Ignite Your Purpose: Break the Chain and Take the Leap

293 days.

That’s how long I circled the same runway, staring at the open sky, heart pounding, hands gripping the controls—too afraid to launch, too restless to stay grounded. I told myself I was “planning,” but the truth was, I was caged by my own doubts. The day I finally took the leap—jumped from the plane, so to speak—was the day my life began to change.

Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re living on autopilot, watching your dreams drift further out of reach as the days roll by? Maybe you wake up feeling like you have no real choice, like your life is happening to you, not for you. Maybe your dreams feel distant, your direction unclear, your energy sapped by the weight of “shoulds” and “have-tos.”

If you’re there right now—stuck, lost, or tied down by invisible chains—I see you. I’ve been there. Michael’s been there. And the truth is, everyone who’s ever broken through to a new chapter has felt that ache. But feeling stuck isn’t a life sentence—it’s a signal. It’s your soul’s way of saying, “Something inside you is ready to ignite.”

Let’s be honest: Feeling lost or stuck is painful. It’s the ache of potential unfulfilled, the frustration of spinning your wheels. But here’s what most people don’t realize: those feelings aren’t evidence that you’re broken—they’re proof that you’re alive, that you care, and that you’re meant for more.

For years, I believed my cage was made of steel—my circumstances, my past, other people’s expectations. But over time, I realized the bars were built from stories I’d accepted as truth: stories about what I could and couldn’t do, who I was and wasn’t allowed to become. When I was seventeen and homeless, I believed my future was already written. But slowly, through grit and a series of small, defiant choices, I started to see the cracks in the bars.

Michael’s story is different, but the lesson is the same. After his gunshot injury, he thought his athletic career—and his sense of purpose—were over. But when he stopped asking, “Why did this happen to me?” and started asking, “What can I create from here?” the Phoenix in him rose from the ashes.

Survival is about getting through the day. Empowered living is about choosing your direction, even when the path isn’t clear. The Tiger in us craves structure, clarity, and discipline—the plan. The Phoenix in us knows that sometimes, you have to burn the old script to write a new one.

🌐 Transformation Through the Four Human Domains

So how do you move from caged to free? It’s not just about willpower or a single leap. It’s about transformation across every part of your being—body, mind, heart, and spirit.

💪 Body:
The body remembers everything. When you feel stuck, your body often tightens, your breath shortens, your energy dips. Movement is the Tiger’s first step out of the cage. Michael often says, “The body fuels the mind.” Whether it’s a brisk walk, a hard workout, or even just standing up and stretching, movement is a tangible way to remind yourself: I am not powerless. I can act. I can move forward. Somatic healing—breathwork, grounding exercises, even dancing—can help shake loose the chains of inertia.

🧠 Mind:
The mind is where the real battle is fought. Our beliefs shape our reality. The stories we tell ourselves become the bars of our cage—or the wings that set us free. When you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t,” “It’s too late,” or “I don’t have what it takes,” pause. Ask yourself: Is this thought true, or is it just familiar? The Tiger’s gift is clarity—seeing things as they are, not as fear paints them. Set a micro-goal for your mindset this week: Replace one limiting belief with an empowering one. Write it down. Say it out loud. Watch what changes.

💖 Heart:
The heart craves connection, compassion, and honesty. Feeling stuck often comes with a heavy dose of self-criticism or shame. But resilience flourishes when we allow ourselves to be seen—flaws, fears, and all. Reach out to someone you trust. Share your struggle. Name your dream. Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s the bridge to your next chapter. The Phoenix rises not just through fire, but through the warmth of connection and self-compassion.

🕊️Spirit:
Spirit is where purpose lives. When you lose sight of your “why,” even the best plan falls flat. Take time this week to reflect: What is the bigger story you want to be part of? What would it mean to live on purpose, not just by default? Sometimes, spirit is about surrender—trusting that the leap will reveal the net, that Providence is at work, even when you can’t see the whole path.

🗿 The Five Pillars in Action

The Tiger Resilience Five Pillars are your blueprint for transformation—whether you’re breaking a chain, setting a new goal, or taking the leap into the unknown.

🎯 Purpose:
Rediscovering your “why” isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Purpose is the spark that ignites every leap. Ask yourself: “If I could set one goal that would make me feel alive, what would it be?” Don’t overthink it. Let the answer rise from your gut, not your inner critic.

🗺️ Planning:
The Tiger thrives on structure. Map out one bold action you can take this week toward your goal. It doesn’t have to be dramatic—sometimes the biggest leap is sending the email, making the call, or saying “yes” (or “no”) when you usually wouldn’t. Planning isn’t about predicting every outcome; it’s about creating a runway for your leap.

🔄 Practice:
Transformation is built on daily acts of discipline and care. Choose one habit that aligns with your purpose and practice it every day. Maybe it’s journaling, movement, or a morning affirmation. Small actions, repeated, become the foundation of your new chapter.

🏔️Perseverance:
There will be hard days. The Phoenix doesn’t rise without first facing the fire. When you feel doubt or fear, remember: resilience is built not by never falling, but by rising every time you do. Perseverance is the muscle you build with every choice to keep going.

🌅 Providence:
Trust the process. Sometimes, the leap comes before the wings. Providence is believing that meaning is unfolding, even when you don’t have all the answers. The Phoenix knows that what feels like an ending is often the start of something extraordinary.

🏃‍♂️The Real-World

Imagine a tiger pacing in a cage. Day after day, it walks the same path, muscles coiled, eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The cage feels real—solid, unbreakable. But then, one day, it notices the door is ajar. The first step outside is shaky, uncertain. But with each stride, the Tiger remembers its strength, its purpose, its wild heart.

Or picture the Phoenix. Consumed by flames, reduced to ashes. But from those ashes, it rises—renewed, transformed, and stronger than ever. The fire wasn’t the end; it was the beginning.

📝 Journal Prompts / Self-Reflection

• What’s one belief, habit, or fear that keeps you tied down or circling the runway?
• If you could set one goal that would make you feel alive, what would it be?
• What’s the boldest action you can take this week to move toward that goal?
• Where in your life are you waiting to leap? What’s the worst—and best—that could happen?
• What would your next chapter look like if you believed you were free?

🔥 Rise

The Tiger in you is ready to pace beyond the bars. The Phoenix in you is ready to rise from the ashes of old stories. Purpose isn’t something you find—it’s something you ignite, one leap at a time.

Don’t wait for fear to disappear before you leap. If you’re waiting to feel “ready,” you’ll wait forever. The leap is what makes you ready.

So today, I challenge you: Name your chain. Ignite your purpose. Take the leap.

📍Please leave a comment or reply on the lead you can make today for your breakthrough.

Rise Strong and Live Boldly in the Bond of the Phoenix.

Bernie & Michael Tiger         

Tiger Resilience 🐅    

🌟 Calling on Friends Who Believe in Raising Brave, Kind Kids 🌟

Help Us Launch a Movement for the Next Generation - Many of you know that for years, we’ve been building Tiger Resilience — a heart-driven movement rooted in healing, purpose, and personal growth.

Now… we’ve taken that same mission and brought it to kids.

We just launched our Tiger Resilience Kids book series! 📚🧡

Our first two storybooks — Theo and the Courageous Climb and Phoebe and the Sky of Second Chances — are gentle, magical adventures that teach emotional resilience, confidence, and how to keep going when life gets tough.

These stories are built on the same Five Pillars and Four Domains that guide our adult programs — simplified for young hearts and minds. They’re full of color, character, and meaning.

✨ Right now, we are inviting a small group of parents, educators, and early supporters to join our ARC Launch Team (Advance Review Copy). You’ll get early access to the books and bonus activities — all I ask in return is your honest feedback and a review if the stories resonate.

If that sounds like something you’d like to be part of, you can join by clicking the button below.

Your support would mean the world. We’re trying to grow something beautiful here — a way for families to connect, learn, and grow together through the power of story.

Thank you so much for being part of this with us.

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