One Life with Donny Raus

Have you seen the movie Zoolander? More specifically, the scene where Mugatu tells Derek "you're a monkey Derek. You're a monkey". As a result, Derek starts to jump around like a monkey. How true is that of life? When we're younger, we develop personalities based on what is going to get us the love and attention from our parents (or caretaker). You've got the usual su...

What would life be like if you just said YES? When life feels mundane and boring, it is likely because we've become too engrained in our habits. When we become too rigid with our schedules, we often crowd out the possibilities to meet new people, have new experiences, and learn new things. So if habits are the shovel that digs us in a hole, what's the golden rope that lifts us out? The a...

When disaster hits, we can choose to focus on the destruction or we can focus on something more empowering, such as what we can do, what's really important in life, and the generosity of others. As many of us wait this out in our homes, how we emerge is largely going to depend on where we choose to put our energy. In today's episode I share my account of how one simple interaction at a f...

What if you had a year to live? What would you prioritize? Who would you spend time with? Time gets obscured through the busyness of life. We think that we've got all the time in the world, but then something happens that brings us to the realization that time is finite. Most people start to live, only when they know they're going to die. Let's not wait that long... Let us acknowled...

We tend to get caught in thinking that one outcome is better than the other, when the difference is just a matter of perspective. Each moment is full of infinite possibilities and when we close ourselves off to other possibilities, we close ourselves off from the magic of that moment. I learned this lesson in one of my travels, when I allowed the fear of others to infiltrate my decision and disrup...

Success leaves clues. If we want to get results in any area of our lives, we usually don't have to look very far. If we're honest with ourselves, we've all be successful at some point in our lives, whether it be a great family, relationship, career, or our health. The The magic lies in figuring out what we did to get those results and applying that same formula to the other areas. I...

What if I told you there was a formula for happiness? You'd want to know it wouldn't you? What if I also told you that there was a formula for excitement, fulfillment, and love? Now I've got your attention. Uncovering this formula isn't as difficult as one would think. To do so we must first map out the experiences of our past that led to feeling the emotion we're after. O...

What does it mean to be great and how do we measure it? The answer might not be as straight forward as you think. For many, greatness is attached to an end result, when in truth, greatness is the result of many great actions taken consistently.  Greatness is a mindset, not a destination.  Is it possible to be great in some areas, while struggling in others? Yes, but when we look at the focus and t...

What feelings come up when I mention the word "discipline"? I used to associate the word with lack of freedom, until I did some digging and found that it was only when I was disciplined that my life worked. Everything we want to accomplish, all those fulfilling dreams and desires, all require discipline to bring to fruition. Realize this and you won't have the same resistance to doi...

Who do you say you are? Who do others say you are? What's the truth? Identity is the strongest force shaping our realities. Whether that identity is positive or not will have a huge impact on how you experience life. Where does or sense of identity come from and is it true? More often then not, we'll notice that it was shaped by our environments instead of being consciously crafted. You&...

Can you look in the mirror and honestly say I love you? In the past I had tremendous trouble doing this, but recently, the answer to that question changed. How it changed had more to do with what I observed within myself. If we want to find beauty within, where everything starts, we must first seek it. Once found we can then radiate it outward to the rest of the world. Start the process of loving...

A little rant on coffee rituals in my travels. What's your ritual around coffee? I'd love to hear. PM me on Instagram at @donnyraus

We all have greatness inside each of us. The only decision on our part is to choose to recognize and activate it. Ever witness (TV or in person) someone accomplishing a great feat and feeling teary eyed afterward? Why is that? I believe one of the reasons is because we recognize the same greatness that is available to each of us. While we may not be athletes (or maybe we are), greatness comes from...

Time doesn't stop for anyone, so why do we? If there is one thing my travels have taught me is that you can't wait for others to take the trip (start the new venture, make a long needed change). If we desire something in life, we must go after it with audacity. Believe it or not, the decision to start is the hardest of all. Once you decide, you set forth a chain reaction that will unfold...

Time. It is our most valuable resource and with it we can create anything we put our focus to. Then why does it seem so difficult to push forward in our endeavors? Did you catch that? The "key" in the last sentence? The reason is so many of us "PUSH". To manipulate time, you've got to know how to leverage it, but before you can do that, you first must plan and that starts...

We've all had someone come into our lives, even if for an instant, that's change its trajectory for ever. Amazing isn't it? How such a short and sometimes chance encounter can shape who we become. Want to know the good news? This isn't some super power... While you I believe God's hand is at play, we all have the ability to positively influence the lives of those around us...

The answer to shaping our lives isn't somewhere out in the distance. It is in the present moment, more specifically, becoming aware of our mind and the repetition that keeps us feeling the same emotions, because unless we can change here, we're doomed to repeat it again and again. We were each born to live lives we love. The road starts today. It starts now. In this episode are 2 easy pr...

Lessons will pop up when you least expect them. Here's one from my New Year's Eve in Philadelphia. I believe that most of the time when we're not getting the result that we want, it is likely that we haven't yet accepted where we currently are. The resistance for "what is" prevents us from taking steps forward, doing the small steps that are necessary to accomplishing...

Whether you live Vietnamese coffee or just curious how to make some of their most prized coffee creations, this risked will give you a recap of my most recent trip, as well as, recipes for you to bring the authentic taste home.

The mind is the strongest muscle in the human body It is the master creator of our reality and the healer of our bodies. With this power comes great responsibility. We must cultivate good thought, otherwise this great creator can become a God of destruction.

Before we get what we want, we must first know what it is  we are setting out for in the first place. This is the power of intention. Intention allows us to think outside of our current situation, peering through the window at the very outcome we desire. The consequence of not setting an intention? We allow ourselves to drift with whatever comes our way. The caveat is that unless we're guided...

How do you know if you’re winning the game of life? Like any professional sport, you've got to keep score. Many of us, myself included, go through life never really taking a moment to reflect on where we've been. The problem? Neglecting to recall those memories, or keep score, we tend to flounder through life blind to the magic of each day. Taking the time at the end of your day to recal...

Sitting at a cafe, a little sleep deprived, and contemplating the trip till now, i share some of my insights and experiences of Vietnam this far.

This week's episode is an interview I did with Julie Reisler of The You-est You Podcast.  I know Julie from a entrepreneurs group I belong to and from the initial meeting I could tell she was special. Julie's purpose is to help others find their "You-est You" or as I like to refer to it, their truest truth. In inspiration on so many levels, Julie interviewed me to get under the...

We've all had successes in our life. The key is to realize what we did to achieve success, because it is also the key to being successful in all the other areas, such as our relationships, finances, and business.  Join me as I reflect and share the success formula learned from my first physique competition as an amateur bodybuilder.  After listening to the entire clip, I invite you to look at...