that's how I was able to really get back into who I was after going through that. And the number three, you have to be out in nature. I think people forget the importance of what nature does to you, even if it's ever so slightly, whether the weather outside is too cold for you to go outside or something, find every excuse to get grounded outside. And so, we're talking about that mental, kind of Roundedness where you get and that, and also, the people that helped you get grounded.

25:34 But now we're talking about just nature in general. I mean, right? That dose of sunlight helps so much and people forget how easily accessible it can be it but not being taken advantage of unfortunately, yeah, it's so true. What you said? I mean, just reconnecting with nature, reconnecting with Community. There's a son script term that I always loved his son God you know about Estonia and it's I know you had made up Valley made me video as well on Instagram, but I was talking about the three C's which is content community and connection. These are, when I think about things that I learn, whether it's breathwork or meditation, you know, I can sit in a room and watch YouTube videos till the cows come home, take notes, get certifications.

26:17 But at the end of the day, I mean if I don't have somebody that either, I'm learning from or teaching it to, I really think that the learning is it's not complete and the same thing is true about What sort of filling your cup when it comes to happiness? It's about having that Community because again, you can take selfies till the cows come home. You can write your Journal etcetera. But I think having that sharing experience, it is really that that secret sauce because I don't know which study was but they said a lot of causes of physical distress are brought on by loneliness. I think it was like a study done at Harvard and I think Community is definitely something that is in this age even with all these Caishen tools like you mentioned Discord social media, we are still probably the most isolated disconnected generations of all time.

27:08 You know what's funny to is. One of the things that I kind of forgot to mention is one of the research has shown. This is one of the best ways to get over depression and loneliness is actually to be of service volunteering somewhere or maybe spending a day at an old person's home or working in a soup kitchen for the day in May makes you realize that sometimes the things that bother you aren't as real as some of the challenges other people are going through and when that realization comes back to you, then it changes your outlook. And I think it's important for people to take a moment to recognize that as they go around, going through their own challenges, is that there are also other people that are going through worse things, and not to demean what their challenges are. But when you serve others, it gives you a better insight. From a black perspective perspective, more than anything else.

28:04 The flip side of that, we talk about Community, but then there's always competition as asian-americans. There's this tendency, there's this comparison trap. I know, I think in one, one of your interviews, you talked about how you sort of felt like, you were behind the eight ball in terms of your training because you felt like, maybe there are some people who are ahead of you another concept that that you reference. I always loved studying languages because there are certain terms of other Languages that don't always translate but there is one term used called that I taught at that. Tell me more about that are the concept about Todd's. It sounds like that's the Filipino equivalent of fomo, maybe. I don't know. Like maybe I actually did like isolation it was it's fomo before fomo.

28:46 It's right. That it's this weird sense that you you need to get something done and got done now. And and this impatience that people have rather than taking a moment to kind of like Analyze or even feel whether it's the right choice to make or the right direction to go and I do. And it's very it's caught up mainly by, a lot of emotions and one of this motion is funny enough as you talk about taught, that's a very Filipina work. Another filipino word that's actually in the Webster. Dictionary is a word called kilig and collecting butterflies in your stomach. There's no other language in this world that has One Singular word for what it feels like when you feel like you have butterflies in your stomach, particularly vegetables, Kili hearing, okay, I Lig, it's like you get killings.

29:34 You see somebody you like romantically here, you get killing because somebody, your crush that it is your crush, kind of like Taps you on the shoulder and you're like crying, would you like oh I'm I'm still parked illegally know when I post. And so what happens is that when you get this feeling of colleague, you feel like you want to act like oh, so your first version, I didn't see ya shy. But then like, what? If I don't get another opportunity. Say hello and like and it's usually your friends that tell you Aang you better get on it and so you're like feeling of this this at that feeling where you're like I gotta go talk to her. Now. Somebody touches you and your shoulders I gotta go because she want this feeling this emotion that you have.

30:15 So it's kind of funny is so it's been an interesting journey to look at my you know one language growing up and seeing some of the words. I have no direct translation to any other language and what that actually encompasses and it's been Of funny. And I thought there's one of those were how can we battle at that? How can we be friends? Can we be more present? Pause take a breath maybe and allow things to happen in front of us, rather than forcing things because we just want it done. Pushing the issue. So to speak, is that something you faced a lot growing up as, you know, a child of immigrants or like needing to make it? Yeah. I think even from manifested I was in baseball for eight years as the resident one of the first ever Major League rehab. Actors in all of Major League Baseball. After I finish my tenure in 2012, I had an opportunity with two NBA teams to get into it and two NBA teams. I was so a thought that instead of just letting the process happen, I called almost every day, I sent emails all the time, like, hey, how's it going?

31:19 Just checking in just seeing if you need anything, which is funny. It's like I know that we all have this curiosity to find out whether or or not, you know, we're going to get, you know, the gig or something like that. But sometimes coming from the flipside because I've been on the receiving end of it. The person that really sends me that email every single day or tries to call me every single day, or DMZ. Now it's the worst because Nathan dmu. Now, they've actually you're like, no, you are not the person? You're not it, you're not the person I'm going to hire or tell a recommend because you are just do what that rather than like Austin receiving. People being the moment saying, like, you know what, let's look at this person's like, I was like, you know what, I think would be a perfect fit, but on the other side be more to like be have that patience and confidence saying that, if it works out, then it was meant to be. Then if it's not a, maybe I'm meant to go somewhere else. The word I use, I don't know if you follow, like, Michael Beckwith at all, but he talks a lot about, like, surrender. You know, I'm like trying to make things happen. The thing that I find most powerful is, you know, in corporations.

32:22 They have that trust fall exercise. Yeah. You're surrounded by a group and you just have to church building. That bond is Falling back and trusting that the person will catch you on that. They won't respond to that, Deanna to the point is. Yeah, when you relinquish control, whether it's over that promotion or whether sometimes it's over your health, you know? Because we are living this Web MD world, where we have a cough or cold and we just Google it and we got to get all the supplements and all the right train, you know, all the things to fix this problem and sometimes it's just about surrendering and going back to your Earlier image about Stillness and you know just letting the water run. Its course.

33:04 Sometimes there can be a lot of power in that. Yeah, absolutely, I mean letting it go letting it flow my friend just like Bruce Lee would say like flow like water and I think that's one of my favorite sayings is because sometimes in life we can't control and one of my managers was a big inspiration to me was a big motivational speaker. Clint Hurdle when he was with the Pirates. You know, said this quote and said, there's only really two things we can control in this world that's attitude and effort. Once you have those two, all you can do after that is leave everything to God. And so having a good attitude and knowing that you put the effort in order for you to achieve what it is. You want to achieve Insha'Allah if God wills it once you get that done then you know that you know that you're right path.

33:46 Sometimes if you force that hand too much, then what you thought was your destiny is now not because you've pushed it too hard and now that wall is coming back at you. Instead, they like water flow. And be that flowing river that allows you to go inside the mouth, especially where it's meant to be. Couldn't agree more, you know, we were talking about cultural aspects, retirement language, a taut and everything. One of the things Congratulations, by the way, I saw that you would named one of the top 75 most influential filipino-american, you know, this podcast is about. We primarily focused on the South Asian experience, we haven't really talked much about Filipino background. So I wanted to understand culturally, what is your sense, you know, being a Pino American being someone who's very plugged into that Community?

34:33 What has been your sense of the Filipino experience in terms of assimilation? You know? Do you feel like you're being heard more? I'll answer beginning with the fact that free Filipinos are one of the most adaptable people in this one. The world. And we do it with a smile. So you can put us in the middle of Saudi Arabia. You can put us in the middle of Italy, you can put as the middle anywhere and we can find a way to blend in. You won't even know where we're from, but then we'll do everything we do with this. Island. So and hence, the reason why we're one of the friendliest people in the world, we were raised to serve and to serve with a smile and because we have the sense of gratitude growing up where there are many people who have and but there's also a lot of people to have nots and and having the sense of having an opportunity to do something bigger or different than in turn, help your family back home is something we have inherently in our culture. You know, I'm almost a quarter of the growth GDP that is submitted by the It's from overseas, contract workers probably even more than maybe maybe 40%. So, being Filipino and the Philippine experience. Now, for me, as, as a leader in the community, hasn't been amazing because I'm just, you know, I'm just a guy working on my own Niche and being the best.

35:47 I can be in the World of Sport and even though I'm not an athlete or a head coach, which would usually Garner, a lot of the accolades and the awareness of for me to be so to speak a support. Tough guy. But then being able to make sure that I continue to Mentor those who see me in the platform that I'm in whether it had to do with the NBA or whether it has to do with my nonprofits or has to do with with the community. From gratitude from Baku, Baywatch was on Pub house. I think I am and will forever be an older brother to everyone in the community Filipino community and that word is kuya and I think I am an older brother.

36:28 I'm acquia. Ooh, both my younger sister and my younger brother, but I've also now become the kuya of an entire really generation of Filipinos who are either a in the health, wellness and performance space, or be are in the personal growth world or want to be in the personal growth world, or, or want to being content creation and stuff. And even though I'm like, consider myself an influencer, by any means, what I influence is, is the impact and the, and the ability to Mentor people because at any given point in, Time whether your Filipino or not. But if you come from an immigrant background and you have a story that you can tell him, but you're also clear with your purpose and your dream, I will help you. I'll answer your diem right back on your LinkedIn question. I think this is reason why grasshopper project exists and this is my first nonprofit which started in 2013 initially and became a full nonprofit in 2018 was to really bring the ability of true mentorship for those that don't have mentors. You know, initially I started in the house. Well - and performance space.

37:30 But now it's like, I'm getting people who are in the tech world. I'm getting people in the content creation even though I'm really not expert at these. And if it's not me then at least the beautiful thing now is now I have a whole community of what I call gurus. That's an enough that my expertise. I can find somebody who's an expert, then maybe they can mentor you and my network has gone. So big. Now that literally any kid that has a dream can have a question and I probably know one person that can support him or her. I think it's all about. It's about giving, you know, and I think, I always think everything is energy and I think people live in this fixed mindset where it's, there's this finite amount of energy that I have. And I have to just focus on myself forces, people like yourself who live in this virtuous cycle mentality where it's, you know, you you get what you give and if you take an altruistic Viewpoint, it's just more Goods, going back to the positive feelings that you get from serving others, and it sounds like that's It's kind of rooted in your DNA's as a Filipino.

38:32 What you were saying earlier, and I think we that's something we definitely need a lot more of today than in this hyper capitalist Society. We live in an America. I think we need to have more people from who do realize the benefits of of service and you know, you mentioned the one towards a couple times which was a personal growth and obviously the leader in that field of personal growth is Mindvalley CH which, you know, both you and I are members of this community and I'd love to hear more about your experience with Mindvalley kind of what it's meant for you. What you're doing with Mindvalley? Yeah, I began my journey in mind Valley through a fost almost 10 years ago.

39:13 So it's funny going to cut out the Hannah this year, it would be my 10th year anniversary of being part of the mine value, universe speak. And at that time, I was on my 4-Hour, workweek situation traveling on the world teaching mentoring and And for me, it was interesting because it was one of those almost 2013 was the greatest year of my life but also one of the one of the saddest tears if a sadist, but also the greatest year of my life, so much less than two that year. I had already just come from burning man and then went to a Fest and that happened because almost a year ago in December of 2012. I was in Playa del Carmen and I've met a friend at the hostel and I met this girl and there's a group of us and met each other and we went out salsa dancing and then the One of the next morning's she was packed up and leaving she goes I I'm going to this I don't know conference event something I'm going to this thing where called awesomeness Fest.

40:10 She is master of fact you should need to apply because you pretty awesome. I was like really okay and I looked at it I was like wow this is me written all over. I mean it was known as awesome as fast with my best friend and I was like, I'm awesome. I'm going to the same. Let's go. And she goes well you can't just do that. You kind of supply. By and by July, she said, she called me, she gets the websites up, get your application now. And it took me like two, three months for that application to go through from, I had leader interview calls, some most crazy. And when I got accepted, I felt like, okay cool. But, you know, I was one of 250 300 people. There it was only the second year that a Fest was open to the public, but it changed my life. I will always be grateful to my in Valley and you know and vision for Putting this together through his own lowliness meeting and belonging and Community. To create this whole community of wacky people who want to change the world and pushing my knee forward. And, you know, if this was one of the greatest things that because the people I've met there, as I found my tribe, it's funny to say that you think that those people in high school or, you know, for me and my high school friends are my friends forever, and I thought that was it. I would never meet anybody else.

41:26 That would be my forever friends. And when I I went to afis and 2013, I found another group that would be my forever friends, which included, Nita Busan, and Bancroft, and a whole bunch of other people and being able to see mine Valley, grow to what it is now and even seeing Vision to girl who he is now. So I just just to be part of that from a community standpoint but also from a gross and it's been a blessing and I will forever be grateful to be part of the tribe. Yeah, it's been, it's been nothing short of transformative for me as well. And Like I said before, it's the three C's, it's the content, the community and the connection. I just I can't think of another platform out there that that even comes close and just in terms of the breakthroughs I'm experiencing in terms of just collaborations, it's Anna and it just feels like, it's just the beginning, I'm pretty new to it. I'm not, I don't have my 10-year anniversary or anything like that, but I thought you to it in the year or two, that I've been a part of this community.

42:24 I can see the growth. It's like I'm kind of looking at the trend lines. It's Edible. And the beauty is that with things like mine Val University this year we might be bringing our kids as well and so I doing it. Get them started on that. Trajectory at that early age it'll be amazing to see kind of holy extent as well. So my oldest is 19. My middle one is 15. And that I have an eight-year-old, you know, ice. I ask that is because and then and I told you earlier, I started my world and meditation at the age of seven star teaching at 12 and Silva method came to my life. Yes. Yeah, you know it's funny because it came to visit Life when he was bright and so we did. You did you did the book hit you on the head? Also, or the? He tells the story about how like he was climbing up a bookshelf in the book, hit him on the head. I don't know if you think you add all that. Mine wasn't a newspaper ad in the Manila. Bulletin like a 1/8 ad that says, and get better grades and increase your brainpower.

43:20 And it really is a, it was for me, the beginning of the other standing of how to use your mind body and spirit to the Most optimal level 100%. I mean Silva method that could that could be a whole other kind of simple repetition Silva method is just like you said, it's the brain-body connection. We're in this Western World. I think we sometimes take too much of that pills for an ill approach and we try to do surgery, we just need to look inside ourselves. You know, we just need to sit with ourselves and get into those Alpha brainwaves States or Theta or gamma, you know, it's just things like. So a method are just one of the many things that you know, can can help us. Sheep that the name of this podcast is untether your life and that's about, you know, Breaking Free of what we call templates. You know, whether that's definitions of success or that's how to manage an illness or how to manage your career or relationships.

44:13 Whatever, just ripping up those templates and really forging your own path and charging ahead. And I think like I said you I think have done this in Spades in your life, I guess. Two questions. One is, you know, what is that meant for you, untethering, your life. And secondly, how would you tell somebody listening out there? How can they untether their life? I think being able to harness the power of gratitude to provide the energy. That's necessary for me to impact as many people. As I can on a daily basis has driven me to make sure that I live an untethered life. Have no other choice either. I stay in this lane or I do this and I choose to do this. That's just who I am. And I've that Curiosity and I've had since a little boy, has made me that much of this may have my mother. I just can't understand why I don't have a cookie cutter life, which was going to happen.

45:04 And so, what I always tell those that, I Mentor or a coach, or people ask questions, how they can then harness their own energies as well, to then find their passions and then live. Their purpose is first and foremost, answer the question of why. Answer the question, what drives that, why? And by doing that, you can have more focus and a direction of work to go because sometimes you just going to get lost and I think, One of the first things, when even people ask me is like, hey, can you help me meditate and I asked them, what do you need it for? And I'm just being honest like why? And when they have a more solid, why? Then I can give them the answer or even when those who try to ask me if I can mentor them. And I asked them why what is it that I do that inspires you to want to do what I do, right.

45:51 I want to be in sports, but why do you want to be in sports? And I think it's important going back to uh Simon sinek ton of thought, process of Sir? Why? And when you can answer that, then it's easier for anyone who is a mentor, who's a coach, who's a therapist or anyone that's supporting you, whether at the low level at the highest level and Sport can help you in the right way. So Erwin, if people are interested in learning more about what you're doing, whether it's the Gratitude gang or the work you're doing with the New York Knicks or just any of your numerous insights that you have about gratitude and so much more. How can they either get a hold of you, or how can they find out more about you? You the easiest way is to find me on Instagram at Irwin.

46:33 Be evil and say that's my Instagram, that's my Twitter, that's everything. That's all my social handles, that's also my linkedin's but also you can go to grasshopper. Project.org to learn more about t mentorship program. The nonprofit mentorship program for health wellness and performance. And gratitude gang dot IO for the nft project. We're currently still building the nonprofit part of gratitude gang on website. My website Irwin Valencia.com, which is in the process of being rebuilt right now, so it may not be upset. Like I said, easiest way to do that is to go to my DMs and mediums are open and any of my socials and send me a note and say hi. Well, thanks so much Irene.

47:15 This was such an amazing conversation. We touched on so much and truly a blessing to be connected with you. And have you impart some of your wisdoms on gratitude and so much more. So thanks again, no worries. Nikhil, thank you very much for having me. Thanks so much for listening and I hope you enjoyed that episode four more of these types of conversations. Please visit us at untether, your life that Co you can also find us on Instagram and untether your life, as well as on Apple Spotify and other platforms by searching for untether, your life. And if you did enjoy this episode, please leave us a review or share it with someone who might also benefit. Thanks. And until the next time we meet stay untethered. Thanks so much for listening and I hope you enjoyed that episode four more of these types of conversations. Please visit us at untether, your life that Co you can also find us on Instagram and untether your life, as well as on Apple Spotify and other platforms by searching for untether, your life. And if you did enjoy this episode, please leave us a review or share it with someone who might also benefit. Thanks. And until the next time we meet stay untethered.