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Chris Duffin Biography

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“Fear is a signal. It tells us that we have an opportunity to grow. When we encounter our fears, we have an oppor- tunity to adapt, grow stronger, and improve in whatever realm we are currently developing. If we wish to grow, we need to spend time in the unknown. If we're not exploring the unknown, we're not growing, we're not adapting, and we're not getting stronger.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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“Fear is a signal. It tells us that we have an opportunity to grow. When we encounter our fears, we have an opportunity to adapt, grow stronger, and improve in whatever realm we are currently developing. If we wish to grow, we need to spend time in the unknown. If we're not exploring the unknown, we're not growing, we're not adapting, and we're not getting stronger.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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“Perseverance is action derived from a pure belief in your own strength, even in what seems like total defeat. Just like Pat and my father, I struggled with alcohol. I've stepped close to the edge, lured by the deceitful whispers of the devil who promises that ending it all will bring comfort. My redemption has been a powerful self-realization that my identity is not found in my circumstances or in what happens to me. I am strong. I am my own will made manifest in the world. As you grow in self-awareness, your understanding of your strengths becomes more precise. Be intentional. Take the time to explore your passions and figure out which strengths you most want to cultivate. I don't want you to settle for the role of consumer in this world. I urge you to master the necessary skills to contribute in a meaningful fashion, and to use those skills to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others. It's far too easy to fall into the trap of working a job you hate and living for the weekend. Find a way of breaking out of that paradigm. Don't be afraid of trying hard. Don't be afraid of failing or looking like an idiot. There are no prizes for being cool and collected, but achieving nothing of value. Leave your mark on the world.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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“When we train, our performance improves as we adapt to stress. Over time, however, if the stresses are too great or we don't incorporate sufficient recovery time, gains begin to diminish. To grow and adapt, we require stress, but equally, we need periods of rest and recovery. This is a delicate balance to strike: if we rest too frequently or for too long, we will become soft and move backward. We need stress to create adaptation.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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“Embracing fear isn't about being fearless. That leads to recklessness and complacency. It's about learning how to mitigate risk. I've faced death many times, and I suspect I will do so again. The potential for disaster always exists. We master it not by ignoring our fears, but by refusing to let them dictate the course of our lives, Instead of running, we must meet our fears head-on. We cannot allow fear to control our lives. We must control fear.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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“I am convinced that many people spend 80 percent of their time doing meaningless things that add little real value to their lives. Blissfully unaware, life lives them. Discipline starts when you stop wasting your life doing stupid things. Make an honest, detailed inventory of your days over the course of a week. Is how you spend your time reflective of your values and your vision? Cut out the waste, and you'll be amazed at how much time you have to act on your vision. It's not easy and it takes a lot of discipline. I don't get to follow every whim or do everything I want to. The pay-off, however, is that I go to sleep every night with full confidence that I am fully alive and doing the work required to go where I want to go. Don't half-ass everything, whole-ass what really matters.”

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Book:The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention
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