For many, many years, since I was a kid, I’ve been a very positive and grateful individual. I was brought up in a very positive environment with my parents and my brother. They taught me gratitude, positivity and to be kind to others. Thankfully it rubbed off on me and I carried it on through my entire life.
Many years ago my positivity and health awareness reached new heights when my music career really started to take off. All the things I had learned throughout my life, like living a life of purpose, succeeding, being positive and being healthy/fit, made me realize how effective all these attributes could be for ‘anyone’. I decided to start sharing my own personal tips on succeeding, positivity and health with family, friends, then fans and anyone in general who took interest. I’ve seen it help so many people over the years. To give back, coach and see people get results from the same attributes that worked for me, is something I’m grateful for every day.
I wanted to take my desire to help others to the next step. That next step became live motivational speaking and starting my RVP Health, Body and Mind page. It’s a Facebook Page dedicated to the many principles I’ve used to become a happy, positive, healthy and successful individual. I essentially provide tips on Well Being, Health and Fitness to help motivate and inspire others on a daily basis. The majority of my posts are based off of my own experiences in life and what has and hasn’t worked for me over the years. I’m there daily answering questions, giving tips and even exercises to help make YOU a more positive, healthy, fit and most of all, HAPPY person.
My wish is that you can take the advice given on this page and incorporate it into your life, to live a life full of purpose. Whether it’s motivating you or inspiring you to become more positive, more successful, to get in shape, eat healthier or if it’s the push you need to simply take action and go for your dreams…. RVP Health, Body and Mind is my offering to you to help you become the best and happiest you can be.
In closing, we’re ALL 100% accountable for our lives…. We’re the creators of what our lives will be. So, let’s make the most of it!
Wishing you all the best always,
RVP
Hey guys, once again, I'm sharing my passion and what I BELIEVE in with you all. This is a sneak peek clip of 'Hollow', the debut single from my new band, Imonolith. It's being released soon. Info below. Everything I teach and talk about through this page, I'm applying to this band. Lead by example 😉 I don't just share and teach what's worked for me, I apply it to my own life to this very day. Hope you guys like it, if so, share away!
"Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it!"
‘Hollow’ - Imonolith Debut Single and Video Teaser
Official Release Date: 01/18/2019.
Pre-Order now on iTunes and Google Play
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/album/id1444690928?ls=1&app=itunes
Google Play: play.google.com/store/music/album/Imonolith_Hollow?id=B3xossbjf2wjcxpyez2f3hkvfva&fbclid=IwAR1Ir96HASuZlW_d8-Vi5JtFm6hFmH_4sGd-KJ8VwVYpG1a5HIv7CifMRk4
Available world-wide on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and many other online distributors on 01/18/2019
Song produced by Brian Howes and Jason Van Poederooyen
Video produced by Square Egg Visions
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ7vofV0LSs
Imonolith - 'Hollow' Single/Video Teaser
‘Hollow’ - Imonolith Debut Single and Video Teaser Official Release Date: 01/18/2019. Pre-Order now on iTunes and Google Play iTunes: itunes.apple.co...
“If someone see’s something as impossible, it isn’t a fact, it’s simply someone else’s opinion. It’s up to you to decide what is possible or not. Become the possible in your own way.”
Ryan Van Poederooyen
Being positive with Self-Criticism
I can be on both sides of the fence when it comes to self-criticism. I’m not perfect and I’m always learning every day. There have been many times in the past where I viewed self-criticism as a negative. There is nothing wrong with that but it’s also important to see the positives in self-criticism.
Over the years I’ve actually made a point of being aware of the negatives but also focus on the positives of self- criticism equally. So many people find it easier to be negative. You have to catch yourself in that negative state and then look for the positives of what you’re being critical of…. How can this criticism help you ? Here’s my thought pattern on it and what works for me…
I find when I’m being self-critical, I’m also very self-aware. I seem to focus on what I need to improve on, which is crucial in continuing to grow and develop the different areas of my life. Being self aware allows you to be more critical on yourself in a productive and positive way. I’ve benefited from looking at criticism this way for years now. You don’t end up being scared of failing! Being self-critical is about learning all of the options available to you so you don't end up putting all your eggs in one basket. Being narrow minded and critical can lead to some bad outcomes. I’ve been there and it’s never fun. Always open your mind to the many different options around you. This way you know that you will always give whatever you’re attempting the best possible shot. It may not work out every time but you WILL know that you gave it your best and tried the many different options available to you. That’s a big positive because you will become better from learning from all these different experiences and outcomes.
I find being self-critical allows me to analyze every scenario, whether the outcome is positive or negative. People who are already content with themselves usually don’t try to be better than where they already are. You need to look at both sides of the coin. This is how you get better. We seem to always analyze the negative but can take the positive outcomes for granted. Analyze both, this is key advice. By analyzing both sides, you end up thinking things through more often. This will always work in your favour. You will be more prepared as a result. Being more prepared than normal is always much better that not being prepared or under-prepared.
Through all my learnings through self-criticism, I have become more outgoing with my choices and looked for bigger opportunities to succeed. You will too. I became more confident and began pushing myself outside my normal boundaries. This was a big turning point in my career and I had a better outlook on my life too. They say success lies just outside your comfort zone. I agree with this statement whole heartedly. Don’t be scared to be self critical. Just be sure to look at the positives and the negatives of self criticism…. This is how you will be able learn from both sides, gain more knowledge and have a better chance at succeeding with anything you do in your life!
I know this isn't a self development post per se, but it's the culmination of everything I teach on this page. A vision, hard work and perseverance. This is my new band that I helped build from scratch called, Imonolith. I'm very proud of it and am putting all my 'know how' and effort into it...
‘Hollow’ - Single by Imonolith - PRE-ORDER available on iTunes and Google Play STARTING: DEC 2nd, 2018 - Links below:
iTunes - itunes.apple.com/album/id1444690928?ls=1&app=itunes
Google Play - play.google.com/store/music/album/Imonolith_Hollow?id=B3xossbjf2wjcxpyez2f3hkvfva
'Hollow' will officially be released on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and many other world-wide online distributors on January 18th, 2019. You can not pre-order the song on streaming sites.
Song sample coming soon... stay posted
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OmwMD44zKs
Thanks as always for your support. Wishing you all the very best!
RVP
Hollow - Imonolith Debut Single (Teaser Video)
'Hollow' - Imonolith's Debut Single Pre-Orders start on Dec 2nd, 2018 via iTunes and Google Play. Release Date: Jan 18th, 2019 More announcements to be made ...
Hey everyone,
In 2 days my appearance on WhiiseCon will be available live! WhiiseCon is the only music conference to only invite musicians to speak. 20 successful musicians all over the world share their honest stories about success, failure, and lessons learned. WhiiseCon supports 50-50 gender split & donates all the proceeds to Women In Music, promoting gender equality in the music world. Come watch my interview! It will be online for 48 hrs. It's free to attend online from anywhere in the world. Hope you guys dig it and get some inspirational info from my interview and all the other wonderful people involved!
Click this link for a free ticket to watch 🙂
whiisecon.com/?from=RVP
Dealing with Stress
We all deal with it.... stress! It’s happened to every single person that has walked this earth. The thing about stress is you can let it happen to you or you can find ways to overcome and deal with it. I prefer the latter.
These are some of the ways I view dealing with stress and some of the things I do to overcome stress :
100% responsibility. Stress can cause people to blame other people or things on the way things turn out in their life. An accountable person knows that everything they do, from the time they start their day to the time they go to sleep, is a choice. We’re ultimately in control of our lives. No matter if we decide to do something or not to do something, it’s our choice in the end. No matter what way you choose, be 100% responsible for your actions and decisions and it will ease stress.
You must accept stress as a part of life. Mentally strong people know that negative situations, and problems are inevitable. When stressful situations happen, they do whatever it takes to make the situation better instead of focusing on the problem at hand and why you’ll fail. Even when they can't change the surrounding circumstances, they know they can always take steps to improve their situation. Be the optimist, not the pessimist and release stress.
Your health is so important in dealing with stress. You can’t battle stress if you're worn out and have no energy. Like I always say, a healthy body contributes and supports a healthy mind. Be sure to put healthy foods in your body and to get your exercise in. It naturally enhances a positive attitude when you feel good. You’ll be more optimistic and be ready for taking on any challenge and stress level that should arise.
Positive self talk. How many times have we done something and said, “I’m an idiot!” or “This’ll never work!”. There are so many examples we can use. It’s absolutely important to reaffirm that you can overcome stress. That there is a way out. We all need to dig deep whenever things go astray but it’s so important to back it up with positive self talk. Don’t just believe it, say it to yourself and move forward!
Be positive always. Smart, positive people are realistic and don’t see everything as unicorns and rainbows. There will be tough times, but even tough times can have a positive outcome. Positive people recognize that good things can come from stressful situations. Rather than allowing something negative to turn them into a negative person, they choose to use stressful situations to become stronger and better. Turn stress into a positive outcome by being as positive with your life as much as possible.
All these things help me deal with stress. I have as much stress in my life as the next person, but it’s the many positive ways how I deal with that stress that keeps me happy. I hope these things help you the next time you deal with a stressful situation in your life!
“Our passion is our personal guide to living the life of our dreams. Follow your passion, whatever it may be. Encompass it and don’t look back. ”
- Ryan Van Poederooyen
Photo by: LIM SANG Photography
RVP Health, Body and Mind added 2 new photos.
Starbucks Coffee Mug story of the week:
Chile (Santiago)
This week I’ll tell you about the awesome story of my Chile Mug and how important it is treat each other with respect and support each other. This is one of my favourites. The Devin Townsend Project never toured South America except for Chile. Everyone in the band wanted to tour there but for some reason we never got booked. So, when we heard we were flying to Santiago, Chile to perform at ‘Metalfest’ at Movistar Arena, I was pretty damn stoked.
Chile was silly amazing. I loved the scenery, the hospitality and especially the native folk there. They were all so gracious and accommodating. The food and wine was simply incredible!! The DTP had a killer show at the festival. I got to meet one of my all time favourite lead singers - Phil Anselmo (Pantera). Had a beer with him and caught up. It was a pretty damn cool experience overall.
So about the mug, we had a couple days off (flight day and the following day) before the show day. On the full day off a bunch of us went for a walk throughout downtown Santiago. As always I was keeping my eyes open for a Starbucks, and after asking a few locals, we found one. All they had were Chile Mugs. One of the Starbucks Employee’s told me a Santiago Mug was being worked on but not available. So I got the Chile Mug with the Easter Island Moai Statues on it. I love that mug. Easter Island is another bucket-list place I’d love to visit one day.
What I took away from this trip was the experience I had with the people down there. It's all about support and respect for each other. They were so kind, supportive and giving, that I wanted to support and give back. There were people waiting all day and night to meet the various bands form the festival. At one point, I received a few messages on my FB and Twitter page to come outside to take some pictures with them and sign stuff. I did it in a heartbeat. Was it for attention ? Of course not. I did it because there is no way any of us in the DTP would have a career if it wasn’t for all the people who come to the shows, buy CD’s, buy Merch and VIP’s and so on. They’ve made my dream come true by supporting the band I played in. I see it as returning the support. I was tired and getting ready for bed but I went down there and hung out for an hour with them. It was fun, they were great people to hang with and very appreciative.
The bottom line, is it’s not all about YOU or ME, it’s about US. The more we can support each other in any way, the better. I went down to meet our supporters several times during that visit. If they requested it, I went. I see it as a two way road. We scratch each others back! It was quite surprising how many musicians didn’t do that for their supporters at that festival. The locals mentioned that to me several times. Don’t get me wrong, there were other musicians who did too, like Phil Anselmo. What a great dude. In the end, I had to thank THEM for their support and to let them know about my appreciation for their support. We all won that day. I’ve had this exact same approach all over the world when I toured with the DTB and DTP the past 15 years. I’m so happy I’ve been able thank so many people world wide for their support and helping make my dreams come true. I plan on doing more of the same with my new musical endeavours 🙂
Limiting Beliefs
There is always time to change what you think!!!!! All of us at one point or another experience negative thoughts or what lots of people call 'Limited Beliefs'. We think we can't do something or are expecting the worst result.
Limiting Beliefs - Limiting beliefs are those which constrain us in some way. Just by believing them, we do not think, do or say the things that they inhibit. And in doing so we impoverish our lives.
Many times by thinking that way, we get the negative things we think about!!! It's a terrible way to go through life. I don't know how many times I've played a drum part live in my early days and thought about the really hard part coming up. I would think about all the times I screwed it up in the past and then BAM, I'm screwing it up live!!!! I've corrected it since and it was a big part of me moving forward as a professional drummer.
"What we think about, we bring about!!!!"
The beautiful thing about this whole scenario is that we do have a chance to correct ourselves before physically taking action!!!! All you need to do is practice it.... DAILY!!!! Whether we like it or not, every day we are faced with simple to large decisions to make. We always weigh out the pro's and con's. Sometimes we start thinking too much about the con's and begin failing. This is where you need to think of a positive outcome, EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! Erase those limiting beliefs. Give yourself a chance. Think about how you want your end result to finish in a positive way. It puts your frame of mind in a happy place, it inspires you and motivates you to do the absolute best you can to succeed. It may not work out 100% every time but it WILL work out much better than thinking negatively about it. You have to erase these 'limiting beliefs' in your head and replace them with positive outcomes every time you think negatively. Like I said, you will give yourself a chance to succeed over time and you'll find yourself in a better mood and happier throughout the day.
This is a simple exercise that not many people think about often enough, never mind execute it! So starting today, with every opportunity you have, think of positive outcomes. Visualize it, believe it, take action and move forward towards it..... no matter how small or how big!
Wishing you all the best always,
RVP
Your Body and it’s importance to health and mind…
I always like to say this: Our mind and our health equal our body.... or.... Our body is an exact result of our mind and health.
If we visualize ourselves being in shape and healthy, our mind will take us there, then it's up to us to take that first step to make it happen in real life. If you eat a healthy diet and cheat every once in a while (so you don't fall off the wagon) but are primarily eating healthy 80% - 90% of the time, your body will thank you for it. In the end, that same question comes up again:
"We're given this body for this lifetime so why not make the best of it ?"
How we treat ourselves mentally and physically will determine the type of life we live in our bodies. I remember when I was overweight, I'd wake up every day feeling terrible, a different part of my body would ache each day, I felt lethargic and even though I was a positive person, I had more battles with negativity than I do now, being in shape and eating healthy. Our body depicts our lifestyle and attitude.
When we start with our mind (visualizing and being positive), then start eating healthy and taking care of ourselves with exercise, we end up with who we are physically. Our body is a direct reflection of our mind and health. I've always believed this and have seen the results in myself, in the negative form and positive form. I choose the positive form 😉 I use the event of when I lost 45 pounds of fat after years of carrying it around, as a reminder to hit the gym 5 days a week and to stay on top of my health. It makes me feel better, I think clearer and I love how I look. I also know that putting the healthiest of foods that I enjoy into my body will do me much more good than eating junk food throughout the week. Healthy food tastes awesome too, you just have to eat more of the healthy food from various healthy categories that you enjoy… like your proteins, veggies, healthy fats, fibre, fruit and yes, carbohydrates! When you hit all angles of your health in a positive healthy way, you benefit in body and mind. Plain and simple.
This is my approach on these topics and what has worked for me. It's what I believe and it has worked for me time and time again. Our body is our temple. Why would you not want to take the absolute best care of your body ? Without our health, we’re in big trouble. NEVER forget that! Live life to the fullest with a positive attitude along with great health and your body will reap the benefits along the way. It'll be hard to wipe the smile off of your face!
Being Positive and Optimistic.
One of the main reasons I’ve enjoyed my life so much to date is because of my love for being positive and optimistic. It's worked for me my whole life. I don't see any need for negativity and pessimism. I've experienced them all and it's no surprise to me that being positive and being optimistic has landed me a much happier life than the latter.
Now, I've experienced negativity and pessimism and have had my fair share of them both throughout my life whether it was through me, a family member or friend. It always comes down to a choice that we have. Choose to be one or the other. Always remember that we need to take 100% responsibility for our lives and the decisions you make will directly affect your life.
"Be positive, optimistic and smile OR be negative, pessimistic and frown.”
It's no surprise that when I've taken the negative way, that my day usually gets worse because all I'm thinking about is negativity and I usually find more of it because it's on my mind. When I think positively and look for positive things in my day, my day is enlightened because you're looking for things to be positive about. How can you be upset when you’re seeing all the good in your life ? You can't tell me you can't find the positive in every day either. Just look at the things your grateful for in your current life (your significant other, your son or daughter, your house, your car, your health... your HEARTBEAT!!!), all of those things are 'positives' on a daily basis.
All this ties into your mind which eludes to the famous quote:
'What you think about you bring about” - Bob Proctor
So why not be positive and optimistic and enjoy the ride ?
I know people talk a lot about being 'realistic'. Do you think the Wright Brothers were 'Realist's'. If they were realist's then they would have never dared to invent the first airplane. Instead, they had a vision about flying, which was not realistic to anyone at that time. They were POSITIVE and OPTIMISTIC and took action with their goals. They failed many times but remained positive and optimistic, while persevering and taking action until they finally succeeded. The only negative thing they experienced was failure but they looked for the positive in their mistakes and LEARNED from those failures, which turned it into a positive. See what I'm saying ? You will even find positives in negatives if you look for them. Look for the positive in the negative.
In the end, I don't have time for negative and pessimistic people. The only time I'll make for them is to show them there is a better way to enjoy life through being positive and optimistic 😉 This is my opinion and my views on these topics via my own experiences through life. I gotta' admit, I LOVE my life as a result. So, take the time every day, for yourself, to look at things in a positive and optimistic manner. Give yourself the best chance at living a life you LOVE! Shit will happen, but it’s how you deal with that shit that will truly make a positive or negative difference in your life. Choose a positive and optimistic route and learn from your mistakes. I truly believe it’s the only way to be!
Love this.... I truly believe it and have seen it work for me and my life countless times. Use this knowledge!!!
Hope you all have an incredible day 🙂 - RVP
Have an open mind.
Seeing the potential in everything is a great way to be. I've always found that when I open my mind, life becomes more rewarding in many ways. There is much to gain from opening the door to your mind and letting new ideas and beliefs come into view. It can be difficult to break strong beliefs. I have some pretty strong beliefs, we all do, but evolving and letting your mind grow through being open minded will benefit you WAY more than hinder you. Here are some views I have on how being open minded can benefit you…
To start, Be honest with yourself. Being honest with yourself will always be a crucial step in being happy and having an open mind.There is an honesty that comes with an open mind because having an open mind means admitting that you don’t know everything. Everything may not be as it may seem and by being open minded, it creates an underlying sense of honesty. This can only help you in ways that may surprise you, in the most positive of ways.
By having an open mind you will free yourself from having to be in complete control of your thoughts. If you allow yourself to experience new thoughts, you will then be willing to take an experimental look at your beliefs. It can be very liberating to have an open mind and view your world in new ways by giving new views and beliefs a chance.
Having an open mind makes you vulnerable, but in a positive way. Lots of people get scared off by being vulnerable. In agreeing to have an open-minded view of the world, you're admitting you don't know everything and that there are possibilities you may not have considered. Being vulnerable can be both scary and exciting, but the thing to remember is by being vulnerable, you’re opening yourself up to so much more potential that can benefit you.
Lastly, opening up your mind to new ideas gives you the opportunity to change what you think and how you view the world through your eyes. This isn’t about changing your beliefs or views, it’s about expanding them. We all evolve. No one person is perfect. No one belief is perfect either. The more open minded you are the more you can possibly enhance your beliefs and views. Our beliefs and views shape the world in front of us. Never restrict yourself from making your world even better than it currently is! Be open minded and live the best life possible 🙂
“Talent is within us all. When you find what you’re talented at, play to that strength and always focus on being the best version of yourself. Be you, be proud and be happy.”
- Ryan Van Poederooyen
This photo was taken at a bucket-list gig I played at Brixton Academy, London, UK with the DTP back in 2013. Dreams can come true. You just need to put the work in, believe in yourself and NEVER quit.
RVP Health, Body and Mind is at Barnet Marine Park.
Beautiful fall day in Vancouver. Absolutely love where I live. Life can suck sometimes and life can be awesome other times... the key is to consistently make every day the best it can be. Appreciation of your surroundings is always a great way to start! Hope you all have an awesome day!
#grateful #appreciation #lifeiswhatyoumakeit
