One of the greatest guitarists and motivational speaker of all time, Jimmy Hendrix, once said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
The great spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said, “World peace begins with inner peace.”
I’m a big believer that we create the world we want to see, which is why we talk so much about cultivating mindset and leadership on this podcast. Each week on The School of Greatness, we host an inspiring person or motivational speaker to help you discover how to unlock your inner greatness. I’m so excited to share with you today’s guest: someone who I think has gone far down the path toward greater inner peace.
In this episode, I talk about purpose with a former NFL football wide receiver and one of the most impactful and motivational speakers of this generation: Trent Shelton. Trent’s videos have received more than a hundred million views and have changed the lives of tens of thousands of people who have gone through different struggles in life. We will be discussing how to externally reflect your internal beliefs and stand for something to be the greatest you.
“If you are looking for a miracle, you are that miracle.” – Trent Shelton
The first time I interviewed Trent was in 2018, and I’m so grateful to have him back on The School of Greatness. It took a few years, but I finally found the opportunity to have him on my show again for another inspiring conversation with a motivational speaker!
Who Is Trent Shelton?
Trent is a former American football player who is the founder and president of Rehab Time, a Christian faith-based, not-for-profit organization. Through his voice, Trent has inspired and helped transform the lives of thousands of people struggling in their lives. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, his hard-hitting videos reach over sixty million people weekly.
Trent is the author of The Greatest You: Face Reality, Release Negativity and Live Your Purpose. In this book, Trent takes you on a journey to discover the best version of yourself. It was great to have Trent on the show, and I am excited for you to learn from this amazing man.
The Key to Making a Relationship Work
Trent’s public speaking and videos often draw on experiences from his personal life that have taught him some hard lessons. Ten years back, Trent was unfaithful to his partner. He was dating someone and had a baby with (his now wife) Maria at the same time. The infidelity nearly destroyed his relationship with Maria.
Trent eventually decided to face the situation instead of avoiding it, but, at the time, he blamed others for his mistakes. This is when he had a wake-up call and decided to be the father that his son deserved.
“I had a conversation with Maria … and we both came to an understanding … that we don’t have to be [in a relationship to raise our son]. … [Eventually, Maria and I] grew closer to each other and got to know each other. … We put all our differences aside, … [connected] on a deeper level … and realized that we really had chemistry and love for each other. Now we have been [happily] married for three years, [parenting two wonderful kids, with another one on the way]. – Trent Shelton
Trent found himself in a dark phase where he was struggling to become a provider for his family. But Maria really motivated him and encouraged him, which led him to grow as an individual — and do the internal work that would inevitably allow him to become a better partner to her.
“She had my back when a lot of people didn’t. … [I hadn’t treated her well before and] during her pregnancy, but she went past all that. She saw the good in me, believed in me, and decided to support me. And never made me feel [inadequate].” – Trent Shelton
Through this, Trent learned to treat people the way he wanted to be treated. He’s an advocate for giving others the respect you wish to receive. Through this experience, Trent knows how important it is to reflect on what we believe in and stand for and make sure to pass it on to other people.
My friend Matthew Hussey, a relationship coach for women, says: “Make a list of all the qualities you want in a person, then do those things, and you will attract the same from others.” Try it, and you might be pleasantly surprised.
As a kid, Trent always wanted to be a professional athlete. But then things got off-track, and he got cut from the team. He had to figure out what to do next — he needed to find his purpose.
Finding Your Purpose
If someone has a dream that they start to pursue, but it suddenly stalls out, things can feel dark down. There’s a risk that their entire identity transforms into something else or that they abandon the dream for a new purpose. However, Trent believes that your purpose is just to exist.
“Purpose is [not] something that you will necessarily find, the world [may not] have your purpose, and you might end up getting lost when you start looking for it. … [I believe that] you were born on purpose … [and that] you are the purpose. … [You must] live [your] full potential, and actually make a difference and … use[ your] life to bring betterment to the world.” – Trent Shelton
This ideology has helped Trent not to become attached to a single goal and to live a life of purpose. Growing up, he had never thought of becoming a public motivational speaker. But looking back now, Trent realizes that so many people told him that he could become a powerful motivational speaker one day.
“There is a magnet inside of you that attracts people. … And when you understand that magnet, that’s when your power is released. … People [had felt that magnetic pull in me], but I was too blind and wrapped up in what I wanted to then that I couldn’t even see it.” – Trent Shelton
You can have lots of people telling you what you are good at, but none of that matters if it doesn’t resonate with you. Figure out a different mechanism for your gift by trying out different things and finding what you like. This way, you won’t get stopped by small obstacles standing in the way of your dream: Instead, these obstacles will empower you.
Hack Fear and Develop a Belief Mindset
How often do you experience imposter syndrome? I know that I often feel like there are others in the room who are more experienced than me, who have more resources than I do, or who are just better than me altogether. However, this mindset leads to fear — and, as Trent says, fear is what holds you back.
“Fear [lies in] … creating a known result from a situation that you haven’t experienced yet. You [basically] tell yourself what is going to [happen] even before you [have done something]. So you will end up not doing it, [because you already fear the outcome].” – Trent Shelton
You have to believe in yourself, develop the mindset of a champion, and go all in. Don’t let fear stand in the way of realizing your full potential.
“[While approaching an unknown situation, I use a] little trick to hack fear, … by focusing on repetition. … Sometimes fear comes from not being prepared, [so find your calling and get down to mastering it through repetition or practice].” – Trent Shelton
Mentally prepare yourself, take the first step and walk through the door. You may fall on your face — you may be embarrassed more than once — but even if you don’t win, there is still great value in trying. Ask yourself questions like, “What’s in it for me?” That is the mindset that takes you to greatness: a willingness to face your fears and learn.
